"New" 6V batteries, dead

[ArcticFox_Cats]

IF there is a thread already, just point me in a direction.

FACTS:
Purchased new Trojan 6V batt's in June 2017.
Father passed away first part of July 2017.
Parked travel trailer with batteries on it, not thinking I would have to leave it set for a period of time.
Gone longer than expected......batteries now dead.
It is October 2017.
Removed batt's from travel trailer.
Put in garage. Did not hook up to a charger or the like (yet).
Can I simply put these on a charger, and have them re-charge and be fine? (Since they are dead, and I had to just take them off the TT and put them in the garage and leave again, I did not hook them up to any kind of charger or battery tender, because I am not there to take care of them at the moment.)
I have both a charger and battery tenders.
Advice is welcome.
Thank you.
Lura

[ScottG]

2oldman wrote:

darsben1 wrote:
.. of course do not leave the batteries on a cold surface.

What does that do?

Decades ago when batteries were made of rubber, it would cause them to rot.
Modern plastic batteries have no issue with being on the cold ground.

[ktmrfs]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Trailer parasitic draws plus TIME drained them

They will recharge BUT sooner the better........

Damage is done every time battery voltage is drawn down below 50% charge (6.05V)

Really need to get them on a charger and get voltage back up....leaving them dead will KILL them

agreed, except that the trojans will give over 500 cycles drawn down to 25 percent state of charge. IIRC around 1000 at 50 percent. so going below 50 percent does some damage, but for most of us RV'rs, drawing them down to 25 percent when needed isn't going to affect overall life much.

And I can verify that since I had one set that had over 300 cycles down to 25 percent and another 200 down to 50 percent and they finally were getting weak after 14 years of use.

get them charged back up ASAP and equalized. and make sure you use a charger that can actually get them to 100 percent. many will NOT. you need to get the voltage up to about 14.8 V to get them fully charged.

[2oldman]

darsben1 wrote:
.. of course do not leave the batteries on a cold surface.

What does that do?

[sch911]

Make sure you disconnect the batteries while the TT is in storage so you don't just repeat this cycle!

[Crabbypatty]

X2 Old Biscuit. They need to be charged up. Further smart charged. Buy a "Charge WIzard" to plug into trailer charger. This makes it a smart charger and will cycle the batteries. Then you just need to monitor the water level. Use distilled water and not tap water. My first set are still going after 12 years, now im closing the season on my second set that I bought for this new to us TT 3 years ago. T-125's great battery.

[gbopp]

Seven years ago I left my two Interstate 6 volt batteries partially freeze.
They had slush in them from not being charged/connected to shore power.

I charged them and they are still working. I was going to replace them the last two years but, didn't get around to it.

Charge your batteries, I think you will be okay. Don't forget to clean and tighten the terminals.

Let us know if you were successful.

[darsben1]

Do not forget to fill the cells with water and of course do not leave the batteries on a cold surface.

[PERCs]

Had much the same situation you did with 6 T105s on my boat (feed from the dock turned off). Was informed by Trojan to charge fully for 3 days and then equalize using the inverter/charger. They lasted 11 years before I gave them to someone on the dock. They went 2 more years before they gave up.

I did equalize every year per Trojan's recommendation and do so on the coach.

David

[ArcticFox_Cats]

Thanks, Guys!!
Mike, Old-Biscuit correct - drain on batt's via trailer's internal system.
Will get them charged asap and see what happens!!

[ScottG]

I have a mechanic buddy with a Kenworth service truck. He runs his golf cart batteries down to less than 12V close to 100 times per year. His present set of batteries is more than ten years old and still working well enough.
I would just charge them and not worry about it.

[mike-s]

Define "dead." Were they fully charged when installed? Why did they discharge - what is drawing power when the TT is in storage.

4 months drained and abused - they're likely toast. But leave them on a good charger for a couple of weeks - perhaps you can get some use out of them. A good charger can be connected continuously.

[Old-Biscuit]

Trailer parasitic draws plus TIME drained them

They will recharge BUT sooner the better........

Damage is done every time battery voltage is drawn down below 50% charge (6.05V)

Really need to get them on a charger and get voltage back up....leaving them dead will KILL them