6 Volt Battery Fill

[jerseyboy]

On my 36CKTS I have 4 6 volt batteries. I am looking to top them off but I am very limited with space because there is a shelf where the inverter sits. I was looking at a Pro Fill watering system at CW and it looks like I will need 2 sets because I have 4 batteries. Has anybody used this system or any other ideas.
Thanks, Mike

[kirk37r]

Mike

I cut the box they are in and made it so I can lift the top off on my 38FL.

[Fire Instructor]

Be very careful filling 6v golf cart batteries! You don't fill them to the "top ring" like you do a 12v standard battery. If you do, they will spill over during a charge cycle. Most recommend only filling them so that the plates have about 1/2" to 3/4" of cover.

An auto-fill system will likely overfill them.

If you need to know how I learned this, it's "been there, done that, ruined a tee-shirt (and a pair of jeans) cleaning up the over-flowed acid"!

Two weeks after I did it, a buddy of mine did the exact same thing, and got the exact same result.......

[Duckogram]

Joiseyboy,

Fancy does not work well in this application. I suggest you get the following item to water your batteries:
Plastic compact mirror (swiped from DW)
Turkey baster - plastic.
Clear tubing that fits over baster end (2' will do it)
LED Headlight
Distilled H2O

Position the mirror so your headlight shines into the cell. Insert tube into "V" grove in cell. Squeeze the baster till you get the cell full to the bottom of the V groove. Voila!
Note: try not to stick the tube into the battery acid or touch the plates.
Hope this helps.

P.S. if your inverter is above your batts, where is your level-up and hydraulic pump?

[jerseyboy]

Ducky
I think I will try the mirror trick with some surgical tubing.
My inverter is below the hydraulic pump and above the batteries.
I will have to use a mirror because you can not look into the cells on the batteries.
Thanks, Mike

[Ramblin Recks]

Originally Posted by jerseyboy

On my 36CKTS I have 4 6 volt batteries. I am looking to top them off but I am very limited with space because there is a shelf where the inverter sits. I was looking at a Pro Fill watering system at CW and it looks like I will need 2 sets because I have 4 batteries. Has anybody used this system or any other ideas.
Thanks, Mike

I don't have them on my rig yet, but I know golf cars. We use Flow-Rite single point watering system. It uses automatic shut off valves and a snake (interconnected hoses to all valves). Very easy to use. and you can hook up the snake to all four batteries so you only have one water valve. Good investment for expensive batteries! CW has the same price listed that Flow-Rite does.
BTW, where are you batteries located? My battery (36ckts) is under the hydraulic pump, but I'll be adding 4ea 6v later.

Reck

[jerseyboy]

Reck
Mine are under my inverter witch is under the pump they are really stuffed in there.
Mike

[Ramblin Recks]

Originally Posted by jerseyboy

Reck
Mine are under my inverter witch is under the pump they are really stuffed in there.
Mike

Are those batteries on the driver side towards the front?

[jerseyboy]

Yes where the hydraulic pump and level up system is.

[Ramblin Recks]

Wow, yes that is a tight space for sure.

[Joe_GA]

Looks like you have more room above your batteries than I do. I tried all sort of tricks and finally decided that the aggravation was not worth it. It cost me $135.00 altogether, but I'm happy now! There is no boil over or other mess and filling the batteries is easy now. Here is what I got. You have to order 2 of them plus the squeeze bulb filler thingy.

RV Battery Watering System - $50.99

[Campingnut]

I have the pro fill watering system in my trailer, with the 6 volt batteries the same as you, and I find it works great. It fills the batteries to exactly where you need to and no more.

[jerseyboy]

Thanks for all the replies. I think with the tight space where the batteries are I will go with one of the watering systems.
Mike

[wire1946]

you have a lot of room .I can only get to one battery.do you have a 18 cf ref ?and are all your batterys in series?what is your out put voltage on your inverter.mine is about 12.1 volts

[jerseyboy]

Yes I have the residential refrigerator I will have to check the output.

[jerseyboy]

And yes the batteries are in series.

[Triguy]

Originally Posted by jerseyboy

And yes the batteries are in series.

I think you mean series-parallel for your bank of four 6-volts

[Duckogram]

Originally Posted by wire1946

you have a lot of room .I can only get to one battery.do you have a 18 cf ref ?and are all your batterys in series?what is your out put voltage on your inverter.mine is about 12.1 volts

Output for your inverter should be 110v.

[Duckogram]

Originally Posted by Triguy

I think you mean series-parallel for your bank of four 6-volts

I don't think the two pairs that are wired in series are then paralleled to to increase capacity. One pair is for the house system and the other pair should be dedicated to the inverter to power the fridge... I also noted that the newer 36 CKTS have a different inverter in a different location than my late model 2012.

[Triguy]

Originally Posted by Duckogram

I don't think the two pairs that are wired in series are then paralleled to to increase capacity. One pair is for the house system and the other pair should be dedicated to the inverter to power the fridge... I also noted that the newer 36 CKTS have a different inverter in a different location than my late model 2012.

Ah. That's what I get for assuming it was a typical four 6-volts as one bank. Mea culpa.