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05-26-2013, 03:06 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 29
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Battery Disconnect When Connected to 50 Amp Shore Power
Question: I store my Newell in a shop and always plugged into 50 amp service. Sometimes I keep the thermostat set for the ac just to control the climate inside the mh. Should I enable the battery disconnect between the chassis and motor batteries during the time it's in the shop? Please advise and explain so I may understand...(I'm not an electrician) Thanks in advance!
Scott
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Scott
1985 Newell Motorhome
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05-26-2013, 09:22 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Prescott Valley, AZ
Posts: 237
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We keep ours plugged in all the time. Anyway, keeping your batteries charged is a good thing.
Jeff
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1978 39 FT. Newell Classic
Jeff & Leann Shackly
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05-26-2013, 10:48 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Sam Carlos, Sonora, Mex.
Posts: 407
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I agree with Jeff, keep the batteries connected.
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2001 Newell #579
tow a 2011 Honda Odyssey
1935 Mercedes 500K replica
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05-27-2013, 05:03 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Just North of Detroit, a surprizingly great city
Posts: 380
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Batteries have an internal natural discharge rate. If you leave any battery isolated long enough it will discharge to the point of losing the ability to recharge to the rated capacity. It takes a rather long time for a new battery to do this but as batteries age this time tends to shorten. You could choose to connect the batteries once a week or every two weeks for a day, but that is a bother when the energy savings are so small I doubt you could find them on your electric bill.
everything I know just ain't so
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Jon and Alie Kabbe
Started with 77 Coach
Now have 39' 93 coach
2007 civic toad
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05-27-2013, 09:41 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Home base is Palm Beach, Florida
Posts: 449
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leave them on and let the invertor/charger manage them for you
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Larry & Hedy Brachfeld
2003 Double Slide, Detroit 60
Coach # 646
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05-28-2013, 01:47 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sugarland, TX or Salida,CO
Posts: 1,867
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 77newell
Batteries have an internal natural discharge rate. If you leave any battery isolated long enough it will discharge to the point of losing the ability to recharge to the rated capacity. It takes a rather long time for a new battery to do this but as batteries age this time tends to shorten. You could choose to connect the batteries once a week or every two weeks for a day, but that is a bother when the energy savings are so small I doubt you could find them on your electric bill.
everything I know just ain't so
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77Newell,
I always look forward to reading your posts. Very informative as always and a real asset to our Newell community.
Sean
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Sean
If Ain't a Newell, It Ain't Wurt Oonin!
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05-28-2013, 04:05 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Just North of Detroit, a surprizingly great city
Posts: 380
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Sean: thank you for the kind compliment. I try to help where I can and keep my mouth shut the rest of time. If only I knew which is which.
The quality of my life seems far more connect to what I do (helping others learn) and to what I have (at the moment two great Newell coaches)
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Jon and Alie Kabbe
Started with 77 Coach
Now have 39' 93 coach
2007 civic toad
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05-28-2013, 10:53 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Idyllwild, CA
Posts: 1,340
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For those who store without power...I isolate and shut down both Engine and House Banks. Providing that the batteries are in good condition the coach has always started with the longest period about 6 months (yep, sorry got busy with family).
As a side note I am using Trojan T-105, Flooded Lead Acid, 6 Volt "Golf Cart" type for the House and Flooded Lead Acid 8D Starting Batteries for the Engine Bank. House Bank 5 years old and still very good while I change the Engine Batteries out every 2 years and they are becoming due.
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have Coach will Travel
Steve & Tricia
1982 Newell 38' (built before #1) 6V92 DD, 5 Speed Allison, 12.5 KW Kohler, Couch used to make into a Bed but I fixed it!
https://newellshowcase.com/thumbnails.php?album=214
2007 Yukon, 1981 CJ7 Laredo, 2002 Honda CRV, 1955 Thunderbird, 1952 Pontiac Sedan Delivery, 1952 Ford 8N, 1958 Airstream, 1959 Glasspar 16' Avalon, Cabin in the Woods........what will I work on next
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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05-28-2013, 11:42 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Riverside, California
Posts: 1,543
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My engine bank batteries....2 8D Interstate flooded cell batteries.....are 4 years old and going strong. Not even a hickup. I have Power Pulses hooked up to each of them. I have 2 8D Interstate flooded cell batteries for my house bank and they are also 4 years old and going strong. Also have a Power Pulse hooked up to them. That combined with using a Progressive Dynamics charge/converter with 3 stage charging plus an anti sulfating mode. Check the water level once and while. Only isolate the batteries when in storage. Haven't had the coach in storage for 30 months now.....been living in it for that length of time.
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05-29-2013, 02:51 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Idyllwild, CA
Posts: 1,340
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Clarke, I buy inexpensive Starting Batteries for the House Bank and just change them out not because they are all used up just because they are inexpensive. Best part is that I always have relatively New Starting Batteries.
I keep the Banks separated because I am using different types of Batteries...Starting for the Engine and Deep Cycle for the House. Starting Batteries and Deep Cycle Batteries should not be charged together because the Battery Charger would not know the difference and could damage one of the banks.
Batteries are only designed to last so long, eventually the sulfates will touch the plates.
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have Coach will Travel
Steve & Tricia
1982 Newell 38' (built before #1) 6V92 DD, 5 Speed Allison, 12.5 KW Kohler, Couch used to make into a Bed but I fixed it!
https://newellshowcase.com/thumbnails.php?album=214
2007 Yukon, 1981 CJ7 Laredo, 2002 Honda CRV, 1955 Thunderbird, 1952 Pontiac Sedan Delivery, 1952 Ford 8N, 1958 Airstream, 1959 Glasspar 16' Avalon, Cabin in the Woods........what will I work on next
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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06-10-2013, 12:38 AM
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#11
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New Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Florence, WI or Marble Falls, TX
Posts: 9
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I am going to jump in on this because Friday morning I had a surprise, see attached picture. One of my engine batteries had blown up. Several of us including two electrical engineers have decided that the problem was a shorted cell in the battery. Any help with this is appreciated. Now two new batteries in the coach but not merged with the house batteries until I can determine the problem.
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Steve Quandt
Florence, WI
1996 Newell
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06-10-2013, 01:12 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Sexsmith Alberta Canada
Posts: 594
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That is nasty, were you able to rinse everything well to neutralize the acid? Probably be a good idea to check all the cables and wires to make sure nothing is wearing thru and shorting out. I had a 58 chev truck with a 425hp 396 in it and the main pos. cable melted on the header near the starter, the battery blew up! I thought it was going to take the hood with it! Scary stuff. There should be a way to test the system to check for dead shorts, im sure someone will chime in thats more up to speed on that, I think I have done it at one time but cant remember right now!! theres too much other stuff rolling around in there!! Good luck!!
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Keith, Krista and Family
77 38' Newell Coach Repowered from Smokin' V555TA To 325hp 8.3 inline 6 cummins, Allison 3000 series trans
87 40' Newell Coach 475hp 8V92 DD(sold)
22' 350hp Jet Riverboat
79 Ford F250 4x4
Many others to list
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06-10-2013, 02:18 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Idyllwild, CA
Posts: 1,340
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Had this last year and best I could figure was that it had frozen. Here's the deal, I attended a Seminar that was put on by Interstate Batteries. The guy putting on the seminar stated that a Flooded Lead Acid Battery could Freeze if Discharged, then when a Charge was Applied it Could Explode.
The other thing that I have seen is that if there was a Loose Connection it Could have created a Spark at the Terminal While Charging, Batteries Produce Hydrogen Gas While Charging and a Spark Can Ignite the Gas. I have seen many Exploded Batteries over the years while doing my inspections as a a Marine Surveyor and typically it was a Loose Battery Cable. And yes a Dead Cell could Ignite the Hydrogen Gas as well.
***Get some Baking Soda ASAP and Naturalize the Battery Bay. Then Wash with Soap and Water to ensure that it has been cleaned properly again ASAP!! The Baking Soda should Neutralize the Battery Acid but what the heck might as well clean everything.
Good Luck, this is a great reason to consider AGM Batteries since they are Sealed and Reportedly do Not suffer from Freezing.
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have Coach will Travel
Steve & Tricia
1982 Newell 38' (built before #1) 6V92 DD, 5 Speed Allison, 12.5 KW Kohler, Couch used to make into a Bed but I fixed it!
https://newellshowcase.com/thumbnails.php?album=214
2007 Yukon, 1981 CJ7 Laredo, 2002 Honda CRV, 1955 Thunderbird, 1952 Pontiac Sedan Delivery, 1952 Ford 8N, 1958 Airstream, 1959 Glasspar 16' Avalon, Cabin in the Woods........what will I work on next
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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06-10-2013, 03:22 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Heartland
Posts: 3,563
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I had that same thing happen a few years ago, but half my batteries top blew off. It blew the door open while bending it. The battery was low or had a dead cell and with snow on the ground, you guessed it, there was extra help freezing it. Sounded like a shotgun going off in the middle of the night.
Everything was just as Steve stated. I poured CLR all over the place and then rinse it off, repeating the process until neutralized and cleaned.
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Ken
Previous Owner of 3 Newell's
Wanted: Newell Coach Needing Engine Replacement!
If you want to sell, PM or Private Message me. Thanks!
"I know I’m not perfect, and I don't live to be. But before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean."
-Bob Marley
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06-10-2013, 11:37 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Thibodaux, LA
Posts: 1,221
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CLR is an acidic cleaner according to their MSDS. You need something basic (with a pH greater than 7) in order to neutralize acid. The safest is like Steve said to use baking soda for an acid spill.
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