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07-04-2016, 10:52 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Coquitlam
Posts: 73
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Are my batteries toast?
I took my trailer out of storage on May 20th. When I put it away in the fall, I brought the batteries (twin 6V golf cart batteries) home and charged them once every month or so over winter, and stored them in my garage (which is warm).
I didn't get a full charge in them on May 20th - trailer wasn't plugged in for more than an hour or two while I washed it up and de-winterized. I put it away that day, and took it back out this past Saturday, July 2nd.
They were pretty much dead when I hitched up. Could barely run the tongue jack. I took over manually, towed home (30 min) and plugged in for 4 hours. I moved it again to my summer spot, and after a night of not being plugged in, it could barely operate the tongue jack again the next day.
I have it plugged in now but I am wondering if they are pooched. Batteries should have been relatively fresh when I got it in May.
The guy I bought the TT from didn't remove them over winter and they sat dormant every fall/winter. The TT is a 2013, and the batteries came with it (bought summer 2013), so they are three years old.
Could they be done this early? What should I expect to spend on new ones?
__________________
2015 Ram 3500 Laramie Crew Cummins Diesel
2017 Whitehawk 28DSBH
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07-04-2016, 12:27 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Saskatoon Sask Canada
Posts: 10,726
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Have you checked the water in the Batteries? Never use tap water only distilled. Usually under a buck at Wal-mart. Have you tried using the jack with the trailer plugged into the tow vehicle? There are many phantom loads in an RV that will kill a battery in a week or so.. always pull the fuse at the battery bank or disconnect the black (hot) wire.
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Seann
2004 Chev Silverado Duramax optioned past the max. 2009 Jayco Eagle 308 RLS 900watts of solar, Lithium batteries (400amp hour), 2000 watt (4000 surge) whole house inverter.
145days /2023 2022/151 2021[/COLOR]
93/2020,157/2019219/2018 206/2017,215/2016, 211/2015, 196/14, 247/13, 193/12
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07-04-2016, 01:05 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 277
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Put what you believe to be a full charge on them then take them to your local auto parts store (Napa, Autozone, etc.) They will run a diagnostic on them for free and let you know their condition
__________________
2015 Jayco White Hawk 28dsbh
2014 Ford F150 4x4 w/Ecoboost
H/D tow package
2005 Forest River Rockwood 2601 (Sold)
2011 Ford Expedition XLT (Sold)
2008 Jeep Wrangler (Just for fun!)
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07-07-2016, 07:17 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Central Connecticut
Posts: 564
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Storing them on concrete will kill batteries so i am told
Quote:
Originally Posted by therealsafetya
I took my trailer out of storage on May 20th. When I put it away in the fall, I brought the batteries (twin 6V golf cart batteries) home and charged them once every month or so over winter, and stored them in my garage (which is warm).
I didn't get a full charge in them on May 20th - trailer wasn't plugged in for more than an hour or two while I washed it up and de-winterized. I put it away that day, and took it back out this past Saturday, July 2nd.
They were pretty much dead when I hitched up. Could barely run the tongue jack. I took over manually, towed home (30 min) and plugged in for 4 hours. I moved it again to my summer spot, and after a night of not being plugged in, it could barely operate the tongue jack again the next day.
I have it plugged in now but I am wondering if they are pooched. Batteries should have been relatively fresh when I got it in May.
The guy I bought the TT from didn't remove them over winter and they sat dormant every fall/winter. The TT is a 2013, and the batteries came with it (bought summer 2013), so they are three years old.
Could they be done this early? What should I expect to spend on new ones?
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__________________
2011 GMC Serria Ext Cab LB
2012 Jayflight 22FB
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07-07-2016, 07:27 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Campbell Hall
Posts: 2,835
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edowsfamily
Storing them on concrete will kill batteries so i am told
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Totally debunked myth. Way back when battery cases were rubber, it was believed that concrete would speed up the drying-out (elastomer breakdown) process of the rubber.
Modern (1960's and later) plastic cases don't have that problem.
Not leaving batteries on a trickle/maintenance charger and not checking the water level every month or so, is what I consider abusing the batteries.
To the OP:
Your batteries may not be completely destroyed. But a steady 3 years of abuse has certainly impacted their capacity.
If you don't want the CO detector going off at 3:00AM, consider replacing them if they show any noticeable loss of capacity.
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TT 2015 19RD "TheJayco"
TV 2003 F-350 "Montblanc" - Housebroken chore truck
Sitting in The Cheap Seats.
And proud of it!
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07-07-2016, 07:33 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edowsfamily
Storing them on concrete will kill batteries so i am told
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This was true back in the 40's and early 50's when batteries had a rubber case, now with the plastic cases there are no issues. Below is a section on STORAGE from the Trojan website.
Battery Maintenance | Trojan Battery Company
Don
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07-07-2016, 07:41 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Eatonton
Posts: 305
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For what it is worth I check the water about every two weeks it only takes a few minutes. As for charging 4 hours for a low battery is not a enough time to replenish the voltage. I would slow charge for at least 24hrs before reinstalling.
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07-07-2016, 08:56 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: PNW
Posts: 5,195
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It's possible that your converter isn't working correctly and might not be charging the batteries. Check the voltage at the batteries when plugged in to shore power- it should be 13.5 to 14.4 VDC.
__________________
Bill
2011 Dodge Ram 1500 HEMI Quad Cab
2011 Jay Flight 26BH
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07-07-2016, 09:02 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Coquitlam
Posts: 73
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edowsfamily
Storing them on concrete will kill batteries so i am told
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Have not heard that before, thanks!
I keep them on a thick carpet tile with a rubber base. I think this would have provided a good layer of insulation against the ground. It is 18"x18" so both fit on it fine.
__________________
2015 Ram 3500 Laramie Crew Cummins Diesel
2017 Whitehawk 28DSBH
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07-07-2016, 09:07 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Nashville
Posts: 470
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Sounds like you never really got a full charge on them then you let them discharge from the parasitic loads in the trailer. I doubt they are toast but it's always a good idea to leave batteries on charge long enough to get a full charge. Assuming you have a good automatic charger there's no reason you can't leave them on charge all winter.
I've had 6 VDC batteries in my off grid home that have been on charge for 8 years with no problem.
I'd check the date codes to verify the battery ages too.
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07-07-2016, 09:07 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Upstate N.Y.
Posts: 488
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If you get those 6v really low sometime it takes a act of god to get them charged back again especially two in series / parallel. I usually charge them individually using a low amperage charger.
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