Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: battery maintainence

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battery maintainence

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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14353
Printed Date: 02 May 2024 at 8:19am
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Topic: battery maintainence

Posted By: EchoGale
Subject: battery maintainence
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2021 at 3:13pm

So my camper co-owner and I divide up some jobs. He checks the batteries for water levels and last time he apparently forgot to put the caps back on. In trying to buy a replacement set (from advance auto where I bought the interstate batteries) I was told you can't buy replacements anymore because you don' need to check water levels any more and so there's no reason to open them (and thus potentially lose them).

Shocked, I asked over and over again and he is certain that that was something for older batteries but not any more. What say you, wise ones?

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Julie

Replies:

Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2021 at 3:34pm

I'll raise the BS flag on that one. Any time water is exposed to air it will evaporate, no matter how slowly. And if the battery can be charged that will be accelerated. If water levels didn't need checking the caps would either be eliminated or permanently sealed.

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Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2021 at 3:37pm

Good question. Todays batteries are made of better alloys than old batteries. A maintenance free battery may have vent caps, but in many cases they are sealed and removing them can void the warranty. My RV battery has cap covers, two that cover 3 cells apiece. They are removeable and I can and do check my water levels and fill as required. Many places cell vent caps, Amazon, eBay and other vendors on the net. Google "Battery Vent Cap" When trying to remove a vent cap from a maintenance free battery, I have found them sealed, those you want to leave in place as to not void warranty. Hope that helps.

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Posted By: EchoGale
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2021 at 3:42pm

Thanks to both off you...sounded like BS to me too. I have googled but I don't know enough about what I have to know if what I find will fit. I can't figure out what a bayonet type is and none of them look exactly the same. The Autostore guy said I can grab a couple off returned dead batteries....I think I'll do that.

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Julie

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2021 at 4:00pm

Bayonet style is normally a 1/4 turn lock versus a push in style. I like idea of getting off a turn in, just a matter of getting them from a source with good turn in quantities.

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2021 at 4:55pm

Originally posted by CharlieM

I'll raise the BS flag on that one. Any time water is exposed to air it will evaporate, no matter how slowly. And if the battery can be charged that will be accelerated. If water levels didn't need checking the caps would either be eliminated or permanently sealed.

+1 The auto parts store near where I live still sells the "old style" battery where you can check electrolyte levels. If you wish you can also purchase the sealed type that for the most part probably won't last as long as most won't want to fuss with trying to pry off the sealed cap to check on the electrolyte/water levels.

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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2021 at 6:33pm

+2. Plenty of flooded batteries with removable caps still available. Deep cycle batteries are almost always like that. Find some off some old batteries. Wash them out to be sure they don’t have crud in them which could contaminate your battery cells,

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold