Community Forums

tuffr2 · 01-09-2013, 07:06 AM

I am storing the 5er outside on a dealers storage lot which is behind showroom. I went to check on work that the dealer did. The work was done great but now my battery is dead. They must have left something on.

Anyway - can a dead deep cycle battery be brought back to life ok? If so, what is the best way to charge it up now or just let it be until spring?

My options are:

1. Hook the truck up to it and let the truck run for 2 hrs.

2. Hook a generator to the trailer for 2 hrs.

3. Take the battery out, and charge it in at home with a battery charger.

4. Do nothing until late spring (May 1st)

J Birder · 01-09-2013, 07:27 AM

In order of preference: options 3, 2, 1, 4.

Option 4 will destroy the battery. Option 1 will charge it, but very much. Option 2 will be better, but still will not get it fully charged.

You need to know that even when everything appears to be turned off, a few things such as the entertainment system, the propane and CO detectors, etc. are still drawing enough current to discharge the battery in a couple of weeks.

You are best off taking it home and keeping it on a trickle charger. If it did not freeze, it might have been slightly degraded, but will probably still take a charge.

Joel

wa8yxm · 01-09-2013, 10:06 AM

There are many here who say there is no difference between a deep cycle battery and a starting battery (they are of course wrong) if they were correct the answer "Can it be brought back" would be NO, cause you take a starting battery that low, it's a paperweight.

But you have a deep cycle,, (At least I HOPE it is a deep cycle and not a Marine/Deep cycle, those are rather close to a starting battery)

If it's a marine/deep cycle, it might come back, Might not.

If it is TRUE deep cycle, like golf car six volts..... Been there done that more than once and the batteries are now going on 7 years and still going strong, though they are starting to show signs of aging. (more frequent maintenance requirements So if they are true deep cycle odds are fairly good they will come back.. As for:

My options are:

1. Hook the truck up to it and let the truck run for 2 hrs.

2. Hook a generator to the trailer for 2 hrs.

3. Take the battery out, and charge it in at home with a battery charger.

4. Do nothing until late spring (May 1st)).

5: none of the above are correct. (2 comes closest)

Either get the dealer to run shore power to it or hook up generator for SIX to EIGHT hours. depending on batteries and converter.. I'd go the full 8 if I were you.

Chain Generator to RV, fill tank (Be waiting in the morning when the dealer opens) fire it up and leave, Let it run out of gas. (Turn off all breakers inside save the one that feeds the converter) Come back either at close of business or tomorrow to recover generator.

tuffr2 · 01-09-2013, 06:24 PM

I am going tomorrow to hook up the truck electric cable, let it run for a little. Then level the trailer, once level remove the battery and bring it home and put it on a trickle charger.

Think I can do this w/o saying anything to the service dept. manager...ugh.

tuffr2 · 01-10-2013, 01:08 PM

Update - I hooked up the truck to the 5er. Let the truck run 15 minutes. Expected to see the battery charge indicator to flicker but nothing.

Now the battery is in a trickle charger at the house.

JohnBoyToo · 01-10-2013, 08:48 PM

You are doing all you can do....
either it comes back or not...

and I think it will...

fyi, found my original cutoff switch did not fully cutoff - so even cut off the battery would go down... so had a new cutoff put in that truly isolated the battery...

good luck...

ralphie · 01-11-2013, 08:41 AM

Give it a good charge and take in for a proper battery test. It'll be either good or bad. If it's bad, buy a new one in the spring. If it's good, leave it charged in your garage and install it in the spring.

Scout1947 · 01-11-2013, 11:38 PM

A trickle charger won't do much. Get a battery shop to put it on a decent charger and do a draw test. Regardless of what the results are put a knife swith on the battery to completely disconnect it from parasitic loss of Leds, detectors etc.

jimcumminsw · 01-12-2013, 10:04 AM

I pull my battery each winter season and store the battery on my work bench and trickle charge with a Battery Tender. I also will not let the battery sit on concrete without a wooden board or something under it. The concert will cause the battery to discharge to the ground. I have done this since my first 5er and every other month I check the water level in the battery since the water can evaporate over time. A little maintenance will go a long way in persevering the battery life of your trailer.
Jim W.

tuffr2 · 01-17-2013, 01:28 PM

UPDATE - The battery is now on my work bench connected to a battery tender. Good idea !!!

Thanks

tuffr2 · 01-20-2013, 02:37 PM

Fyi - the battery is a RV deep cycle. The battery tender indicator light was red (as expected) for 12 hrs. Then the light switched to green (as hopped) indicating battery was 80%. Then 8 hrs. later the light is solid green meaning 100% charged. The battery tender light would stay red if anything was wrong with the battery so I am 95% sure it will be ok come spring.

beenthere · 01-28-2013, 01:27 PM

maybe in the old ages but batteries can be stored on concrete with NO discharge except of course the normal self dischrge...this is a myth and not true at all..jeff

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimcumminsw

I pull my battery each winter season and store the battery on my work bench and trickle charge with a Battery Tender. I also will not let the battery sit on concrete without a wooden board or something under it. The concert will cause the battery to discharge to the ground. I have done this since my first 5er and every other month I check the water level in the battery since the water can evaporate over time. A little maintenance will go a long way in persevering the battery life of your trailer.
Jim W.

tuffr2 · 01-28-2013, 02:29 PM

I have the battery up off the concrete floor. And I also heard it does not matter if the battery is on concrete or not. But I am not going to test it. It is easy to keep batteries of the floor so that is what I am going to do until they say putting a battery on croncrete is good for it...

beenthere · 01-29-2013, 01:12 PM

there is no "good" storage solution as they all self discharge all i am saying it does not matter what so ever if it is on concrete or not...but myths are hard to overcome so all will believe what they want and will do as they perceive right..jeff