evafla
south california
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Joined: 10/04/2007
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Hello;
Maybe someone can help .
We are now in Valle de Bravo, about 100 km from Mexico City .
We have solar panels, for 7 months our source
of electricity worked fine .
We have 3 batteries, 1 year old (came with rv), 9 months old (added
when solar panels were instaled), both
deep cycle, and one 3 months old, bought in Mexico .
I do not know what kind of battery is this one .
About two weeks ago, we were in the area with cloudy weather . Batteries went low . We add water, connected to electricity, level went up .
Everything was O.K. for 6 days, sun start to shine again .
Now, for 3 last days batteries are low again, and they
do not charge at all, we are connected to electricity ,
weather is perfect .
I have two questions .
1. place where we are staying, besides camping is the place,
where boats are stored . The owner charges boats batteries,
does it make sense to ask him to charge our batteries ?
2. does any rv service place exist in the area where we are ,
do we have chance to buy new deep cycle batteries without going back to US ?
thank for help
eva
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robatthelake
Vancouver Island
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Joined: 08/24/2003
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I Would approach the Owner and ask Him to Test and Charge Your Batteries. The chances are that there will be someone who can get You operational! Don't hold Your Breath Looking for an RV Repair Place as they don't exist in Mexico!
Sorry there are 2 that I know of one in San Jose del Cabo and another is San Phillipe.
Rob & Jean
Dutch Star Diesel Pusher ..Tracker 4X2
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bilmo
Fulltime
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Joined: 07/29/2006
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sorry I don't know much about your problems. First guess is mixing batteries of various ages sort of makes them the same age as the oldest. Do you have a controller to make sure that your batteries aren't being overcharge which is what it sounds like to me. Try to have your batteries charged--sure it can't be too expensive. He should be able to tell you if your batteries are shot.
We have purchased deep cycle group 27 batteries at both Sam's Club and Costco in Mexico--cheapest place we could find. think a Walmart may have them also. Probably can go online to find the nearest location to you.
BillMoRex&Princess
'06 Chev D/A--'08 Cardinal 35 SB
Fulltiming since 8/93
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi evafla,
Unless batteries are extremely low on electrolyte (plates not covered) it is unwise to add water when they are discharged. What happens is that when charging the fluid level in the cells rises. I would have a look at the batteries and see if the tops are wet. (BE CAREFUL as there is a fairly strong acid.) If they are wet, then rinse off the top and then use some baking soda to neutralize the acid. Do not get any soda into the cells.
Did you add distilled water?
When you disconnect from AC power what is the voltage displayed on the solar charge controller? If it is very low the batteries may have failed.
Perhaps the owner can recommend a place to purchase batteries?
Good luck!
evafla wrote:Hello;
Maybe someone can help .
We are now in Valle de Bravo, about 100 km from Mexico City .
We have solar panels, for 7 months our source
of electricity worked fine .
We have 3 batteries, 1 year old (came with rv), 9 months old (added
when solar panels were instaled), both
deep cycle, and one 3 months old, bought in Mexico .
I do not know what kind of battery is this one .
About two weeks ago, we were in the area with cloudy weather . Batteries went low . We add water, connected to electricity, level went up .
Everything was O.K. for 6 days, sun start to shine again .
Now, for 3 last days batteries are low again, and they
do not charge at all, we are connected to electricity ,
weather is perfect .
I have two questions .
1. place where we are staying, besides camping is the place,
where boats are stored . The owner charges boats batteries,
does it make sense to ask him to charge our batteries ?
2. does any rv service place exist in the area where we are ,
do we have chance to buy new deep cycle batteries without going back to US ?
thank for help
eva
Regards, Don
Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts solar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries 2500 watt inverter.
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crandle
Campbell River, BC, Canada
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I agree that your problems probably started with mixing new and old batteries. The best thing to do would be to replace them. I would suggest two or four 6 volt golf cart batteries but cannot remember ever seeing any for sale in Mexico.
My Mexico Blog
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smkettner
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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I would ask the boatman to charge and test your battery. Have you checked your converter and/or solar is putting out approximately 13.6 volts onto the battery terminals? Are any of the batteries boiling more than the others or warm?
Otherwise I would ask the boatman for deep cycle as in trolling not starting and hope for the best with a new set. Maybe search for a walmart. Good luck.
http://www.walmartmexico.com.mx/dir_wm_e.html
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
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mexbungalows
las peñas, michoacan, mexico
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Joined: 06/01/2007
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Auto Parts Stores (refaccionarias) sell battery hydrometers. There is NO OTHER WAY to tell if a wet cell battery is good or bad. Have your batteries charged, and then maintained at a low charge of 10 - 15 amps setting on the charger for 5 hours more.
Check each cell with the hydrometer. Is the electrolyte clear or cloudy. If cloudy end of test, end of battery. Electrolyte must not have smoky or red tint, must be crystal clear.
If battery cannot be charged to the point where a hydrometer confirms that the battery is fully charged, it either has not been charged long enough or is bad. Give the charging process time, at least eight to twelve hours. You have to make the person charging the batteries understand this and not have him nod yes and think no.
CARGA DOCE HORAS MINIMO CON NO MAS QUE 15 AMPS Y NO MENOS QUE 10 AMPS.
Limited supply of RV deep cycle batteries now available in some parts of Mexico: Brand name LTH, group 27, label, Ciclo Profundo.
Hope This Helps,
David
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi mexbungalows,
That would not work to well for an AGM battery. There are other ways test wet cell batteries.
mexbungalows wrote:Auto Parts Stores (refaccionarias) sell battery hydrometers. There is NO OTHER WAY to tell if a wet cell battery is good or bad. Have your batteries charged, and then maintained at a low charge of 10 - 15 amps setting on the charger for 5 hours more.
Check each cell with the hydrometer. Is the electrolyte clear or cloudy. If cloudy end of test, end of battery. Electrolyte must not have smoky or red tint, must be crystal clear.
If battery cannot be charged to the point where a hydrometer confirms that the battery is fully charged, it either has not been charged long enough or is bad. Give the charging process time, at least eight to twelve hours. You have to make the person charging the batteries understand this and not have him nod yes and think no.
CARGA DOCE HORAS MINIMO CON NO MAS QUE 15 AMPS Y NO MENOS QUE 10 AMPS.
Limited supply of RV deep cycle batteries now available in some parts of Mexico: Brand name LTH, group 27, label, Ciclo Profundo.
Hope This Helps,
David
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moisheh
North America
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Joined: 05/04/2002
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6 volt Golf Cart battereies are available but not at the Costco/ Sam's price of about $70.00 Try anywhere from $130 to $180!!! This was from battery distributors. They might be cheaper from a golf cart store.
Moisheh
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evafla
south california
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Joined: 10/04/2007
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Hello to All;
First of all I want to say thak you very much
to everybody who answer to my post .
Unfortunately batteries problem saga did not come yet
to happy ending .
We had batteries charged, they seemed to be O.K. ,
voltage after charging was how suppose to be .
However after putting them back dropped down again,
and they are not getting charged from solar panels .
We were looking desperately for the place ,
where someone can help us.
We found the place in Veracruz.
link
We gave them a call, my husband (Spanish native) talked to the engineer
over there, and we have appointment for the next week .
They said they will fix our problem . We will see .
By ocation I would like to recommend camping where we spend almost 3 weeks in Valle de Bravo . Very beautiful place with large lake and
very nice town .
To get to the place where we camp, you need to go to San Gaspar del
Lago part, and make turn to the lake from main road next to hotel
El Brinco de las Ranas . You will see stored boats .
The name of the owner of the marina is Santiago .
We paid 100 pesos a day, were connected to electricity, have acces to
water, for 20 pesos extra were able to get hot shower, clean bathroom. Santiago is very nice and friendly.
During week days we had place for us only . On weekend came few people
with tents, no problem .
Very charming place, beautiful views, weather simply perfect .
When we explored around, avaiable camping cost from 300 pesos up,
and in our opinion was not so nice like the one when we were .
We made few interesting day trips to surrounding small towns in the mountains, and we visited Toluca .
If not the problem with our solar, I would say perfect
vacation from travel .
greetings
eva
camping
* This post was
edited 11/19/09 09:00pm by evafla *
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