Battery experts

[squirrelbox]

My two 6 volt batteries have served me well over the last 6 years. We only dry and boonedock camp mostly 6 to 10 days at a time. While not in use I check and charge accordingly. This last year over the winter I have noticed that the batteries do not seem to last long before they need to be charged again without use. I just charged them last week. They charged to !2.4 volts but now are already after one week without use down to 11.9 volts. I know the answer I fear, are they done?

[Tenttrailer]

It sounds like they are going.   have you checked each of the battery to see if it only one of them.  If it was me I would replace them. You got good life out on them. 

I had a friend when the battery was starting to go bad would drain them and add new acid.  He claimed 3 out of 4 times it would buy him additional life.  I don't want to find out in the middle of the night, so I would replace them

[ghacker]

Could be time for new ones. Have you checked the fluid levels and the specific gravity of the cells? Are the T-105s?

[beemerphile1]

Only 12.4?  According to this chart, that is less than fully charged;


Do you have a good charger like the VEC 1093DBD?
http://www.blackanddecker.com/power-tools/VEC1093DBD.aspx

If so you could run a few desulfation and equalization cycles to maybe bring the battery bank back.

Six years is approaching the end of their life, I always try to get 6 - 8 years from batteries.

[Tenttrailer]

That battery charger looks like the real deal. I look at the high tech battery chargers a few years ago and they were all over $250.  On amazon the black and decker is around $100.  I'm puting it on my wish list.

[squirrelbox]

You have confirmed what I guess I already knew. At the end of last season I could only get 12.4 total charge. I didnt think much of it until I charged them up this winter and again last week. I guess I will replace them.  My battery guy who is an independent dealer has some used interstates That he says have at least half life left. He will sell them to me for 40 bucks a piece. I have been buying batteries from him for twenty years. The ones I have now are exides that were sitting in a factory for a year used specifically to start a generator in emergencies. Those he sold me for 70 bucks a piece. I guess I am happy they lasted this long. They have served me well. Thanks for the replies

[wavery]

I agree with the others.... sounds more like a battery charger problem then a battery problem. The battery charger should take the batteries up to over 14V even if the batteries are bad. It's what the voltage reads after 24 hours of being off the charger that tells the story.

Now, if you are saying that you charge them up to 14+v, then the next morning they read 12.4, that's a whole different story.

If you want us to help you out, we need more info. You also didn't say whether you checked the water level.

I will agree that 6 years is a pretty good run but if you have a bad charger or the batteries are low on water, you may be tossing out good batteries.

Never put new electrolyte in an old battery. Once the battery reaches full specific gravity, changing the electrolyte can do more harm than good. It can even be dangerous.

[beemerphile1]

You have confirmed what I guess I already knew. At the end of last season I could only get 12.4 total charge...

Okay, but that sounds more like a problem with your charger.  If the new batteries are never charged fully they won't last.

[mfeeley]

Maybe you should try another charger...from what I'm reading it sounds like that's what the group is trying to say, it might not be your batteries.  I bought a cheap-o marine/deep cycle battery for my first PUP from Wally World...never took care of it, abused the crap out of it and it lasted 8 years and was going strong when I sold the PUP!  I also had a Optima redtop in my TV that just crapped out after 10 YEARS!!!!  I'm the last guy to ask about batteries, however if the battery won't go above 12.4 that sounds fishy, and I think the group has a valid point.  6 years is a long time, but I'm proof that they can go longer.  I'd try a buddies charger first...if you get the same results then buy the discounted ones and get to camping!  Good luck.

m

[squirrelbox]

This is good advice, I appreciate it. I will admit that I know only about 5/8s of what I need to know. The charger I am using is a schumacher sc-600. I do not know how adequate it is. I should also mention that my volt meter is very old and is not digital. All I know is that for the last 6 years my batteries always charged to 12.6 or higher using my old volt meter and now they do not. Thanks for the help I really appreciate it. Good to learn. Also, I always check water level and have never let it get low. If my charger is inadequate I will get another upon recommendation.

[squirrelbox]

I agree with the others.... sounds more like a battery charger problem then a battery problem. The battery charger should take the batteries up to over 14V even if the batteries are bad. It's what the voltage reads after 24 hours of being off the charger that tells the story.

Now, if you are saying that you charge them up to 14+v, then the next morning they read 12.4, that's a whole different story.

If you want us to help you out, we need more info. You also didn't say whether you checked the water level.

I will agree that 6 years is a pretty good run but if you have a bad charger or the batteries are low on water, you may be tossing out good batteries.

 Wavery are you asking me if I have checked the batteries immediately after charging ? I have not , I have only checked them 6 or more hrs. after charge. They have always been at minimum 12.6 volts and have held their charge until use. I have always positively never let them go low on water and have never let them drop below 80% when not in use. When in use I have let them drop no lower than 40% and have charged them back up as soon as possible. How do I tell if my charger is adequate? I have checked it while charging and get a reading of 14 plus volts while charging. I have purchased a digital volt meter and last charge I read 12.8 volts immediately after charge, But 2 days later am down to 12.54 volts. My charger that I have been using is   http://www.batterychargers.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductName=94026804ACP (sorry dont know how to make stuff linkable)  am I under charging?
Beemerphile have you successfully desulfated batteries?
Never put new electrolyte in an old battery. Once the battery reaches full specific gravity, changing the electrolyte can do more harm than good. It can even be dangerous.

[wavery]

I agree with the others.... sounds more like a battery charger problem then a battery problem. The battery charger should take the batteries up to over 14V even if the batteries are bad. It's what the voltage reads after 24 hours of being off the charger that tells the story.

Now, if you are saying that you charge them up to 14+v, then the next morning they read 12.4, that's a whole different story.

If you want us to help you out, we need more info. You also didn't say whether you checked the water level.

I will agree that 6 years is a pretty good run but if you have a bad charger or the batteries are low on water, you may be tossing out good batteries.

Wavery are you asking me if I have checked the batteries immediately after charging ? I have not , I have only checked them 6 or more hrs. after charge. They have always been at minimum 12.6 volts and have held their charge until use. I have always positively never let them go low on water and have never let them drop below 80% when not in use. When in use I have let them drop no lower than 40% and have charged them back up as soon as possible. How do I tell if my charger is adequate? I have checked it while charging and get a reading of 14 plus volts while charging. I have purchased a digital volt meter and last charge I read 12.8 volts immediately after charge, But 2 days later am down to 12.54 volts. My charger that I have been using is   http://www.batterychargers.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductName=94026804ACP (sorry dont know how to make stuff linkable)  am I under charging?

If the battery charger is charging the battery @ 14+V... the problem is not the charger. You pretty well dismissed that in this post.

Sounds like the batteries are just old and tired.

Even if one battery was salvageable, that would be pretty useless because 6V batteries need to be purchased as a matched pair. Sounds like it's time to go shopping my friend.

BTW..... Only use "Distilled water" in your batteries. Quickest way to kill a battery is to put tap water in it.