Think I messed up with Batteries

[jarata]

I purchased 2 6volt batteries from SAMs club to replace my 12volt batteries in motorhome
Well I put off installation for months now batteries are dead and I can't charge them
So is there any way to save them ,also when I buy batteries do they have to immediately install them or put them on a charger
Reason I was confused was they sit in stores for who knows how long

[WinnieView]

If they are less than 12 months old can they be returned?

[F76Marion]

Jarata,

The simple answer is that you did nothing wrong.
That is unless you sat on them for most of a year, even still. They should charge.
Look at the batteries, the will have a sticker or a heat stamp that has a month/year. Take them back. They were probably in a warehouse for months before you bought them.

Frank

[TonyMac]

This has happened with one of my 12v batteries, it got so low it seemingly would not take a charge. Actually, it's more of a charger issue. So, here's what I did. I disconnected my 'dead' battery and set it on a piece of wood on the floor. I then disconnected a good 12v batter and set it on the wood next to the dead one. Then I connected them. What happened was they both equalized their current,and my charger would charge them, either together or individually.


Here's what I'd do with your 2 6v batteries: Connect 6v battery 1's negative to the 6v battery 2's positive. Then, get a good 12v battery and connect the 12v positive to 6v battery 1's positive, and the good 12v negative to 6v battery 2's negative. Then let them sit for a few hours. Then disconnect the whole mess and see if your charger will bring them all to full charge

[twinboat]

Did you confirm them dead with a volt meter ?

Do you have them in series, not like the 12 volt batteries you took out.

[Kiawah]

Originally Posted by jarata

I purchased 2 6volt batteries from SAMs club to replace my 12volt batteries in motorhome
Well I put off installation for months now batteries are dead and I can't charge them
So is there any way to save them ,also when I buy batteries do they have to immediately install them or put them on a charger
Reason I was confused was they sit in stores for who knows how long

It would be nice to have some details as to how you think the batteries are dead.

If you measured each one with a digital voltmeter, what were their voltages? Unlikely they are 0 volts.

If the problem is that you installed them and cabled as per the drawing above, and your charger is not charging them, that's a different problem. A number of chargers have a 'low battery cutoff', which won't allow the charger to charge a battery bank that is below that threshold (could be set like 9 volts for the two batteries in series). In that case you need to get an initial charge on that battery bank, so the charger will then take over. One way is to start your coach, and that will hopefully engage the charge solenoid, connecting the chassis battery and the engine alternator putting out voltage to the house batteries. Let it run this way for a while with the alternator charging the battery bank, and then your charger should be able to take over and charge. Another way is to get an external battery charger, which usually don't have a LBCO, and connect that to your battery bank to get an initial charge on them.

Your batteries sitting for 2 months should not have been a problem.

Can you describe your situation a little better? What exactly are you measuring voltage with, on which battery configuration, and why do you suggest the batteries are dead?

[rvethereyet]

What kind of charger are you using to recharge. It does make a difference. Have you tried a manual charger

[Ucbyrickg]

Make sure you have a 6 volt charger or wire them to be 12 volts. Never store them on cold concrete.

[FormerBoater]

Get a $30 3 stage charger from Harbor Freight.


Set it on 6 volts and individually charge the batteries.



Once charged, connect them for the 12 volt configuration and you will be good to go!

[Mr_D]

Not setting batteries on concrete or needing to be on wood is no longer needed. That was for the old rubber cased ones. All my batteries are on a metal slide out tray, if that has no effect on life then neither will being on concrete.

[lwmcguire]

Originally Posted by TonyMac

This has happened with one of my 12v batteries, it got so low it seemingly would not take a charge. Actually, it's more of a charger issue. So, here's what I did. I disconnected my 'dead' battery and set it on a piece of wood on the floor. I then disconnected a good 12v batter and set it on the wood next to the dead one. Then I connected them. What happened was they both equalized their current,and my charger would charge them, either together or individually.


Here's what I'd do with your 2 6v batteries: Connect 6v battery 1's negative to the 6v battery 2's positive. Then, get a good 12v battery and connect the 12v positive to 6v battery 1's positive, and the good 12v negative to 6v battery 2's negative. Then let them sit for a few hours. Then disconnect the whole mess and see if your charger will bring them all to full charge

Same way works for me
Most newer chargers won't charge a completely dead battery

[Bigd9]

From Trojan Battery Website
https://www.trojanbattery.com/tech-support/faq/

Storing a battery on concrete will discharge it quicker- Long ago, when battery cases were made out of natural rubber, this was true. Now, however, battery cases are made of polypropylene or other modern materials that allow a battery to be stored anywhere. A battery’s rate of discharge is affected by its construction, its age, and the ambient temperature. The main issue with storing on concrete is that if the battery leaks, the concrete will be damaged.

Be very careful connecting a good battery to a bad battery. There will be a LOT of current pouring into the dead one, and that current can boil the battery water producing a bunch of extremely explosive hydrogen gas.

Best to use a old style 2 amp charger and slowly charge until the newer style chargers will take over and properly charge them. Be careful, and be safe.

[txcpl]

Your best bet is to take them back to the store. Sams will replace them or charge them up for you. The sooner the better.

[okcnewbie]

My friend just bought his motorcycle battery from wally world. It was a small AGM. The paperwork said it was charged and ready to go. It wouldn't even turn the starter. Only read 10vdc. Next time I buy batteries from WM I'm taking my meter with.