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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.
  • 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.
  • 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!