Battery Dilemma

[bobcouch]

After sitting for about six months, I have a battery that is probably toast.
It's a standard 12V, wet cell battery that is currently reading 6.2 VDC. My charger doesn't indicate that it is bad, but will only charge for 5 minutes or less before the thermal overload shuts it off.
I read between cells, looking for a bad cell and the difference between cells is proportional all the way across.
Any idea what went wrong?
More important - is it fixable or is it trash?

[MDKMDK]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Or hoist the remains atop a tower and start inserting electrodes.

A passing thunderstorm would also help this option ...
"It's ALIVE" :B

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Or hoist the remains atop a tower and start inserting electrodes.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

A battery dead for five years can be compared to a human

Heart stopped beating a minute ago
Administer vigorous CPR

Heart stopped beating 5 years ago.
Gimme a break. Even spending 3 months discharged ruins a battery. Yes they will light up a test light after twelve dollars worth of electricity is dummped into it. Even massive resusitative efforts will bring a relatively recent totally discharged battery to store some power if you are looking for dependability forget it. Autopsy it and you will find plate material sulfated to the grids or even missing. Trying to nursemaid a damaged battery is like trying out freeway speeds with a tire with a boot in it.

[wa8yxm]

Is it toast: Most likely but.... Perhaps not.

I would recommend a different charger to bring it up for at least an hour someting in the 10-20 amp rannge Test hour by hour till it's up around 12 volts resting and your primary smart charger can handle it w/o shutdown.

[RJsfishin]

I have revived batteries been dead 5 yrs and had them give good service.
Parallel it to another battery or just let the breaker go on and off and it will take off charging in a short time

[bobcouch]

wopachop wrote:
I was thinking the same thing. I guess he removed the caps and probed the water with his meter?

Exactly!

[wopachop]

I was thinking the same thing. I guess he removed the caps and probed the water with his meter?

[opnspaces]

This is something I've never heard of, how do you read between the individual cells? Are you talking about a hydrometer reading or a voltage reading?

As far as the battery, I wouldn't trust it even if you can get it charged.

[time2roll]

Shot

[FLY_4_FUN]

Trash

[MEXICOWANDERER]

No one mentions age of battery? Shame.


A young battery has a tiny chance of recovery.

2 years old you'd have a better chance if you held a seance. I ran my car battery down to 0 and it was brand new. Back to Costco it went. With a 35 year history of no returns if you think this unethical, sue me.

[CA_Traveler]

RV batteries tend to have drains that can't be shut off and 6 months can ruin it. That's one reason why I have a full cutoff switch on the battery post.

[Lwiddis]

Get a 30 watt solar panel and a $23 weatherproof controller from WindyNation to keep your battery charged when your TT is in storage.

[2oldman]

Probably trash, but if you want to charge it, you will have to parallel it with a good battery.