Forum Discussion

badger6724's avatar
badger6724
Explorer
Nov 09, 2017

6v battery fail

My last set of 6v batteries lasted me 6 years and were still working good when I sold the camper. (they came from the dealer when I bought the camper) Year and a half ago I bought a new 28 foot TT and it came with 2 6v 220 batteries. The first year they worked fine. But they have failed this year. I stayed on shore power for 6 weeks but before I left I researched the converter docs for the trailer and they say they will maintain the batteries once fully charged and will not over charge them. The batteries were never dry. I didn't notice they were weak until we started heading home.(the furnace fan seemed to be running slow). The temp dropped to -15C/5F on route so I thought maybe the cold was affecting them and they would be fine once I got them indoors. On the trailer monitor they show full charged with the truck plugged in and running in high idle. But with the truck unplugged they show "fair". When I got home I brought them inside and plugged them into a CTEK charger/keeper, (the same one I used to store the other set of batteries for 6 winters.) And after 24hrs they still showed fair on the specific gravity tester. Then I put on an old style 2/10 amp charger at 2 amps and after 12hrs they still show the same. All the cells read exactly the same. They all show weak. There are no dead cells. I called the RV dealer and of course he says my 1 year warranty is up. (But he is willing to sell me another set.) Any ideas or thoughts as to what happened to these batteries. I don't think they where overcharged as the fluid levels where up for the whole trip. I am worried if I invest in another set the same thing may happen again.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Nov 09, 2017
    Bad or dirty connection.
    Maybe able to clean them up and get some more life.
    Costco has 6 volt batteries for around $80. Replace both!
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Nov 09, 2017
    What brand of batteries? Dealers usually provide the cheapest batteries they can find. Your rig may have been sitting on the lot with its batteries undercharged. Not good for acid tubs.

    Invest in Trojans and maintain them and you will be happy. Don't blame it on all 6v batteries.
  • the_bear_II's avatar
    the_bear_II
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2017
    Do a google search for fixing dead batteries. It seems you can use epsom salts and distilled water to bring batteries back to life. I've never tried it but the Youtube videos and writ ups seem promising.

    I have noticed in the past 10 years batteries seem to be more fragile to road vibration. It seems the plates break or bend and cells will fail or the entire battery.
  • badger6724's avatar
    badger6724
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2017
    When I bought the unit it didn't have any batteries in it. He had to use a portable power source to open the slides. I negotiated the 6v's. I had them in my truck camper and loved them. The batteries don't have a brand on them. Just a sticker with the RV dealer's name.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Nov 09, 2017
    No voltage measurements? Please post the converter model number.

    2 amps into a dead 220 battery could take 110+ hours to charge. Need at least a week. Watch the voltage as the charger will probably time out in about 3 days and need reset.

    Dead battery enroute could have partially frozen causing permanent damage.

    Yes same thing could happen again with either 6 volt, 12 volt, flooded or AGM batteries.
  • old_guy's avatar
    old_guy
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2017
    my brother worked at a battery store for many years and a trick he told me about is if you have a weak battery use a charger with a engine start feature and turn that feature on for 10 /15 minutes then charge the battery for 24 hours on a lower setting. the engine start feature will kick the coating on the plates off. the coating on the plates is what kills a battery. once the heat and vibration kicks off the coating, the battery will come back to it's highest settings. BUT, this doesn't work all the time, but if you get lucky you will have a good set of batteries again, it's worth a try. a word of caution, cover the battery with a shop towel to keep the acid from spraying in your face when you have it on engine start. good advice whenever you work on batteries. this can happen even when you jump start a car.
  • badger6724's avatar
    badger6724
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2017
    The converter is Progressive Dynamics 9200 series. Can't get an exact model number as its buried behind cabinets. Have to remove some panels to get at it. Need a new volt meter, mine is toast. I will pick up a new meter and post voltage. As for now I guess I will leave the 2 amp charge on it for a few days and monitor. I don't imagine charging it at 10 amps would be good for it?
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Nov 09, 2017
    10 amps would be far better than 2. The 2 is for charging a tiny motorcycle battery or maintaining a fully charged automotive battery.

    The 9200 is excellent and charges at 45+ amps.
  • azrving's avatar
    azrving
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2017
    badger6724 wrote:
    The converter is Progressive Dynamics 9200 series. Can't get an exact model number as its buried behind cabinets. Have to remove some panels to get at it. Need a new volt meter, mine is toast. I will pick up a new meter and post voltage. As for now I guess I will leave the 2 amp charge on it for a few days and monitor. I don't imagine charging it at 10 amps would be good for it?


    When I had four GC2 I would sometimes go as high as 70 amps when using a converter and a power supply.

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