Flooded Wet Cell Start Batteries

[Joe Camper]

I got a pic sent to me today of an exploded battery and this explination.

Bus been sitting for a while. Went to start and it barley turned over charged it up tried to start again and BOOM.

So what of this. Well, if a battery is out of water and a plate is also broke and shorting charging low on water makes hydrogen gas broken plate makes spark and BOOM.

So that got me thinking about the so called maintenence free sealed flooded wet cell batteries. NOT. First they r not really sealed and prolonged high temp could potentially evaporate the water just for starters. Overcharge, pinhole in the case ect ect.

I suppose there is aplication that demands a sealed wet cell battery but for our start batteries it is not nessessary and if u have 1 with caps that can be removed and reservoirs that can be kept full the possibility of blowing one up is significantly reduced.

When he didn't start and went back with the charger if the batteries had caps he would have found the dry battery and filled it but his were sealed and it went BOOM. No good. Could have been avoided I think.

No good reason to buy a sealed flooded wet cell for start batts or no???

My 2 cents. What say u.

[BenC]

Joe,

For starters, here is the situation: The "maintenance free" group 31 batteries that are in almost every Prevost out there, ARE NOT sealed batteries. They are, in fact, vented to the atmosphere, and thus evaporation occurs. The only truly sealed batteries are the Valve Regulated Absorbed Glass Matt (AGM) or Gel batteries. To make matters worse, charging flooded vented liquid lead acid batteries will cause gassing, so this type of battery must be observed for electrolyte level while under a charge, which you cannot do with the Prevost standard start batteries.

I just simply tell everyone with a Prevost that comes into our facility to either treat the start batteries as disposible and change every 2 years if you live in the south, or buy AGM's and replace them every 5-10 years, as they actually wear out.

[Joe Camper]

Thanks for responding Ben. After the initial inquiry I had I asked around and found no fewer than 5 others that had the same experience of batteries that exploded when trying to start directly after charging and thought it was worth passing around.

So we agree, the maintenence free flooded wet cell is not really true and can explode given the wrong conditions.

I since found flooded wet cells with flat tops like a maintenence free style but actually having caps that could be removed to fill the cells and they won't get in the way of the tie down for them that normal caps that stick up will.

[JIM KELLER]

I have always cut the decals on top of my Interstate Group 31 batteries with a razor knife. This allows me to open the inserts and monitor levels of acid. Usually add water once or twice during the life of the battery.

[Texas 40]

Ben, is there an AGM you recommend ?

[BenC]

Ben, is there an AGM you recommend ?

The ones we have used here are the Spiral Cell Optimas, due to space only. The Lifeline group 31 is a little taller and on XL2 coaches would interfer with the battery cover brackets. They would fit into an H3 battery bay though.

[Texas 40]

Thanks Ben.

[Donnie Myers]

The ones we have used here are the Spiral Cell Optimas, due to space only. The Lifeline group 31 is a little taller and on XL2 coaches would interfer with the battery cover brackets. They would fit into an H3 battery bay though.
Ben, have you had good luck with the Optimas built within the last couple years? I seem to see newer Optimas with higher failure rates as well as Interstate batts. Something happened with them :( We have been having great luck with the NAPA gold 1120cca batts. The 900cca NAPA batts don't last either for some reason. For those coaches that set for long periods without starting, if people would go to rear and turn off circuit breakers 19-24 (if they go up to 24) the 12 volt bank will last much longer. I actually like to install a high quality ignition solenoid to interrupt these breakers when key is off as turning coach disconnect off does not affect these. I personally think it's a flaw from Prevost but they wouldl not change it as I pointed it out to them in the mid eighties!! They said it was to keep DDEC and ATEC memories but what good is it when batts are dead! Just my humble opinion....

[coreygrubb]

Donnie, do you have a '03-11 H engine cover for sale ? Geo.

[Donnie Myers]

Donnie, do you have a '03-11 H engine cover for sale ? Geo.
Round or square tail lights. I think round came out in 03. I have lots of round tail light doors. I will have to check to see if I have a square tail light door left..it's possible.

[coreygrubb]

Donnie, I'm looking for a '03 or newer (round tail lites). Tired of keeping 17 lites going. email: coreygrubb@yahoo.com. or George 941 779 5018. Thanks

[Donnie Myers]

Donnie, I'm looking for a '03 or newer (round tail lites). Tired of keeping 17 lites going. email: coreygrubb@yahoo.com. or George 941 779 5018 (tel:941 779 5018). Thanks
Have patience with me until after the race as we are slammed! Send pics of rear and rear sides and I will see if I have something with your base colors or similar as to cut back on stripping. You want one with full stainless kit or bare? Send pics to donnie@dmrv.com

[coreygrubb]

Donnie, thanks....will do. Geo.

[BenC]

Donnie,
So far so good. I haven't seen any failures yet with the Optimas. I'll keep my eye out for that. Thanks for the input.

I believe Detroit claims it erases the stored codes or at least the "snapshot" memory in the DDEC if these wires are interrupted along with the battery disconnect off. However, if you remember back in the mid 90's when we were getting Series 60's that would drain the start batteries in a day because something in the fuel system stayed energized, that is what Prevost was telling us to do was put relays on those wires right after the circuit breakers in the rear run panel. I wish they had just gone ahead and done that modification on all the coaches as well.