Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-24-2013, 10:54 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicagoland, IL
Posts: 15
new 3170 house battery time?

Love the new RV - looking to find out if it is me or the batteries.....

Picked up new 2014 3170DS and it is great. We did option the dual batteries but when we drive for about an hour (even with the TVs off) the batteries read at a 1/3 by the end.
I charge them up and no matter what they seem to read out at a 1/3 after an hour or maybe two.....

Is that normal or am I missing something? Thanx
elvis90210 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2013, 11:04 AM   #2
Moderator Emeritus
 
Dave_Monica's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,327
What you're reporting is not normal...you must have some large drain on the batteries or a short to ground. If the dealer is close by, let them figure it out.

Dave
__________________


Nights camped in 2013 - 55, 2014 - 105, 2015 - 63
Dave_Monica is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2013, 11:54 AM   #3
Graduate Member
 
RoadTrip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Columbia, MO
Posts: 508
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave_Monica View Post
What you're reporting is not normal...you must have some large drain on the batteries or a short to ground. If the dealer is close by, let them figure it out.

Dave
x2
__________________
--2009 Sunseeker 2860DS (Class C)
- one Hotwife, and two boys under 2(with one on the way!)
2013 - 53 days
2012 - 26 days

RoadTrip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2013, 07:55 AM   #4
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
OK, High battery draw things to check:

1) Climate Control on Refrigerator - A DC powered heater - Turn off on battery power
2) Inverter - What is plugged in/turned on while "watching TV"?

A battery monitoring system will let you know what is drawing power (amps out) And the actual state of battery charge. (Those lights are useless without the conversion chart. attached)

Inverters are high draw items. If you have a 1200 watt AC load, (TV, Sound system, computer, phone charger) you need 1200 watts of power supplied by the battery. 1200 watts is 12 volts x 100 amps.

If you have "normal" OEM batteries they have about 75 Amp Hours of capacity. (so two will have a total available capacity of 150 amp hours.)

You would need to use the Peukert Effect conversion graph (also attached) to degrade the battery's capacity to the true ability to deliver current at that high amp draw.

Depending on what you are actually using off the inverter and the actual size in Amp Hours of your bank, 1-2 hours to dead is about right.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	battery voltage and capacity Curve vs Discharge Rate.jpg
Views:	82
Size:	44.9 KB
ID:	28882   Click image for larger version

Name:	Battery Display.jpg
Views:	104
Size:	29.3 KB
ID:	28884  
Attached Images
 
Attached Files
File Type: pdf What is the Peukert Effect.pdf (164.4 KB, 18 views)
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2013, 05:33 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Garrette's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,485
We are leaving soon for a 10 day vacation. We to have a one month old 3170DSF with two 6volt coach batteries. I will keep an eye out and let you know. Really have not paid battery charge state any attention.

How does yours drive? Steering seem OK? Just ask'in.
__________________
2014 Sunseeker 3170 DSF
Dorothy, Garrette and Miss Bella.
Retired and having fun.
Garrette is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-29-2013, 08:33 AM   #6
Commercial Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Bristol, IN
Posts: 18,899
(2) 6v? custom install? Did I talk yo you on the phone...wood shims on the step area?
__________________
If "Search this Forum" does not yield answers, please post questions as a "New Thread" (instead of asking privately) so others can benefit from the answers.

Subscribe for "How To" videos and updates https://www.youtube.com/c/DynamaxRVs/

Sales-Service-Parts https://dynamaxcorp.com/contact-us
bclemens is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-29-2013, 07:30 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Garrette's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,485
Quote:
Originally Posted by bclemens View Post
(2) 6v? custom install? Did I talk yo you on the phone...wood shims on the step area?
No, I have not spoken to you. The unit came with 2 6volt batteries. Do not know if that is better or not. I assume it is better
__________________
2014 Sunseeker 3170 DSF
Dorothy, Garrette and Miss Bella.
Retired and having fun.
Garrette is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-29-2013, 07:32 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Garrette's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,485
Quote:
Originally Posted by Garrette View Post

No, I have not spoken to you. The unit came with 2 6volt batteries. Do not know if that is better or not. I assume it is better
Raised the step during walk through, yep got batteries. I assume they are still there. Sic.
__________________
2014 Sunseeker 3170 DSF
Dorothy, Garrette and Miss Bella.
Retired and having fun.
Garrette is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2013, 08:08 AM   #9
Commercial Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Bristol, IN
Posts: 18,899
From the factory we put in (2) 12V batteries. We had a guy put in (2) 6V batteries, but they are taller than 12V, so he made an oak shim to raise the step well area. Thought maybe that was you.
__________________
If "Search this Forum" does not yield answers, please post questions as a "New Thread" (instead of asking privately) so others can benefit from the answers.

Subscribe for "How To" videos and updates https://www.youtube.com/c/DynamaxRVs/

Sales-Service-Parts https://dynamaxcorp.com/contact-us
bclemens is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2013, 08:41 AM   #10
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
Quote:
Originally Posted by Garrette View Post
Raised the step during walk through, yep got batteries. I assume they are still there. Sic.
How many cell fill ports on top of the battery (if it is flooded type)?
3 ports = 6 volt battery
6 ports = 12 volt battery
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 08:43 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Garrette's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,485
Quote:
Originally Posted by herk7769 View Post

How many cell fill ports on top of the battery (if it is flooded type)?
3 ports = 6 volt battery
6 ports = 12 volt battery
Sorry for the delay. Batteries appear to be 12volt. They are large, no ports, with a recessed flip handle.
__________________
2014 Sunseeker 3170 DSF
Dorothy, Garrette and Miss Bella.
Retired and having fun.
Garrette is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2013, 08:06 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1,441
If you have batteries similar to the ones in our coach, each battery has two rectangular caps that plug three fill ports each. The batteries look like no maintenance batteries but they are not. You will have pry the caps off and top off the cells periodically. They will loose a little water even if you don't run on just batteries often because the convertor is constantly giving a little charge to maintain them. Check them once per month.

Use distilled water.

Also, be sure to switch the battery disconnect off when you aren't using it so the small amount of parasitic power usage doesn't kill your batteries.
RamblerGuy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:26 AM.