using water

[Tonycamco]

did not check batterys for about a year check them last week i was shocked
that a had to add about 1 gallon of distilled water
i have 2 gc2 deep cycle battery's
is this normal THANKS FOR YOUR QUICK REPLY

TONY

[Davydd]

Living dangerously. I routinely checked the water in my lead-acid batteries before every trip whether it was just a weekend or going to Alaska and back with the theory of once you forget to, that would be time.

[JoePacificNW]

If you had to add a gallon of water to your batteries, they're basically toast......Maybe work for a little while yet, but likely you've taken significant life away and they will begin to discharge quickly......Sorry to hear that.

[Hatteras Jim]

Depends on age and number of charge/discharge cycles, how far they are drained before they are charged again, and type of charger used. The answer to your question, is - a gallon of H2O for two batteries that are used a lot is probably normal over the course of a year. Have they been degraded by lack of maintenance - probably. If they are relatively new batteries (at least a year old if you haven't checked them in a year), you may need to look at your charging system. You should also thoroughly clean the battery compartment when you replace them, especially underneath where it's not too visible. Make sure all cables and connections are clean and not corroded. Remember that the life expectancy of your batteries is also tied to the depth of discharge before recharging. Checking before each trip is a great idea; else, IMO, every 30 days while they are being used and charged. And finally, always replace in pairs. Good luck.

[Ray B]

Originally Posted by Tonycamco

did not check batterys for about a year check them last week i was shocked
that a had to add about 1 gallon of distilled water
i have 2 gc2 deep cycle battery's
is this normal THANKS FOR YOUR QUICK REPLY

TONY

A year? Yes, could easily use a gallon between the 2 batteries. I made a similar but less drastic mistake leaving my rig hooked up to a 30amp pedestal between September and December and not checking levels. I used about a 1/2 gallon between 2 batteries. Sulfation is the killer (sulfur adhering to plates). As my batteries were less than 2 years old I tried desulfating them with a BatteryMinder that not only charges but desulfates. It worked and I saved about $800 as I was going to switch to non-maintenance (AGM) batteries. The $95 for the BatteryMinder 2012 which is now permanently hooked up to my batteries was certainly worth it. There is also a relatively cheap $18 class on DVD that you can get from RV Repair Club which is a primer on RV batteries. They are talking about at least monthly water checks. If you do go with new batteries, stick with quality RV battery names like Lifeline or Trojan, and stay away from Walmart cheapos. A set of batteries should last you 5-7 years.

Ray B.
Daytona Beach

[Tonycamco]

trying to deselfate with battery minder if that don't work lion is the way to go
thanks for your reply

[Ray B]

Tony,

The unfortunate part of the BatteryMinder 2012 is at a little under $100 it can't be used with lithiums when you switch in the future.

If you are planning to go to lithium RV batteries, may I suggest BattleBorn Lifepo4 lithiums. These seem to be the most stable currently, and the price is good at $950 each. It is possible that you may need to upgrade some of your equipment but the BattleBorns are supposed to be essentially plug and play. If you watch YouTubes, Dan & Jen Nevada have 2 recent videos on BattleBorn RV batteries. One is a Q&A and the other is about their install.

We are more limited on budget, but if one is able to afford the upfront cost then lithiums are definitely the way to go economically in the long run and because of the available addition of useable battery power.

Ray B.

[avanti]

Lithium may be the way to go, but only if you fully understand the cold-temperature management issues of Lithium (both in operation and more seriously during storage) and have a plan to deal with them. For many people who don't need the awesome capacity that lithium permits, AGM is a far simpler and more robust choice.