Exploded Batteries, please help and explain.

[Adria Haynes]

Thanks guys for all the immediate and incredible feedback. It
sounds like I'm going to just get new batteries and where the
charger plugs into the bus - seperate the two with a timer that only
lets them charge for a little bit every day.

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "orbitalsolutions"
wrote:
>
> Adria, you asked, "Shouldn't there be something that stops the
> system from charging batteries that don't need charging?" The
> answer to your question is yes there should be, however there
isn't.
>
> You do not have to go through the hassel of disconnedcting and
> reconnecting the cables all the time.
>
> If you are going to keep the original chargers, that will charge
at
> only a very high voltage when ever they are on, regardless of the
> state of charge of your batteries, then just unplug one of them
and
> put a timer in line with the other, only allowing it to charge for
2
> to 3 hours a day. Many owners do this.
>
> Newer technology allows chargers to sense the charge level of your
> bank and then charge accordingly with out over charging the bank,
> they can be left on all the time. These are called smart chargers
> as they contain a microprocessor that allows them to operate
> constanlty.
>
> I just bought (2) Iota smart chargers from a distributor called
> Master Techs, you can get their number from the Iota Web Page.
They
> cost a little over $300 for both of them and are state of the art
> charger/converters.
>
> Charging technology has come a long way since the time they built
> our 'Birds.
>
> If you have any more questions please ask.
>
>
> -James
> 78FC33SB
> LasVegas NV (cool, breezy, and some strange looking water drops
> falling from the sky that are very seldom seen in these parts.)
>
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Adria Haynes"
> <mrbeebody@> wrote:
> >
> > As far as I know, the inverter/charger/boiler is the original.
> >
> > Shouldn't there be something that stops the system from charging
> up
> > batteries that don't need charging?
> >
> > Aside from buying a new charger (how much are they?) should I
just
> > unhook the battery cables when I'm not using the bus?
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "orbitalsolutions"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Sounds like they were over charged to the point of no
return!!
> I
> > > suspect that you do not have a battery problem but a charging
> > > problem instead.
> > >
> > > This is common for your model 'Bird.
> > >
> > >
> > > Do you still have the original battery boilers, I mean
chargers
> > that
> > > came from Blue Bird? If so than replace them with Iota smart
> > > chargers and you will solve the problem.
> > >
> > > There has been much written here about this subject ...good
luck.
> > >
> > >
> > > -James
> > > 78FC33SB
> > > LasVegas NV
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Adria Haynes"
> > > <mrbeebody@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Guys,
> > > >
> > > > (might wanna grab a coke. I tend to type alot.)
> > > >
> > > > I lurk here alot but almost never post. I've owned my 1980
> 35FC
> > > BB
> > > > for almost 2 years now and am still learning about the ole
> girl.
> > I
> > > > have a problem that I'm hoping you guys can help me with.
> > > >
> > > > When I got her, the batteries that were in it wouldn't hold
a
> > > charge
> > > > for too long since it had been stored for a couple years
with
> > the
> > > > fridge set to electric and killed them. I dealt with it for
a
> > > > while, but decided that I needed to just get new ones.
> > > >
> > > > I went to the Sam's club and talked to the battery guy about
> > what
> > > I
> > > > needed and he sold me on getting (4) of the Exide "golf
cart"
> > > > batteries. They worked great last summer. About a month
> after
> > > our
> > > > vacation when I went to go start her up, it was dead and I
> found
> > > > that "somebody" had left ONE little light on. I decided
then
> > that
> > > > I'd just leave it plugged into shore power through the
winter
> > and
> > > > leave the battery switch by the shifter set to OFF.
> > > >
> > > > I went out about 5-6 weeks ago, flicked on the battery
switch,
> > and
> > > > she fired right up. I let her tun for about 30 minutes and
> all
> > > was
> > > > well. I went out Saturday to do the same, only when I hit
the
> > > key,
> > > > the volts dropped to zero and it would barely even engage
the
> > > > starter selenoid.
> > > >
> > > > I checked the (4) NEW batteries for water and soon
discovered
> > > (while
> > > > adding water) that all four batteries had split along the
same
> > > > vertical seam.
> > > >
> > > > I spoke to a different guy at the Sam's club about it
> yesterday
> > > and
> > > > he was a turd. He started telling me that you can't let 6V
> > > > batteries get that cold (we live in Flint, MI), that I
should
> > know
> > > > not to use a battery that says "golf cart" in a bus, and
that
> I
> > > > needed to convert it over to run 2 deep cycle 12 volt
> batteries
> > > and
> > > > blah blah blah. He pretty much was in "cover our butt" mode
> and
> > I
> > > > pretty much was having none of it - since I bought them on
> THEIR
> > > > recomendation. Needless to say, I forsee myself dealing
with
> > > > somebody at the management level when I return these babies
> very
> > > > soon.
> > > >
> > > > I didn't think there would be any problem with leaving it
> > plugged
> > > in
> > > > since it was made for full timers who would do the same darn
> > thing.
> > > >
> > > > Has anybody else ever experienced this?
> > > >
> > > > Can you explain what happened so that I can try not to
repeat
> > this
> > > > little stunt with GOOD batteries?
> > > >
> > > > Got any other suggestions?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks in advance.
> > > > John
> > > >
> > >
> >
>