Battery (Maintenance Free); Battery (Maintenance Free); Battery Amp Draw And Testing; Battery Cleaning - Airstream Tommy Bahama Interstate Nineteen 2020 Owner's Manual

Maintenance

Battery (Maintenance Free)

Your Airstream Touring Coach is factory-equipped
with a 12V, deep cycle AGM GPL-24T Lifeline battery
located under the unit near the powered step�

Battery Amp Draw and Testing

For maximum battery life in AGM applications, do
not discharge the battery below 50%� Discharging
the battery to 100% will shorten the batteries life� A
battery that is allowed to completely lose its charge will
never regain its original power or a full charge� Once a
battery is discharged, it will begin to sulfate and lose its
capacity and longevity�
For proper load testing the battery should be fully
charged and the voltage should be greater than 12�8
volts� A typical load test should be 3 times the amp
hours for 15 seconds� At the end of 15 seconds the
voltage of the battery should stay above 9�6 volts� If the
battery cannot reach a fully charged voltage of 12�8 or
greater the batteries will need to be equalized�
NOTE
When checking the state of charge the battery
needs to have been disconnected from a charging
source and any loads for a minimum of four hours.
When removing the batteries verify that shoreline
power is not connected and/or the engine is not
running. Risk of electrical shock may be present.
The following chart shows the approximate % of
charge SOC (State of charge) vs� OCV (Open circuit
voltage)�
State of Charge (%)
100
75
50
25
0
Listed voltage levels are approximate and give an
indication of the state of charge of a battery at rest� As
the battery ages these voltage measurements will be
lower�
For more information on charging, storing, and
servicing your batteries please visit Lifeline's website at
Lifelinebatteries�com�
9-6
WARNING
OCV per 12V battery
12�8 or greater
12�5
12�2
11�9
11�6 or less

Battery Cleaning

Battery maintenance is an important issue� Maintain a
clean battery top and check terminals and cables for
tightness and cleanliness� A dirty battery will dissipate
its charge through surface contamination� Clean the
battery top with a damp cloth and dry thoroughly�
To ensure maximum battery capacity on the charge
and discharge, the battery terminals and the inside
portion of the cable connector should be scraped
or brushed� The terminals should be tight and free
of corrosion� The battery should be cleaned using
a baking soda and water mix, with a ratio of two
tablespoons of baking soda to a pint of water� The
cable connection should be cleaned and tightened
regularly�
For battery service or replacement, go to a service
station or dealer who sells and services the make of
battery installed in your touring coach�
NOTE
Reconnect the battery cables to the correct
battery posts.

Battery Storage

During the winter, the batteries should be removed
from the touring coach and stored in a cool, dry place,
where there is no danger of freezing� While in storage,
batteries should be boost charged every 90 days or
when the open circuit voltage drops to 12�5 volts�
This OCV corresponds to approximately 75% state of
charge� The following recommendations may be helpful
if the battery is to be stored:
• When storing the battery in a vehicle or vessel, it is
not necessary to leave it on charge� Disconnect the
negative battery cable� This will prevent inadvertent
discharging of the battery which may lead to a
complete discharge�
• Fully charge the battery before putting it in storage
and store in a cool place�
When storing your Atlas and leaving the house,
batteries in place, it is recommended that the
vehicle be plugged into a 120-volt, 30-amp shoreline
connection for 24 to 48 hours every 30 days�
NOTE
A battery will self-discharge 1-3% per month at 80
degrees.
2020 Tommy Bahama Interstate Nineteen