Did this harm my batteries?
I once left my disconnect switch on in my TT when I was storing it, and when I came back a few weeks later, the batteries were down to a couple of lights on the control panel. I disconnected and we p...
Forum Discussion
Hi,
The "fact" is that after 90 minutes of driving the batteries showed themselves to be fully charged. Trailer charging systems are notoriously bad at charging. So if they showed fully charged in 90 minutes of lousy charging they are likely capacity damaged.
But, on the other hand, the idiot lights don't tell much of the story. We don't have proper documentation of how low they went, nor what method of charging happened at the campground--i.e. what converter is being used.
Every cycle "damages" the positive plate. No exceptions. Even a 5% discharge causes permanent irreversible harm.
The "fact" is that after 90 minutes of driving the batteries showed themselves to be fully charged. Trailer charging systems are notoriously bad at charging. So if they showed fully charged in 90 minutes of lousy charging they are likely capacity damaged.
But, on the other hand, the idiot lights don't tell much of the story. We don't have proper documentation of how low they went, nor what method of charging happened at the campground--i.e. what converter is being used.
Every cycle "damages" the positive plate. No exceptions. Even a 5% discharge causes permanent irreversible harm.
mdfenley wrote:
Ok,maybe I am showing my ignorance, but how did he damage the battery? Batteries are designed to be charged and discharged. Leaving the switch to on, just meant he was utilizing the battery, as it was designed to do. The battery never fully discharged, so there is not any damage to the cells or plates that are in the battery. Guess I am just a little confused on everyones response that he damaged the battery.
Mark
