Holiday Trip 2012, Owner'S Manual

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2012 Trip
Wear safety glasses and thick rubber
gloves when working around batteries.
Battery tools required: a wire brush, ½”
box-end wrench, adjustable pliers and
a box of baking soda. Prepare a baking
soda/water solution. Keep paper towels
handy.
Rinse batteries thoroughly with water
before disconnecting cables. Remove
all cables large and small. Remove the
batteries, if necessary. If removing the
batteries, the temperature sensors for
the inverter and solar panel will need to
be removed. Double sided sticky tape
will be needed to adhere the sensors
to the battery. The sensor may also be
placed between two batteries.
Wire brush cable ends and battery
posts. Dip the ends of the cables in the
soda solution.
With battery caps securely in place,
carefully apply solution to the
terminals. Using a paper towel, dip it
into the solution and wipe the top of
each battery.
Do not allow solution to get into any
battery cell. This will neutralize the
acid and ruin the battery.
Rinse cables and batteries thoroughly
with clear water.
Use the rest of solution to clean battery
tray. Thoroughly rinse tray, battery area
and sidewall of the motorhome with
water.
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Install the batteries in correct order
noting their relative post location.
Remove old sticky tape from the
temperature sensors. Clean the sensors,
and area on the battery where the
sensors affix. Apply sticky tape to the
inverter temperature sensor. Adhere the
sensor to the battery. Secure the solar
panel thermistor by overlaying the
thermistor with the sticky tape to the
battery. Install tie-downs securing the
batteries into position.
Carefully install all positive cables.
Double check before making each
connection to confirm they are in the
correct location.
Install the negative cables. When
hooking up the ground cable going to
the frame there will be a small spark
indicating a momentary current draw.
This is a normal process of charging
the capacitors in the inverter. If there
is a heavy flash STOP. Double-check
all wiring connections and locations to
ensure correct polarity.
Verify proper voltage in the system
before turning on the main battery
disconnects.
Turn on the main battery disconnect
switches.
WARNING:
Liquid lead acid batteries produce
hydrogen gas while charging.
Hydrogen gas is highly flammable.
Do Not smoke around batteries.
Extinguish all flames in the area.
Hydrogen gas can explode resulting in
fire, personal injury, property damage
or death.
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CAUTION:
Many types of petroleum based
products or battery by-products
can damage the paint finish. If the
chemicals come in contact with
painted surfaces, immediately wash
with a mild automotive detergent and
clear water.
Testing the Battery
A battery can be tested and/or monitored
several ways. The most efficient test of a
battery is to test the electrolyte solution with
a battery hydrometer. Two main styles of
battery hydrometers are available; one type is
a cylinder with graduation marks (preferred),
the other uses a cylinder with floating balls.
Hydrometers can be purchased from most auto
parts stores. The hydrometer tests the battery’s
electrolyte solution measured in specific
gravity. The electrolyte solution is a mixture
of distilled water and sulfuric acid. Distilled
water has a specific gravity reading of 1,000.
The hydrometer is calibrated to this mark at
80º F. Pure sulfuric acid has a specific gravity
of 1,840. The acid is 1.84 times heavier than
water. The electrolyte solution is about 64%
water to 36% acid (fully charged battery). A
fully charged battery at 80º F., has a specific
gravity reading of 1265 per cell.
Hydrometers with cylinder graduation
are graphed and the exact state of specific
gravity can be determined. Draw the
electrolyte solution from a battery cell into
the hydrometer. Note the reading for that cell.
Complete the same test for the rest of the cells
on that battery bank. Temperature affects the
hydrometer readings, the higher the electrolyte
temperature, the higher the specific gravity
reading.