house battery concern

[RRodda]

I am having the exterior refinished and today went in to choose colors. The house batteries, 4 Interstates installed 2/15/2010, were almost flat. The business owner said lights must have been left on and he would plug it in tonight.

My concern is that the batteries have been damaged. I recently serviced them including testing each cell and they were fine.

What is the chance the batteries have been damaged by allowing them to be almost complete discharged?

[snowdance]

RRodda wrote:
Chances are "nil" on getting new batteries by blaming the shop.


The shop took full responsibility on causing the batteries to run down, but also said these lead acid batteries were capable of being depleted and recharged without damage.

I agree about being able to run them to nothing, recharging and no damage. We have done that many times and our batterys usaly last 5-8 years. However leaving them for a long time like months is a problem.. We often used every bit from the batterys in our trailers and popups.

[RRodda]

Chances are "nil" on getting new batteries by blaming the shop.


The shop took full responsibility on causing the batteries to run down, but also said these lead acid batteries were capable of being depleted and recharged without damage.

[MNtundraRet]

Quote:

"Also, the terminals were clean when I took it in and yesterday there was some of that greenish crud visible on at least a couple terminals. We dry camp almost exclusively and the normal discharge level is 12.2 before we move on and it gets recharged"
---

The terminal problem does not happen from a week in the shop. Interstate batteries are on the bottom of my list from past experiences in past trailers.

Chances are "nil" on getting new batteries by blaming the shop. From your replies above, you did not actually open the battery-compartment and check batteries right before hauling the RV in.

Your charger may be overcharging batteries since you say you did clean terminals at a earlier time. It helps to spray a battery protectant on the terminals after cleaning.

[doughere]

If its only been a week since it was taken in, they're fine. Green crud is certainly not from discharging them (shiny metal should be protected with dialectric grease, not left shiny).

My 6 year old batteries have been down below 12 volts a couple of times, and are still fine.

Don't worry about it.

Doug

[RoyB]

I would imagine it will be a big uphill battle to get the batteries replaced by the shop.

I have never had my trailers in a shop but probably would have left my batteries on the tongue if I did take it in just like you did... Maybe thats not a good idea ???

I would never think of removing my truck battery if it went to the shop for something...

I would most definitely voice my concerns to the shop...

Roy Ken

[RRodda]

snowdance wrote:
As others said how long they were down may be a problem. However if they were up when taken in and ran down from lights ect and they plug it in and bring them up it may be a plus as running them down and recharging does need to be done a few times a year. Keeping them at a full charge full time and never running them down will make their life shorter also. I have found out over the last 40+ years of fussing with them in RV's and boats.

It had been at their shop for a week when we went in yesterday. The batteries were fully charged or close to it when we took it in. My storage location is only 5 minutes away so I monitor it regularly and when there always check battery condition.

Also, the terminals were clean when I took it in and yesterday there was some of that greenish crud visible on at least a couple terminals. We dry camp almost exclusively and the normal discharge level is 12.2 before we move on and it gets recharged.

[snowdance]

As others said how long they were down may be a problem. However if they were up when taken in and ran down from lights ect and they plug it in and bring them up it may be a plus as running them down and recharging does need to be done a few times a year. Keeping them at a full charge full time and never running them down will make their life shorter also. I have found out over the last 40+ years of fussing with them in RV's and boats.

[HiTech]

How long has your camper been with this shop?

Jim

[MNtundraRet]

RRodda wrote:
I am having the exterior refinished and today went in to choose colors. The house batteries, 4 Interstates installed 2/15/2010, were almost flat. The business owner said lights must have been left on and he would plug it in tonight.

My concern is that the batteries have been damaged. I recently serviced them including testing each cell and they were fine.

What is the chance the batteries have been damaged by allowing them to be almost complete discharged?

Did you check the battery-bank with a meter before taking it in? How long has it been stored since you last checked the batteries?

The 12v batteries should be checked every month when stored and recharged if needed. The batteries, even on "disconnect", do discharge over a few months.

After he plugs it in for you, the batteries should be checked with a volt-meter, at the battery-terminals, to see if your converter/charger is working. Voltage should go to 14.4+ volts soon to show "bulk" charging, or at least 13.7 volts to show "absorption" charging.

Anything under 13.2 volts could mean a charger problem (breaker tripped, blown fuse, charger failure). Whether you have long term problem depends on how long the batteries have been left in a discharged state.

[mena661]

Very good chance.

[RRodda]

I don't know how long.

[HiTech]

How long did they sit that way?

Jim