Battery acid eating paint

[BandJCarm]

I went to try and get some stubborn black stains off the side today, with my grandson. He had some stuff he thought might work. But when we looked at it closely, it wasn't stains.......it was/is battery acid leaking out of the battery compartment and running down the side of the trailer below the battery compartment......and eating the paint off in streaks!

I checked the batteries and they are not low on water.........but are 'wet' somewhat, and apparently leaking or outgassing, or something. ???????????????????

Not sure what to do other than paint the trailer.......but geez.

Sidebar: One of my real pet peeves with this trailer is that the battery compartment is too small for 4 six-volt batteries, but they stuck 'em in there somehow. By the time you run cables to make parallel 12v's and all the normal cables, you can NOT get to the battery caps to check water without disconnecting every dang cable. Then there is a spaghetti bowl of cables to reconnect.......so far I've done it right but it's a head scratcher and a possible problem.

So.........what to do about all this???????

[spock123]

I brought a battery watering system at the rally. I leaked some water out installing the system, I'll check out below the batteries tomorrow. Cedar Creek could have did a better job there.

[florabama]

You will not want to hear this but: at the FROG Rally Forest River had an electrical seminar and the speaker said that the converters used today will over charge 6v batteries. He said use only 12v, I think series 24 or 27.

[babock]

Originally Posted by florabama

You will not want to hear this but: at the FROG Rally Forest River had an electrical seminar and the speaker said that the converters used today will over charge 6v batteries. He said use only 12v, I think series 24 or 27.

Seriously? A 12V battery is 6 cells and a 12V battery is 3 cells. There is no other difference. 2 6V batteries in series is just a 12V battery.

Don't believe everything you hear. Next thing he probably said was don't store your batteries on concrete.

[wmbuttion]

Question If a unit has 4 - 6 volt batteries can you replace them with two 12 volt batteries?

[aeblank]

You'll likely lose capacity, but yes. 4 6v batteries are 2 pairs in series and those pairs in parallel. 1 or 2 or 15ea 12v batteries would be wired in parallel.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by wmbuttion

Question If a unit has 4 - 6 volt batteries can you replace them with two 12 volt batteries?

Yes as long as they add up to 12v somehow it doesn't matter.
And I AGREE the speaker was full of beans.
2 6v hooked in series = 12v
4 6v hooked up correctly still = 12v

IF your converter/charger is "over charging" your twin 6v it will do the same
to parallel 12v batteries. The cure for over charging is a better smarter
charger not different batteries- assuming your batteries are ok.

My only suggestion for the OP is place the batteries in individual plastic
battery boxes. Make sure the storage where the batteries are kept is
well ventilated. Battery fumes will condense into weak acid. I just had to
remove my plastic battery boxes and clean and re-paint the angle iron
rack they sit in due to paint peeling and the start of a white dusty
corrosion on the angle iron. Mine sit out on the tongue where they get
plenty of ventilation. I can imagine how much worse that could be if they
were in a storage hatch.

[cody1884]

This is actually my project for today. Batteries boiled over and leaked acid in the battery compartment and ate the paint and is now rusting. Removing the batteries to fix the damage and repainting.

[DDC]

Get some baking soda and an acid brush or new paint brush, bowl of warm water and add baking soda, paint this mixture onto where the paint is peeling and it will neutralize the acid, then rise with fresh water. You may want to get the converter checked to make sure it is not overcharging the batteries causing them to boil and emitting acidic gas that then condenses on the paint.

[youroo]

Apply a mixture of "Baking Soda and Water" made into a paste! After it stops bubbling rinse off with water,allow to dry and prime with?? Youroo!!

[KyDan]

[QUOTE=youroo;1623861..... snip...,allow to dry and prime with?? Youroo!! [/QUOTE]

I'm old school. Rustoleum oil base gloss black still works about as good as
it gets. Get a hand full of those cheap "chip" brushes at your favorite
big box home supply store or the paint dept at Wally World. Don't bother
trying to clean the brush - just toss it.

[BandJCarm]

These batteries fit but a razor blade wouldn't go between them. No way a battery box would fit for all four. I WISH it would, great idea!!!

One of my wanted mods, that will take a big effort by a body shop or some such, is to remove that door, cut out a BIG opening, put in a big door with a slam latch like the basement door........and a MOrryde sliding tray that fits, and make this accessible. I'd pay eleven or nine dollars for such a device.

Course, doing that.......I'd get it repainted.

As to the converter, the OEM WFCO 55amp converter was replaced with a Boondocker 65 amp converter. This 'outgassing' or leaking has occurred with both converters.

Short of just sticking some rags in there best I can, not sure what to do.

[BandJCarm]

Originally Posted by youroo

Apply a mixture of "Baking Soda and Water" made into a paste! After it stops bubbling rinse off with water,allow to dry and prime with?? Youroo!!

"Prime with" is probably an easier question than "Where do I find spray paint to match this gelcoat, or whatever it is?" I'd think I'd have to paint the whole J panel.

[OldCoot]

Not on a camper, but the 200-2005 Cadillac Devilles have the battery under the rear seat cushion and the battery has dual vent holes and a dual rubber hose attached to the vents that go into a Y and vent out thru the floor thru a rubber grommet. Pretty neat, but a PITA to get the battery out.

[babock]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Not on a camper, but the 200-2005 Cadillac Devilles have the battery under the rear seat cushion and the battery has dual vent holes and a dual rubber hose attached to the vents that go into a Y and vent out thru the floor thru a rubber grommet. Pretty neat, but a PITA to get the battery out.

Yes, my mom has that on her Buick. One of the reasons I would never buy a GM car(trucks are fine) and I used to work for GM.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by babock

Yes, my mom has that on her Buick. One of the reasons I would never buy a GM car(trucks are fine) and I used to work for GM.

Can't see it as a reason not to buy a GM. It's not like you have to change the battery every year. Some cars you have to remove struts on the fenders to remove the battery. My 05 Silverado is a PITA to change the battery also.

[babock]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Can't see it as a reason not to buy a GM. It's not like you have to change the battery every year.

Yes until the battery leaks and rots a hole in your floorboard.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by babock

Yes until the battery leaks and rots a hole in your floorboard.

I lined the entire area in a material used to make 200,000 gal fuel tanks for the DOD. It is impervious to chemicals. You worry too much about things that rarely happen. Lighten up!

[babock]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

I lined the entire area in a material used to make 200,000 gal fuel tanks for the DOD. It is impervious to chemicals. You worry too much about things that rarely happen. Lighten up!

If it didn't have a chance to happen, why did you coat the entire area with a coating. Apparently you know it can happen like I do.

[ronw]

Has anyone tried these battery vent caps? They are supposed to prevent water loss. I have used them on a golf cart.