battery

H

hsueh

New member
Dec 23, 1999
10
0
0
Hi All,

I am a new GMCer (and a new RVer), I need some advise from you.

This morning when I tried to start the engin, I found the battery was
dead, even the boost battery was dead also. AAA tow truch came but can not
jump start the engine. The driver said I need a new battery.

Do you have any recommendation on what batter to buy for the engin and
what for the house. I am thinking about replacing them anyway since the previous
owner said this rig has been in storage for most of past three years.

Please tell me the brand and model so I can look for them in local
auto/marin shops.

Thank you very much.

James Hsueh
78 Royale
Fremont, CA
 
Read about batteries on my web page, and consider testing your isolator, it
should not have let all the batts go down together.

gene

>
>Hi All,
>
> I am a new GMCer (and a new RVer), I need some advise from you.
>
> This morning when I tried to start the engin, I found the battery was
>dead, even the boost battery was dead also. AAA tow truch came but can not
>jump start the engine. The driver said I need a new battery.
>
> Do you have any recommendation on what batter to buy for the engin and
>what for the house. I am thinking about replacing them anyway since the
previous
>owner said this rig has been in storage for most of past three years.
>
> Please tell me the brand and model so I can look for them in local
>auto/marin shops.
>
> Thank you very much.
>
>James Hsueh
>78 Royale
>Fremont, CA
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/
 
Hi James,

Now I'm no expert, I myself have had my 73 GMC, RV owner for about 7months.
So that in mind, I replaced all my batteries (4) With the ones I got while
in Antioch, CA. from Costo. I just got costo's best deep cells (2) And two
for an Olds Tornado, One for engine & one for Onan!! 84 month batteries. I
put about 5-6000 miles on my lady since I got it, And Batteries are still
working great!!! (guess they should be tho) I do check water levels and
recharge when returning from trip and before leaving . I also have the
battery shutoff switches on battery posts which I disconnect while coach is
not in use. While hooked to shore power, I let house batteries charge for
aday or so then disconnect my batteries.
I've read that switching to golf cart type Batteries for the house batteries
is better, (longer usage while dry camping,Longer life less weight/size?).
But I have not done that yet,or sure that I am.
About whats draining your batteries? theres alot of devices that still use
alittle power while off, to maintain memory, Clock etc like TV, radio. But
being that your coach has sat for three years might be your biggest problem.
you can check/have someone check your electric system to find the problem if
there is one. I'm not real good at this so maybe others will jump in. I do
like the battery post shutoff switches tho, That way I know there's no power
to coach, and to me its no problem to reset all when I switch batteries back
on. Just my 1/2 cent worth. hope it helps alittle.

Ron&Gina
73 Pumpkin-Rose
Ft. Mohave, AZ. Got JRslaten's valves, and my tranny pan and sender, Now
I have to find time to install. But its cold now!! 64degs. 8-)>

- ----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2000 2:55 PM
Subject: GMC: battery

>
> Hi All,
>
> I am a new GMCer (and a new RVer), I need some advise from you.
>
> This morning when I tried to start the engin, I found the battery was
> dead, even the boost battery was dead also. AAA tow truch came but can not
> jump start the engine. The driver said I need a new battery.
>
> Do you have any recommendation on what batter to buy for the engin and
> what for the house. I am thinking about replacing them anyway since the
previous
> owner said this rig has been in storage for most of past three years.
>
> Please tell me the brand and model so I can look for them in local
> auto/marin shops.
>
> Thank you very much.
>
> James Hsueh
> 78 Royale
> Fremont, CA
 
Here are some ideas. If you think you have something draining the battery, you
can put an ampmeter in the circuit by disconnecting one side of the battery
cable to the ampmeter and the other side of the ampmeter to the battery. It
will read a discharge equal to the draw. Then you can take things off the
circuits and see the effect it has. When you are down to zero, if that's where
you want to be, then you will know what was causing the draining of the
battery.
al

>
> > I am a new GMCer (and a new RVer), I need some advise from you.
> >
> > This morning when I tried to start the engin, I found the battery was
> > dead, even the boost battery was dead also. AAA tow truch came but can not
> > jump start the engine. The driver said I need a new battery.
> >
> > Do you have any recommendation on what batter to buy for the engin and
> > what for the house. I am thinking about replacing them anyway since the
> previous
> > owner said this rig has been in storage for most of past three years.
> >
> > Please tell me the brand and model so I can look for them in local
> > auto/marin shops.
> >
> > Thank you very much.
> >
> > James Hsueh
> > 78 Royale
> > Fremont, CA
 
Jerry, I was told that once you removed the power to the computer, it would
start all over. I know this is probably true as I had a 43 error light, and
changed some of the stuff and it stayed on.... unplugged the computer cables
and plugged them in again, and the message went away. Don't know if this
helps, but that's what I did and that's what it told me.
al

> On the subject of battery drain while parked; I would like to also use a
> battery cutoff switch but what about the computer for my Howell TBI? I
> understand it needs a constant 12 volts in order to retain what it has
> stored about my engine. Is this data that important and how long does it
> take to relearn this stuff?
> Snowing in New Mexico
> Jerry
 
On the subject of battery drain while parked; I would like to also use a
battery cutoff switch but what about the computer for my Howell TBI? I
understand it needs a constant 12 volts in order to retain what it has
stored about my engine. Is this data that important and how long does it
take to relearn this stuff?
Snowing in New Mexico
Jerry
 
I was just reading a fuel injection book and says the computer does store
the engine conditions. They say to keep the power on.

I am not sure how long it takes to relearn the engine info. I think our
systems are simple compared to the modern systems so would think it should
not take too many miles.

gene

>On the subject of battery drain while parked; I would like to also use a
>battery cutoff switch but what about the computer for my Howell TBI? I
>understand it needs a constant 12 volts in order to retain what it has
>stored about my engine. Is this data that important and how long does it
>take to relearn this stuff?
>Snowing in New Mexico
>Jerry
>
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/
 
Emory,

You are right! Everyone should pick up a DVM (digital volt meter). They
are cheap now and the cheapest one does just fine for what you would use it
for on the coach.

It will tell you so much and get you out of so many jams that you need to
have one at all times.

I try to never be without mine. I carry my "silver box" where ever I go.
In it among the pliers, srew divers and such is a test light probe and a
DVM. If you friend has electrical wowes, you can usually get a free beer
if you pull out the DVM. How do you think I keep a smile on my face at the
Intl. rallies.

Everyone, please go out and pick up a DVM, you need it!!!

JIm Bounds
- ---------------------------

>

>
>cables in the evening and looked for a spark. Big spark = big draw, little
>spark = little draw.
>
>That was what I had to do in my penniless student days!
>
>Larry Davick >>
>
>Larry - your solution of a big spark / little spark is ingenious. However,
>you can now buy a VOM (volt-ohm-meter) for under $10. I saw one recently at
>Home Depot. It is a very useful tool. You can check both your 12v DC and
>120 v AC, use it to measure continuity on the ohm scale and there is a DC
>milliamp scale that would be perfect for checking for low current flow at
the
>battery.
>
>This meter will be more than adequate for doing all the checks shown in the
>Maintenance Manual for the coil, electronic module, pickup coil, check for
>voltage at the furnace, refrig., etc. and would be a good addition to your
>GMC tool box.
>
>Emery Stora
>77 Kingsley
>Santa Fe, NM
>
>
 
>
> cables in the evening and looked for a spark. Big spark = big draw, little
> spark = little draw.
>
> That was what I had to do in my penniless student days!
>
> Larry Davick >>
>
> Larry - your solution of a big spark / little spark is ingenious. However,
> you can now buy a VOM (volt-ohm-meter) for under $10. I saw one recently at
> Home Depot. It is a very useful tool. You can check both your 12v DC and
> 120 v AC, use it to measure continuity on the ohm scale and there is a DC
> milliamp scale that would be perfect for checking for low current flow at the
> battery.
>
> This meter will be more than adequate for doing all the checks shown in the
> Maintenance Manual for the coil, electronic module, pickup coil, check for
> voltage at the furnace, refrig., etc. and would be a good addition to your
> GMC tool box.
>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Santa Fe, NM

- ----------------------------------------------------------------

Emery, one word of caution for anyone not familiar w/VOM meters (I'm sure you're
already aware of it): Be sure the current you are about to measure does not
exceed the maximum scale available on the VOM. If it does, it's bye-bye to the
meter.


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