Good morning!!!!Just finished unwinterizing my little hybrid camper yesterday and plugged it in to charge up the battery. But...... won’t hold a charge. The inverter/charger is working as everything works when plugged in and if I put a meter on battery terminals when plugged in it reads over 14. But unplugged it reads .1 or so. Can a battery not take any charge? I can see maybe a faster discharge, but none at all? I have been reading and I guess from now on I’ll disconnect the battery and bring inside for winter. Is there a way to verify the battery is junk before dropping cash on a new one?Thank you so much for your time. :)

It probably went dead over the winter and then froze. Discharge battery will freeze just like regular water, and then damage to the plates may occur. Take the battery to an auto parts store most to free testing but it sounds like it’s ruined

Thank you. I didn’t know they could test that. I’ll call the local advanced auto. Lesson learned. :) Appreciate the advice

Or make sure the battery itself is getting 14 volts,....by putting the meter probes on the lead posts of the battery, not just the cables connected to the battery.But otherwise, the battery sounds like toast :))

If you have 120VAC available close to where you park, why not leave it plugged in? A decent converter will maintain the battery in a fully charged state.Also, if you have a stand alone battery charger, you might take the battery out and try charging it with that. Most converters are not capable of bringing a totally flat battery back to life.

No need to bring it inside. Charge it fully, then disconnect the battery. If self discharge is high enough to allow the battery to freeze--it was already not viable.

Battery toast? | Good Sam Community

All_I_could_aff
Explorer
Apr 25, 2018
It probably went dead over the winter and then froze. Discharge battery will freeze just like regular water, and then damage to the plates may occur. Take the battery to an auto parts store most to free testing but it sounds like it’s ruined
Shwthomas1975
Explorer
Apr 25, 2018
Thank you. I didn’t know they could test that. I’ll call the local advanced auto.
Lesson learned. :)
Appreciate the advice
RJsfishin
Explorer
Apr 25, 2018
Or make sure the battery itself is getting 14 volts,....by putting the meter probes on the lead posts of the battery, not just the cables connected to the battery.
But otherwise, the battery sounds like toast :))
donn0128
Explorer II
Apr 25, 2018
If you have 120VAC available close to where you park, why not leave it plugged in? A decent converter will maintain the battery in a fully charged state.
Also, if you have a stand alone battery charger, you might take the battery out and try charging it with that. Most converters are not capable of bringing a totally flat battery back to life.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Apr 25, 2018
No need to bring it inside. Charge it fully, then disconnect the battery. If self discharge is high enough to allow the battery to freeze--it was already not viable.
Shwthomas1975
Explorer
Apr 25, 2018
I do have a trickle charger. I’ll theow it on that and see what happens.

So... the debate. We have about 6 months before we have to worry about it. :)

Leave plugged in, or disconnect and take inside?

Thanks again
Bobbo
Explorer II
Apr 25, 2018
None of my vehicle batteries have ever been removed and taken inside. I replaced my junk converter/charger with a quality one that won't boil the batteries dry and leave the RV plugged in and charging 24/7/365. I've been doing this since 2007 with no problems (after getting the quality converter/charger).
2oldman
Explorer II
Apr 25, 2018
Did you check the water?
SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Apr 25, 2018
Sounds to me like it's done. Time for a new one and next time be more careful. Never had battery toast before. What flavor of jelly you recommend?
YC_1
Nomad
Apr 25, 2018
Need a new one.

We don't buy batteries or tires, we just rent them. None last forever.

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