Camp, Forrest, Camp!
Boise, ID
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Joined: 10/28/2002
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I can usually run 4 days with both batteries charged and little driving. I was quite shocked when my water pump could barely move water and my low-voltage alarm went off before we even went to bed the second night despite four hours of driving.
I checked the water levels and they were LOW. I used a half-gallon of DI water to refill both batteries. We use our camper in the winter and I need my rig to go for two nights in single-digit temps running a furnace and CPAP or my wife will leave me for a Best Western. I don't know exactly what happens to a battery when the water runs low. What do I need to look at to know if these batteries are still good?
I don't know how it happened because I am very good about checking my water levels to account for high heat and use. I discovered after our last outing that one of the wires on one of the battery quick-connects was loose. I have a suspicion that the poor connection was fooling the charger in the camper and it overcharged them.
-2000 Chevy K3500 CC DRW. 7.4L, Auto, 1985 Lance 900, 1999 Bayliner Capri 1800LS Outboard
-Air Lift bags, Torklift tie-downs, Superhitch w/48", Rancho RS9000X, K&N FIPK, MagnaFlow exhaust, Hypertech.
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PopBeavers
San Jose, CA
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Joined: 03/19/2005
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If it was only low for a short period of time (weeks not months) I would add the DI water and the run a couple of charge cycles of desulfate mode followed by a couple of cycles of equalize mode.
On the other hand, since your need for reliable batteries is almost critical, I would get new batteries.
Wayne in San Jose
TV1:2002 Chevy 1500HD 4wd Crew Cab,Valley Odyssey brake ctlr,McKesh mirrors
TV2:2008 GMC 2500HD long bed 4wd Crew Cab,GMC brake ctlr,GMC mirrors
TT:Trailmanor 2720
Honda 2000
Yamaha WR250R,Polaris Sportsman 700 X2,Polaris Scrambler 500
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RJsfishin
Winston Or.
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Joined: 10/16/2007
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If the batts are 3 yrs or older, I doubt there is much hope, If newer, I have seen them perform as normal. But if you have to depend on them, and you have no generator, I'd replace them, or get them commercially tested before I would have to depend on them.
Rich
'98 Flair, 454, Onan Microlite 4k, Intel PD 9155 w/ wizard, Sta-power 1500 watt Inv, 2 6v batts, ammeters, KingDome/sat, Oly Catalytic Heat, hauling 2 Bent Bikes and sometimes towing a Tracker F&S boat.
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trop-a-cal
Palm Coast Fl
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Joined: 09/24/2007
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That sounds very posible, as that would boil the batteries. The adding of water might work. Sometimes it makes them go flat (no acid) which can only be fixed by adding battery acid, which is available at most auto stores.
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pfunk
Shelby Township, MI
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Joined: 08/12/2008
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I am not recommending you do this yourself, at my freinds shop we would high voltage deep cycle batteries (plates are thick) and it would "clean" the plates, add electrolite and sometimes they worked, sometimes they had a shorted cell. ONLY let a battery person do this as it can short in your face (like an automotive electrical shop)
2000 Holiday Rambler Endeavor
300 Cat 6spd Ally
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old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
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Joined: 03/15/2006
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tell you what the battery stores do to jump start or should say rejuvenate batteries. they put the charger on jump start or the highest amps and leave it there for about 5 or 10 minutes. What that does is knock off any crystals that get on the plates. then charge until full charge is on the batteries. keep an eye on them for any signs of failure, if they drop fast, get rid of them and get new ones. I would go with 6V myself.
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JFG
TN
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Joined: 07/01/2007
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After charging, check the cells with a hydrometer... it will tell you if each cell is good or bad.
Fred
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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1/2 gallon is what my U-2200's take when the plates are about 1/16" covered, so you may be OK, If just the very tops of the plates are exposed, you should be good
When the plates are "Dry as toast".. Well.. Toast is the operative word
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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Camp, Forrest, Camp!
Boise, ID
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Joined: 10/28/2002
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It's official, they're toast.
I plugged the camper in and let them charge for two days. At the end of that time, the converter was putting out 13.1 volts. I unplugged the camper and turned on one of the florescent lights for two hours to dissipate any static charge on the batteries. When I checked them, they measured 12.2 volts. Not a good sign so since a fully charged battery should read 12.6+.
I have spent several night running our fantastic vent all night to regulate temperature in the summer so I thought this should be a good test. I left one florescent light on and put the fan on medium speed. I figured that if it could run this, and still have a decent charge in the morning, I should be able to run the furnace and CPAP for two nights which is what I need. I went out this morning and the light was off, the fan was barely moving, and the batteries read 3.5V.
To quote Adam Sandler from Punch Drunk Love, "That settles that."
Now the ever popular question, do I go with two 6V's, or two 12V's????
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bob_b
Souderton, PA
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Joined: 08/15/2003
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Go with the two Trojan T105 6-volts (or the T-125 6-volts if you have a little more $$$). I'm on my fifth season with mine and I do a lot of dry camping.
'93 Itasca Suncrusier diesel towing a '97 Olds Cutlass.
Bob, Pam(DW), Bridget(DD), Christine(DD) and Snickers the stinky dog
See you at most of the Penn State tailgates
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