Coach Batteries Are Very Hot!

[ourflat]

I noticed last night the coach batteries were very hot in my 2013 3051s so I turned the coach battery switch to off and disconnected both batteries. After they cooled down a bit, I removed they from the coach and sat them on a wooden picnic table to cool off! Much to my surprise, one of the batteries was dropping in voltage as it cooled, all the way down to 6 VDC! After further investigation, I discovered a dying cell in the battery! Wow did those batteries get hot!!!! I could have cooked dinner on them...

New batteries installed this morning and I have been monitoring the battery voltage with a slaved-in multi-meter to monitor the converter voltages. So far voltages have been almost perfect 13.6 VDC (absorption mode) from the WF-9855 converter. So far so good! This was my first ever encounter with a bad coach batter about to go into thermal runaway and it scared me to death!

Was monitoring other systems since my CO2 detectors were going off on occasion/ randomly at night (every other 3 or 4 days) so I was searching for that problem when I discovered the coach batteries overheating!

So if your CO2 detector is going off randomly and the step cover over the coach batteries feels warm to the touch then beware; a hot set of batteries can ruin your day!

Frank
KM4FVI

[karrun]

Did you check the water level on the cells?

[ourflat]

Yep, batteries are checked every 2-months and topped off as needed with distilled water. This was a case of a battery going bad and the converter kicking into "bulk mode" to compensate for the bad battery's inability to hold voltage. New batteries and the meter is holding at 13.6 VDC as per converter manual.

Frank
KM4FVI

[karrun]

Jeez, that's scary.

[ourflat]

Anyone else had this problem?


Frank
KM4FVI

[CAT-RN]

If a battery goes bad it is possible for it to short out and heat up.

Russell

[pdqparalegal1]

I had both coach batteries get so hot I burned myself trying to get my hand in the compartment to check them. Waited overnight, went to auto zone, two new batteries. The voltage regulator in the engine alternator was bad. Charging over 16 volts. Made it home running every 12 volt item in the coach, kept it to 14.5 till I could get the alternator to a shop to replace the internal regulator.

[ourflat]

Wow! I spoke to a RV Repair Center and they have seen where the batteries have caught fire. I consider us very lucky!

Frank
KM4FVI


Sent from my iPad using Forest River Forums