cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

Killed my battery in 1 season. What happened?

Mickeyfan0805
Explorer
Explorer
We bought our new trailer in September of 2012. By the end of last season, the battery would not take a sufficient charge. It will function for a very short period of time, but I can't as much as disconnect the trailer with the power-jack without draining it's power. I now need to be connected to the truck, or shore power, to accomplish much of anything.

Any ideas what I did wrong that killed my battery so fast?
25 REPLIES 25

sum1
Explorer
Explorer
Try to find a date code. In addition to considering the other reasons above, maybe the dealer swapped out the battery and you've got an oldie.

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Explorer III
There are basically 3 ways to kill a battery.. And perhaps some more that may kill it not your fault.

FIrst: Deep discharging it
Starting batteries need to be kept well fed, like 80 percent capacity
Marine/Deep Cycles. also do not like running down too far.. Not sure how far but since they are mostly starting say 70-75%
DEEP CYCLE (True DEEP CYCLE) can go down to 50 percent before major damage happens.

If you take a starting battery down below 12 volt,, Likely ruined (My Deep cycles have done that several times, and now, 9 years later, they are ruined, but at 9 years.. Well average is 7-10).

Second, if it is a flooded wet cell.. Not keeping it wet (That is adding distilled water as needed) Or Adding NON-distilled water.

Two B: is overcharging this applies to both flooded and Maintenance free. One of the older converters. The Magnetek 6300 was designed for 110 volt operation and on 120 it WILL overcharge the batteries given enough time.. Some of the more modern ones I do not know about.. My converter is a Progressive Dynamics 9180 with charge wizard and on new GC-2's it .. Well I used to water 'em annually.

Finally,, (This does not apply I think) Storing them discharged for the winter, That will kill 'em when they freeze, The freeze point of a discharged battery approaches the freezing point of water... of a fully charged battery it's like forty, or more, below.

IN addition there is the posibility of a defect in manufacturing or materials.

And you might check the terminals (And other key connections in the electric system.. on my chassis battery the first 3 times it "Failed" Cleaning fixed it.. The last time DEKA fixed it (New battery) again see 9 years above,
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times

down_home
Explorer II
Explorer II
It stayed on low charge or no charge for too long, and or it was overcharged boiling the battery dry, whatever contributed to those factors. It could have been a defective battery even. imo
Not sure how heavy your trailer is but our fifth wheel took quite a bit of juice to raise it. You could blow the twenty amp fuse under the hood, of the F350 if left connected, and the battery, in the RV was low, raising it.
Holiday Rambler shipped me a second battery box and wiring harness, no charge. Two batteries did a lot better.
We didn't have an inverter/charger on the Fifth Wheel.
I would consider investing in one and have it charge the batteries while camped. Still would be better to have the alternators charge them.
If you already don't have one. If I had kept our Fifth wheel we planned on an on board generator. It had the wiring for one. Would add considerable weight. One of the small or large generators flooding the market, for a couple hundred dollars, or so, would be good. just thinking.

BillyandKris
Explorer
Explorer
This happened to us. The camper was at dealer for some warranty work and they left that knob shut-off thing in wrong position and the batteries died. Then we went camping and we accidentally let them run all the way down. After that they would not hold a charge. Also they were Interstate batteries, which we have decided are not the best. We ended up replacing them with two 6-volts while on the road and all was well.

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Explorer
I would not put it past OEM to purchase pallets of battery manufacturer's "seconds". So don't get all excited if you check your system and find "Nothing Wrong With It".

Ron3rd
Explorer III
Explorer III
mena661 wrote:
I see from your profile that you have a 2013 Rockwood 8312ss. Those have 3 stage converters NOT single stage converters. You should be able to leave that plugged in 24/7. I think your converter may not be functioning properly. Do you have a voltmeter?


My 2013 Rockwood has a 3 stage WFCO converter/charger, you're is probably the same. So far it's been a decent charger. Biggest killer is letting the batteries go dead (not being charged) which shortens the life by a percentage every time they go dead.
2016 6.7 CTD 2500 BIG HORN MEGA CAB
2013 Forest River 3001W Windjammer
Equilizer Hitch
Honda EU2000

"I have this plan to live forever; so far my plan is working"

Mickeyfan0805
Explorer
Explorer
mena661 wrote:
I see from your profile that you have a 2013 Rockwood 8312ss. Those have 3 stage converters NOT single stage converters. You should be able to leave that plugged in 24/7. I think your converter may not be functioning properly. Do you have a voltmeter?


No, I don't. But I'll get my hands on one before we get started for the spring and see what I find.

RJsfishin
Explorer
Explorer
I'm thinking its a bad battery. I just has a 13 mo old interstate go tits up !
They gave me a new one free.
And for those not in the know, a single stage charger (13.6) won't boil a battery except in very warm (90+) weather. In fact most mild winter temps of 40 - 60 degrees need higher voltages than single stage converters are able to give it.
Rich

'01 31' Rexall Vision, Generac 5.5k, 1000 watt Honda, PD 9245 conv, 300 watts Solar, 150 watt inv, 2 Cos 6v batts, ammeters, led voltmeters all over the place, KD/sat, 2 Oly Cat heaters w/ ox, and towing a 2012 Liberty, Lowe bass boat, or a Kawi Mule.

mena661
Explorer
Explorer
I see from your profile that you have a 2013 Rockwood 8312ss. Those have 3 stage converters NOT single stage converters. You should be able to leave that plugged in 24/7. I think your converter may not be functioning properly. Do you have a voltmeter?

Larryect
Explorer
Explorer
Mickeyfan0805 wrote:
Let me ask another, related, question. If I engage the battery disconnect while plugged in at home, will it disconnect the battery from the converter and reduce the risk of overcharging?


Yes.

I keep one of these on my batteries when stored at home.

Battery Maintainer

Mickeyfan0805
Explorer
Explorer
Let me ask another, related, question. If I engage the battery disconnect while plugged in at home, will it disconnect the battery from the converter and reduce the risk of overcharging?

westend
Explorer
Explorer
Sounds like the battery is sulfated: "won't take charge".

If it is the standard dealer-supplied battery, I'm guessing it wasn't that great to start with. Letting a poor battery discharge to a low SOC only a few times may be enough to kill it.

What does your meter say for the battery and the charger?
'03 F-250 4x4 CC
'71 Starcraft Wanderstar -- The Cowboy/Hilton

John_Wayne
Explorer II
Explorer II
If it's plugged in at home and your adding water I'd guess you have a single stage converter/charger and your boiling the water out and over charging. I'd look for a new 3 or 4 stage converter. Look at Best Converter web site and a Progressive unit.
John & Carol Life members
01 31'Sea View single slide, F53 V-10 with 134,000 miles and counting.
2012 Jeep Liberty Smi brake system
Security by Bentley
God Bless

KF6HCH

colliehauler
Explorer III
Explorer III
Do you have a battery disconnect for when not in use? If not parasitic drains will discharge a battery in a week. After a battery is discharged it will shorten the life of the battery, do it enough times the battery is toast.