65 percent
water solution
.
This solution is called an electrolyte, which causes a chemical reaction that
releases
electrons.
When testing a battery with a
hydrometer, the amount of sulfuric acid in the electrolyte is measured.
If the reading is
low,
the chemistry that makes electrons is lacking.
The sulfur
is now resting on the battery plates
and will remain there
until
the battery is recharged and
the
sulfur returns to the electrolyte.
Absorbed Glass Mat
(AGM) / Dry Cell
The Absorbed Glass Mat battery is
just like a
flooded battery, except the electricity is maintained
in the glass mats, as
opposed to freely flooding the plates.
Very thin fibers are woven into a mat to increase the surface area to hold
sufficient
electrolyte on the
cells for their lifetime.
The construction allows the electrolyte to remain suspended in close
proximity
with the plate's active material,
enhancing
both the discharge and recharge efficiency.
When Deep Cycle AGM batteries are not discharged more than 60 percent,
the cycle life could be approximately
a few
hundred
cycles.
If you do not use or operate your equipment daily,
AGM batteries will hold their charge
better than
most
other types.
In most cases AGM batteries will provide a
greater life span and cycle life than a Wet Cell battery.
AGM batteries are also often referred to as Sealed Regulated Valve, Dry Cell, Non-Spillable, and Valve-Regulated Lead
Acid
batteries.
Gel
Cell Batteries
The Gel Cell is similar to the AGM battery because the electrolyte is suspended; however,
the AGM battery is still
considered to be a wet cell.
The electrolyte in a Gel Cell has a silica additive that causes it to set (gel) or stiffen.
The
recharge voltage on this type of cell is lower than the other types of lead acid batteries, due to the likelihood of
an
adverse reaction
to over-voltage charging.
Gel Cell batteries are best used in very deep
cycle applications and may
last longer in hot weather applications.
House and Chassis Battery Banks
There are two different battery banks in a Newmar coach: House and Chassis.
The House Battery Bank is necessary to operate everything a customer may require in order to live in the unit.
These
batteries can be either 6 Volt deep cycle (all diesel coaches) or 12 Volt deep cycle, depending on the model and brand
of
the coach.
Newmar house batteries are serviceable.
The Chassis Battery Bank supplies power to everything a customer requires to drive the unit.
Currently, Newmar's
chassis batteries are all Liquid Lead Acid.
Spartan and Ford chassis have
serviceable batteries and Freightliner chassis
batteries are sealed.
The type and brand of chassis battery may vary depending on coach year, make, and model.
Chassis batteries may need to be disconnected and removed from the coach to maintain proper electrolyte
levels
or
perform routine battery
maintenance.
House batteries
may be either serviceable
Liquid Lead Acid / Flooded
or AGM
/
Sealed Cell.
Parallel
Battery Wiring
Parallel battery wiring refers to two or more batteries with all positive (+) terminals hooked together and all negative (-)
terminals hooked together.
This results in a battery voltage similar to
that of the individual batteries, typically 12 Volt,
to
boost battery capacity.
Two identical batteries wired parallel will provide twice the electrical storage capacity of one
battery, without increasing voltage.
Series Battery Wiring
Series wiring refers to two or more batteries hooked together, with opposite terminals connected.
The positive (+)
terminal of the first battery should be connected to the negative (-) terminal of the second
battery.
The resulting voltage
is the sum of the individual batteries.
For example,
if two six Volt
batteries are hooked together, the resulting voltage will
be 12 Volts.
Series/Parallel Wiring
Series/ Parallel battery
wiring is
used on Newmar units when four
or more 6 Volt
batteries are used for the house
battery
bank. Since 12 Volts is the desired working voltage from the battery bank, the batteries are connected to
provide
12 Volts
with more capacity.
Two 6 volt batteries
wired together in a series create
a 12 Volt
battery bank.
Two
or more of the 12
Volt battery banks can be connected together in a parallel format to provide more capacity.
In situations where multiple batteries are connected in a series, parallel or series/parallel, replacement batteries should
be the same size, type, and manufacturer (if possible). Age and usage level should be the same as the companion
batteries.
Below are some examples of Newmar battery bank wiring:
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