Problem House batteries going dry

[thirdtimesacharm]

I searched but couldn’t find anything on this? Got our new to us coach end of June and checked house batteries (wet) and they were dry? Added 6 gallon of distilled water to them checked them today and they are almost dry again? The Magnum energy controller is showing Absorb Charging: 14.3 +103A?

 

[Greg and Mary Brannon]

I have 2 house battery systems that run inverters, one on a boat with 12, 6-volt GC2 golf cart batteries (10 years), the other on an RV with 4 GC2s (2 years), and I've never had to add that much water. Your battery cases are either damaged and leaking - look for signs, or they're being overcharged and boiling dry or nearly dry.

How old are your batteries and how many do you have in the house bank? How long did it take for them to go dry from when you watered them? How are you watering them? Were the batteries dry or refilled when you recorded the 14.3V/103A? Is your battery charging system always plugged in? I'd be curious to know what happens if you leave the charging system off or unplugged. Does the Magnum system have an inverter? If yes, have you ever used the inverter?

I suspect that the batteries need replacing no matter what you learn here. The batteries that were installed on my boat when I bought it lasted 6 years, but there was an overcharging problem throughout their lives. Still, I never had to add more than ~3 quarts to all 12 batteries and there were never plates exposed.

Best of luck! (Start shopping for new batteries.)

Greg.

 

[lostinfla]

I'm so happy I don't have to deal with wet cells anymore. If you had to add that much water, they are most likely toast. Go with AGM or Lithium for replacements. Lithium will save you a lot of weight and turn that dungeon of a battery compartment to a useful storage area.

 

[DennisT]

If the inverter is staying in absorption mode that is not helping. Should be in float normally.

Our Victron goes into absorption for an hour a week and is in float the rest of the time.

I know when we travel the higher voltage going to the house batteries from the alternator causes them to need more water when we stop.

 

[Wemustrv]

Check the configuration on the energy management system to see what the charge settings are. Make sure they are set for wet cell and not Absorption Glass Mat(AGM) or Lithium. Have you tested the batteries? This high of water usage is bad and to me indicates overcharging.