IF there is a thread already, just point me in a direction.FACTS:Purchased new Trojan 6V batt's in June 2017.Father passed away first part of July 2017.Parked travel trailer with batteries on it, not thinking I would have to leave it set for a period of time.Gone longer than expected......batteries now dead.It is October 2017.Removed batt's from travel trailer.Put in garage. Did not hook up to a charger or the like (yet).Can I simply put these on a charger, and have them re-charge and be fine? (Since they are dead, and I had to just take them off the TT and put them in the garage and leave again, I did not hook them up to any kind of charger or battery tender, because I am not there to take care of them at the moment.)I have both a charger and battery tenders.Advice is welcome.Thank you.Lura

Trailer parasitic draws plus TIME drained themThey will recharge BUT sooner the better........Damage is done every time battery voltage is drawn down below 50% charge (6.05V)Really need to get them on a charger and get voltage back up....leaving them dead will KILL them

Define "dead." Were they fully charged when installed? Why did they discharge - what is drawing power when the TT is in storage.4 months drained and abused - they're likely toast. But leave them on a good charger for a couple of weeks - perhaps you can get some use out of them. A good charger can be connected continuously.

I have a mechanic buddy with a Kenworth service truck. He runs his golf cart batteries down to less than 12V close to 100 times per year. His present set of batteries is more than ten years old and still working well enough. I would just charge them and not worry about it.

Thanks, Guys!!Mike, Old-Biscuit correct - drain on batt's via trailer's internal system.Will get them charged asap and see what happens!!

Had much the same situation you did with 6 T105s on my boat (feed from the dock turned off). Was informed by Trojan to charge fully for 3 days and then equalize using the inverter/charger. They lasted 11 years before I gave them to someone on the dock. They went 2 more years before they gave up.I did equalize every year per Trojan's recommendation and do so on the coach.David

"New" 6V batteries, dead | Good Sam Community

DrewE
Explorer II
Oct 11, 2017
ScottG wrote:

The ground is usually warmer than the air around it in the winter so folowing that logic, it's better to have them on the ground.

I don't know which would be better overall. I do know I have a lot more luck putting batteries on the ground than I do getting them to stay floating in midair for more than a fraction of a second. :B
2oldman
Explorer II
Oct 11, 2017
mowermech wrote:
IIRC, it has been debunked many times since then.
A very slow death indeed.
LVJJJ
Explorer
Oct 11, 2017
I have a Craftsman trickle charge battery maintainer that I have used to keep my batteries charged and fresh. In fact, it brought a completely dead car battery back to life that I used for two years in my '65 Chevy Van. Apparently it un-sulfates them. Just bought a used TT that had two 6v's that were working but were almost out of fluid. Added some distilled water and have had them on the trickle charger for a few weeks now (alternate charging them). Will be interesting to find out how good they are now (they were made in 2013).

So, note to self, when storing TT, unhook battery.
mowermech
Explorer
Oct 11, 2017
2oldman wrote:
ScottG wrote:
The ground is usually warmer than the air around it in the winter so folowing that logic, it's better to have them on the ground.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Does a cold floor suck heat more than air of the same temperature?

Assuming that chart above is correct, it's moot anyway as the cold actually improves the battery's ability to retain a charge.

I remember that old wives tale quite well, since it was drummed into me many years ago, when I worked in a service station.
"NEVER set a battery on a CONCRETE floor! ALWAYS put a rubber mat, a board, or at least a piece of cardboard under it! The cold concrete will suck the charge right out of the battery!"
It was "common knowledge" in the 1940s and 1950s. IIRC, it has been debunked many times since then.
I hope the OP has had his batteries recharged and tested by now. Please let us know the results.
2oldman
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2017
ScottG wrote:
The ground is usually warmer than the air around it in the winter so folowing that logic, it's better to have them on the ground.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Does a cold floor suck heat more than air of the same temperature?

Assuming that chart above is correct, it's moot anyway as the cold actually improves the battery's ability to retain a charge.
ScottG
Nomad
Oct 10, 2017
DrewE wrote:
darsben1 wrote:
ScottG wrote:
2oldman wrote:
darsben1 wrote:
.. of course do not leave the batteries on a cold surface.
What does that do?

Decades ago when batteries were made of rubber, it would cause them to rot.
Modern plastic batteries have no issue with being on the cold ground.

Cold increases rate of discharge and decreases the rate of charge.

Cold slows down chemical reactions, in general, and in this case the reactions that take place in a battery. It has the effect of reducing the overall capacity of the battery (temporarily), and of slowing down the rate of discharge and charge--or, put another way, a constant discharge current would look like a faster rate of discharge for the battery than if it were warmer, and so it would not last as long before being discharged.

Cold fairly dramatically slows down the rate of self-discharge, which is why it's not a problem in cold climates to disconnect a fully charged battery for the winter and not need to keep it on a maintainer or trickle charger.

The ground is usually warmer than the air around it in the winter so folowing that logic, it's better to have them on the ground.
mike-s
Explorer
Oct 10, 2017
darsben1 wrote:
Cold increases rate of discharge and decreases the rate of charge.
Nope.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Oct 10, 2017
Sandia Man wrote:
Obviously, it never hurts to by a high quality battery such as Trojan ...

Not much point if you don't have or aren't willing to invest in a suitable converter or charger capable of charging according to Trojan's specifications. Same argument applies to buying costly AGM batteries which often have their own charging regimens, often including temperature compensation, that few converters are capable of. For some, one might reasonably argue the best buy is in the least expensive flooded, charge it with what you have, knowing that the time to replace it may come a bit sooner than later. ;)
Sandia_Man
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2017
What else can you do but charge them up hopefully using a smart charging device. If they take a charge which I believe they will, then follow with an equalization routine. If your RV converter doesn't provide multi-phase smart charging it would be a good time to upgrade.

Obviously, it never hurts to by a high quality battery such as Trojan, we buy our 6 volt GC2 batteries from Samsclub for cheap and know nothing has more relevance in their over all performance and longevity than how they are maintained and re-charged.

We leave our rig plugged in 24/7 when stored in our side yard and our smart charging converter keeps them in tip top shape, although we use a portable B&D 40 amp smart battery charger for occasional equalizing where voltages exceeding 15Vdc are required.
DrewE
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2017
darsben1 wrote:
ScottG wrote:
2oldman wrote:
darsben1 wrote:
.. of course do not leave the batteries on a cold surface.
What does that do?

Decades ago when batteries were made of rubber, it would cause them to rot.
Modern plastic batteries have no issue with being on the cold ground.

Cold increases rate of discharge and decreases the rate of charge.

Cold slows down chemical reactions, in general, and in this case the reactions that take place in a battery. It has the effect of reducing the overall capacity of the battery (temporarily), and of slowing down the rate of discharge and charge--or, put another way, a constant discharge current would look like a faster rate of discharge for the battery than if it were warmer, and so it would not last as long before being discharged.

Cold fairly dramatically slows down the rate of self-discharge, which is why it's not a problem in cold climates to disconnect a fully charged battery for the winter and not need to keep it on a maintainer or trickle charger.