Charging dead battery on Ford E350
I have 2015 Winnie Minnie 22 footer (Ford E350) . The battery is dead after sitting on the drive way for 6 months. I connected the charger to the chassis battery but it doesn't charge . I heard mode...
Forum Discussion
CodyClassB,
Did your rig sit out in subzero weather during the 6 month period? Around here near Chicago, this winter got to -30 degrees for an extended period. If that is your case, I would not waste any time with the dead battery because you won't be able to get it to do anything for you. It has been destroyed being discharged and sitting outside in such extremely low temperatures for so long a period.
Take the battery out and go to Walmart. They will sell you a decent replacement at a reasonable price. There is an expensive core charge on batteries. Bringing the old one with you saves a return trip to get your money back on the core charge.
Our E350 rig is kept in a heated garage. I have to disconnect the battery or the E350 will significantly drain it after a month. If I waited two months, it would not start our rig. If I waited six months connected, our battery would be dead as a door nail, unlikely able to bring it back to a reliable state.
Disconnect the negative (black, not red) battery cable when leaving your rig parked and unused for more than a month. If you don't want to do that, then start and idle the rig for at least a half hour every month. Running the engine heater while idling for so long will dry up any dampness accumulated inside the house.
You could buy a good battery charger and charge the battery every month. But that is more work. I feel the tiny thing you considered at Harbor Freight is not good for the application. It is intended to maintain a fully charged battery. Given your outdoor situation, you would have a power cord outside all the time. I am not sure that is the best situation. Disconnecting the battery when it is fully charged will serve you well.
Did your rig sit out in subzero weather during the 6 month period? Around here near Chicago, this winter got to -30 degrees for an extended period. If that is your case, I would not waste any time with the dead battery because you won't be able to get it to do anything for you. It has been destroyed being discharged and sitting outside in such extremely low temperatures for so long a period.
Take the battery out and go to Walmart. They will sell you a decent replacement at a reasonable price. There is an expensive core charge on batteries. Bringing the old one with you saves a return trip to get your money back on the core charge.
Our E350 rig is kept in a heated garage. I have to disconnect the battery or the E350 will significantly drain it after a month. If I waited two months, it would not start our rig. If I waited six months connected, our battery would be dead as a door nail, unlikely able to bring it back to a reliable state.
Disconnect the negative (black, not red) battery cable when leaving your rig parked and unused for more than a month. If you don't want to do that, then start and idle the rig for at least a half hour every month. Running the engine heater while idling for so long will dry up any dampness accumulated inside the house.
You could buy a good battery charger and charge the battery every month. But that is more work. I feel the tiny thing you considered at Harbor Freight is not good for the application. It is intended to maintain a fully charged battery. Given your outdoor situation, you would have a power cord outside all the time. I am not sure that is the best situation. Disconnecting the battery when it is fully charged will serve you well.
