Is killing batteries three times too much?
I use a set of 6V golf cart batteries from Costco. The pair that is in my rig now is two years old and they only last a couple of nights before the low voltage alarm on my CPAP starts sounding. When t...
Forum Discussion
What killed your batteries is running them down to 10V and never charging them to full. When you run batteries low, you CANNOT use the standard charging methods (ie leaving them on a converter) to get them back to normal. Yes, running them down that low takes significantly more life out of them but you can recover them and use them in a reduced capacity (or maybe capacity won't be reduced...it depends). Also, plugging them in for two days ESPECIALLY after taking them down to 10V isn't going to work either.
How not to have this happen again:
1. Don't take batteries taken down to 10V and then not charge up to 100% properly.
2. Only leaving batteries to charge for 2 days.
The fix! :B
1. Don't take your batteries down to 10V. Ever.
2. You need a Black and Decker VEC1093DBD 40 amp portable charger. Only use the built in crappy converter for float charging and when you're on full hookups (leave your rig plugged in 24/7 when not camping and check water levels once a month).
How to use the VEC:
1. Run it at 40 amp setting till it says FUL.
2. Press the Equalize recessed button once. Wait till it says FUL.
3. Press the Equalize recessed button a 2nd time. Wait til it says FUL. Done!
4. If you run your batts to 10V again, break out the hydrometer, you're going to need to know FOR SURE that the VEC got them back to 100%.
If you care not to do any of this, prepare to replace batts every year or two.
How not to have this happen again:
1. Don't take batteries taken down to 10V and then not charge up to 100% properly.
2. Only leaving batteries to charge for 2 days.
The fix! :B
1. Don't take your batteries down to 10V. Ever.
2. You need a Black and Decker VEC1093DBD 40 amp portable charger. Only use the built in crappy converter for float charging and when you're on full hookups (leave your rig plugged in 24/7 when not camping and check water levels once a month).
How to use the VEC:
1. Run it at 40 amp setting till it says FUL.
2. Press the Equalize recessed button once. Wait till it says FUL.
3. Press the Equalize recessed button a 2nd time. Wait til it says FUL. Done!
4. If you run your batts to 10V again, break out the hydrometer, you're going to need to know FOR SURE that the VEC got them back to 100%.
If you care not to do any of this, prepare to replace batts every year or two.
