Monaco SIGNATURE 2001 series, Owner'S Manual

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1. Physical Condition:
Active material flakes off the plates and falls to the bottom of the cell.
This is normal, but sediment accumulation under the plates can short out a cell.
The plate separators fail to insulate positive and negative plates in a cell and the
cell becomes shorted, ruining the battery.
2. Insufficient Electrolyte:
This allows exposed portions of the plates to sulfate rapidly. This reduces
the battery’s ability to accept a charge and the battery capacity is reduced.
Accelerated erosion of the lower portions of the plates occur from higher than
normal acid content due to water loss. Only the water evaporates, not the acid.
The battery also has a higher internal resistance when low on water. Add only
distilled water. Fill each cell to the bottom of the vent well when the battery is
warm. Filling a very cold battery with water to the bottom of the vent well will
cause overspill when the battery warms up and the plates expand. A Battery
Formula For Failure: the battery has a higher internal resistance when low on
water, therefore:
high resistance = more heat = shorter battery life!
3. Sulfation:
When a battery remains discharged for too long the accumulated lead sul-
fate in the plate material solidifies and cannot reenter the electrolyte. When a
battery is left in a discharged state the lead sulphate will crystalize. Charging
the battery does not move the crystallized lead sulphate off the battery plate.
The battery is damaged.
4. Overheating:
The chemical reaction inside of the battery is increased when the battery
temperature rises above 125º F. This increases the corrosion of the plates and
reduces the battery life. When overheated, the battery plates tend to buckle and
destroy the structural integrity of the battery.
5. Freezing:
When the electrolyte freezes, ice formed dislodges the active material
from the plates. The battery case may crack and the electrolyte will leak out
when thawed. It is especially important to keep a battery at full charge in cold
weather to prevent freezing. The high specific gravity of a fully charged battery
does not freeze as easily. Never attempt to charge a frozen battery. Warm it up
first.
6. Corrosion:
Corrosion from spilled or splashed electrolyte form deposits that can
conduct electricity and can cause battery drain. Clean off all corrosion, espe-
cially around the battery terminals and on the top of the battery. Prevent
accumulation by coating the terminals and the exposed metal cable connectors
with high temperature grease.
7. Overcharging:
Overcharging rapidly converts water to gas and decreases the electrolyte’s
water content as the water evaporates. The electrolyte level drops and becomes
more acid in content. This subjects the plates to a higher concentration of
sulfuric acid and results in early battery failure.
Electrical Systems - House
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S I G N A T U R E
8 • 2 1 5
Reasons Why
Batteries Fail