Battery Maintenance or How to Keep my Batteries Healthy

First, lets start with a little help from Trojan Battery Company.

Trojan, has a library for understanding and maintaining flooded wet cell batteries.

Link Link to Multi Media Files 

Next, lets look at battery connections, that is, ensuring the battery terminals are clean and free of corrosion.

The first step is mixing water and baking soda in a container. Once mixed, if necessary, remove the cables one at a time from each battery. This then allows you to pour over the battery, allowing the solution remove the battery acid from terminal and the tops of the batteries. Using an old towel, wipe off any excess solution.

Next, I like to use a battery cleaner:

Something like what you see above. Spray, both the terminals and the top. Follow the instructions.

Next, if need be, pour some of the baking soda solution into a cup (I like red solo), and then place the terminal end of the battery cable into the cup and allow to soak. Once done, rinse and dry off.

Now that the batteries and terminals are clean, you are now ready to add a protector to the terminals with cables connected. Now you can use something like this:

Or you can use grease or petroleum jelly, to cover the terminals.



Now, your done, whoops, I may have left out a few more things to do.

Next when was the last time you exercised your batteries. Not an extended exercise, but allow then to drain for 30 to 60 minutes and then allowed to recharged?

Many people believe this is a waste of time, however, I use this to measure the effectiveness of my battery system and their health.

Once the battery charger is back in the float stage, I use my battery hydrometer to check effective charge rate by measuring the specific gravity of the battery solution. I prefer this type of hydrometer and not the plastic variety:

To read and understand what you are looking at:






To understand how to determine the health of your batteries using a hydrometer, I will refer you back to the Trojan Multi Media link and watch this video:
“Determining the Health of a Deep-Cycle Battery”.
Finally, if it is determined, that your batteries are not being fully charged, I will refer you to this video on, Battery Equalization, at the Trojan Multi Media link at the top:
“ Equalization is Key to Extending Battery Life and Performance “.
See your Battery Charger/Inverter for instructions on how to perform this operation. By doing this once or twice a month, you will be extending your batteries life and performance.

Link to More Information on Batteries


The instructions are extremely helpful prior to going dry camping / boon docking.


From DaGirls Rv Aka Dakota & Tilly

Chama, New Mexico–Day 22 and Counting Down

Our day outing today was Georgia O'keeffe and Ghost Retreat just north of our CG.

If you are in the area, a stop is nice, but unless you are into hiking, horse-back riding, or taking a walking tour and looking at the small museums, you can really you can get a better perspective by reading.

Ok, so, after that we drove north to Chama, NM. Chama is just 8 miles from the Colorado state line. Which I did not know at the time. But we walked around, visited the train depot and even had lunch at a small Mexican/American restaurant.

Anyway, once done it was time to head back, get ready for dinner and prepare to leave in the morning.

I know, I know, sometimes I am very winded and other times very short, either way, I try to leave a little information as to where we have been, and where we ae going. Taking Photos always help, people decide whether or not to visit the places where we have been.

Remember our Rv is 40 Ft., so if we can do it so can you. Sometimes all it takes is a little work on leveling. Remember no tires off the ground.

Dale
DaGirls Travels
Aka Dakota & Tilly
Safe Travels and Journeys
http://dagirlsrv.blogspot.com/
You Tube Video - Roadrunner Song

Santa Fe, NM - Day 24 and Counting

We arrived around 10:30 in Santa Fe. This was after stopping off at a Campground and refueling our propane tank. Let me warn you, when doing this take a close look and do not trust anyone. We were directed around  and got almost in too tight, only to find out the refueling was on our passenger side.

Anyway, to high of price, places charge prices for a free by-product from making gas. Propane was a product that they would burn off. RIP-OFF.

Anyway, we are staying at the Elks Lodge, along with 2 other Rv's. Folks, if you stay at a lodge, DONATE something to these lodges. As some are in dire straights and need all the help they can get. DON"T LEAVE without GIVING SOMETHING.

Remember the creed of the brotherhood.

Off of the rants.

We managed to reach John Kurz and ended up having dinner along with Jennifer and a visiting guest. Lovely time was had by all.

No photos this time around.

Dale
DaGirls Travels
Aka Dakota & Tilly
Safe Travels and Journeys
http://dagirlsrv.blogspot.com/
You Tube Video - Roadrunner Song

On DaRoad to AIBF–Countdown 32 Days

So, here it is travel day. Awoke early and decided to get up and read a little before takeoff.

After reading the news and checking on the weather, decided to write a little. We definitely have had a great time at the Derr Family farm. We have been invited back for the Breaun's Granduation Celebration (early May) and anytime in the area. We definitely love our time here.

Plan, well, no real plan except to head to Liberal, Kansas. Where we plan on spending a day or two checking our the area. The fairground has camping at a very reasonable rate, so, we will be stopping and looking around.

I currently see the temps will be heading back to the low 90’s by the time we enter into New Mexico.

Somewhere along the way, I will complete the purchase of 2 more 6 Vdc batteries. This will bring our Amp Hour Capacity to 880 amps. This should allow less time on the generator use due to nighttime usage.

So, what can I leave you with?

This is my take on a burial plot:

So, when you are gone and buried, who’s going to take care of the ground? 

Side note: Every time we travel back to Chicago area, I visit my Grandmother and Aunt's at St. Adlebert's. I have learned to call a month ahead to have them clean and raise headstones up to ground level - perpetual maintenance they call it.... So 

I leave this for you to ponder, if you aren't here, who's going to do it this for you and visit your gravesite?

Dale
DaGirls Travels
Aka Dakota & Tilly
Safe Travels and Journeys
http://dagirlsrv.blogspot.com/
You Tube Video - Roadrunner Song
.

On the Road to AIBF - Tisdale's Coach

Ok, so, we have been very busy getting the Tisdale's coach ready for paint. We have completed and painted the driver's side, front and rear caps. The last 2 twos days we have completed the passenger's side prep work.

Today Friday) is paint day.

We decided to stay an extra week to help Dwight accomplish this task and enjoy more time with friends. With this done, Dwight can start working on the smaller things. The coach is looking very good, he has just about taken it all apart, sealed, cleaned and reassembled.

As for us:
Rewired my solar panels to produce 80Vdc instead of 40Vdc. Higher voltage lower current coming down the wire to my MPPT controller.

Susan has made major changes to the bathrooms. She has added back splashes and using the same material made a photo collage wall. I installed a Talavia sink for her that we bought in Rocky Point on last trip. Also added new faucet.

Removed the sink in the toilet room, polished it, and added water cut-off valves. 

I also redid the sewer compartment, never liked the sewer outlet never exit angle. So a little cutting and shaping. My sewer hose now goes straight down. This project took less than a hour. 

And of course many beer 30's, after working, of course, the Brisket Sunday. Andy, Dwight's son-in-law is a very good smoker. Dwight always say's the Traeger was the best birthday present he purchased for is son-in-law. 

And of Course a Photo of Dakota, showing us a new thing she taught herself:

Dale

DaGirls Travels

Aka Dakota & Tilly

Safe Travels and Journeys

http://dagirlsrv.blogspot.com/

You Tube Video - Roadrunner Song

Changes Completed - Battery Frame

You read where we/I started our new battery box configuration changes. Changes you ask? Why? Didn't the Alfa come with Qty. 6, 6Vdc batteries? Yes, but since we dry-camp alot, we really need the extra storage capacity. So, with this change, we can use the following size/type of batteries:
T-105, T-125, T-145 and even the L16 size batteries.

Battery frame on the passenger side:

Battery Frame on the Driver's side:

Here is an excellent example of the different capacity of the battery sizes:

	Length		Width		height		Lbs	$$$
T-105	10.3		7.11	28.44	11.07	447	62	133
T-125	10.3		7.11	28.44	11.07	448	66	165
T-145	10.3		7.11	28.44	11.9	530	72	193
J305H-AC	11.6		7	28	14.5	781	98	210
J305E-AC	12.1		7	28	14.5	645	83	239
L16P-AC	11.6		7		16.7	850	114	319

Time will tell, when we upgrade our batteries, for now we will add 2, bringing up our system to Qty., 8, 6Vdc batteries.

So, I will leave you with a few more photos:

Safe Travels and Journeys 

from DaGirls, Dakota & Tilly