PDA

View Full Version : Have you checked your generator starter battery lately?



Ray Davis
01-18-2011, 04:05 PM
When I purchased my bus, I asked for all new batteries, all the way round. I never thought to check my gen-start battery, until it started to fail earlier this month.

Turns out my batter was manufactured in 2000, i.e. it had preceded even my bus! Obviously was installed when the bus was new.

I contacted Tom (Truk4u) with Trans-Specialists, and he had me hooked to receive an identical Lifeline battery, at a great price within minutes.

Thanks for everything Tom!

Ray

pwf252
01-18-2011, 07:19 PM
I recently replaced mine also. Seems like you can expect 7-8 years out of them given the age of both Ray and my bus.That would be assuming similar usage.

rfoster
01-18-2011, 09:43 PM
Talking about battery replacements I am about to overdose!! First chassis, then house, and now of all things I had to replace my Zee Dee Power Awning batteries this last week. Talk about exspensive. Per pound they have to be the most exspensive batteries to replace.

Symptons: super slow awning action in and out. Checked with meter after charging- if below 12.2 -- time for new ones.

I expect the flashlight batteries to go anytime.

Sid Tuls
01-18-2011, 09:55 PM
Roger where are those batteries for the Zip Dee awnings?

Jon Wehrenberg
01-19-2011, 07:09 AM
Liberty Elegant Lady owners need to make sure the computer battery is up to date. Top, left, rear in the electrical bay.

jack14r
01-19-2011, 08:08 AM
Jon,In my coach it is in the first bay behind a panel,most owners would be like me and wonder where the Allen Bradley batteries are,I just happened to run across them one day.The real problem is that they do not have any way to be charged while in the coach,they just discharge slowly.Liberty told me that they should be replaced each year,I just check mine and charge them and they seem to be ok for now.

Jon Wehrenberg
01-19-2011, 08:29 AM
For those Elegantg Lady owners who are wondering what Jack and I are talking about, the battery is a relatively small one that will bring the Allen Bradley PLCs alive in the event of a loss of electric on the house side of things.

Without power the Allen Bradley system is for all practical purposes dead and it controls everything on the house portion of the coach including the generator. If there is no power to the house controls I'm not even sure the bus will start. If I remember correctly until Loc and I were able to puzzle through the problem related to no house current Ted's coach would not even start.

Admittedly the battery is only going to be required under the most dire of circumstances, but like fire extinguishers when it is needed, you really need it.

phorner
01-19-2011, 08:36 AM
Talking about battery replacements I am about to overdose!! First chassis, then house, and now of all things I had to replace my Zee Dee Power Awning batteries this last week. Talk about exspensive. Per pound they have to be the most exspensive batteries to replace.

Symptons: super slow awning action in and out. Checked with meter after charging- if below 12.2 -- time for new ones.

I expect the flashlight batteries to go anytime.

Also, if you start to trip the breaker on the Zip Dee Power Awning, it can be a good indication that the batteries are getting weak. As the battery voltage drops, the current draw increases therefore tripping the breaker.

Been there, done that........ more than once!

rfoster
01-19-2011, 09:42 AM
Sid: The Zip Dee Batteries in my CC are located Passenger side 1st bay inside a metal cabinet that houses the controls for the awning on the front wall. I don't know where you might find them on the Thompson Coach. Rick DeSilva has a Thompson but he probably doesn't know either.

Last year on the Lobster fest trip to Maine- Deb and Eric had a episode with their awning on their Liberty and I was unable to find their control box, but fortunately Deb fixed it in short order.

Some Converters do an excellent job of hiding stuff.