Community Forums

2Tired2Camp · 08-02-2020, 05:44 PM

Bought my camper used, so as far as I'm aware, the batteries are about 4 years old. I've got two NAPA batteries wired in parallel. The driver-side battery has two bad cells. I tested both batteries with a hydrometer and the first and fourth of six cells registered almost nothing on the driver-side. The output seems pretty weak and just drops off after a short amount of time. Usually around two hours after disconnecting shore power, they can keep the lights on, but just don't have enough juice to power the tongue jack or the slides. Is there anything I can do to salvage these, or am I looking at just forking over the money for a new battery?

charliez · 08-02-2020, 05:50 PM

Naaaa. You'll want to replace both at the same time. The older one will take life out of the new on. Make sure all the connections are good and clean. And make sure you get RV rated batteries and I always replace with the largest capacity that will fit.

xc-mark · 08-02-2020, 05:54 PM

replace them both with NEW , dont let the new battery freeze or go below 50% CHARGE. You should get 5 years + out of them if you get good battery and your charger is a 4 stage unit.

keymastr · 08-02-2020, 09:06 PM

Replace with 2 6 volts from Costco. 20% more battery for the same or less money. If they are too tall for your current battery boxes Batteries+ has Noco 6 volt boxes with straps for $15.

scbwr · 08-03-2020, 04:28 AM

The two Interstate house batteries on our Bay Star have been performing poorly, and I decided to switch to two 6 volt batteries. I looked at the batteries at Costco, but recent reviews have been rather poor. So I opted to go with two Duracell batteries:

https://www.batteriesplus.com/produc...cle/6/sligc115

I just installed them yesterday, so this is just a bit of information and not a recommendation. But, if you read up on batteries for RVs, you'll see that most folks prefer going with 6 volt batteries. Depending on how you camp and if you camp a lot without electrical hookups, you may want to consider eventually having four six volt batteries if you need the additional capacity.

Good luck and keep 'em charged!

bddadles · 08-03-2020, 04:38 AM

Replace them both.

LETMGROW · 08-03-2020, 04:54 AM

I replaced my two 6 Volt batteries last week. The batteries were NAPA 8144 GC 2 batteries which were installed May of 2015. I replaced the batteries with the same exact batteries. I've been happy with the way the batteries served me for the past five and one half seasons.
I had one bad cell in one battery.
Lynn

Soppy · 08-03-2020, 06:35 AM

Replace them both. When you put your rv in storage or not in use for a long period of time , fully charge the batteries , then disconnect them. You will then easily get 5+ yrs out of them. If you go with AGM batteries, the life expectancy will be even longer.

YC1 · 08-03-2020, 06:35 AM

Welcome to the forum:

Beer and Batteries are only rented, you never really buy them.

Don't make troubles for yourself. Take many pictures and print them out. Replace the batteries using the pictures and don't get fooled by wire colors. Use the pictures.

Once you have things really clean and shiny after following the battery wires wherever they go take voltage measurements and write those down on the pictures you print out. Put the pictures in a plastic sheet protector or laminate them.

There will be a test on some dark and rainy night so keep the pictures handy.

Cheers.

Mark_K5LXP · 08-03-2020, 01:18 PM

He's dead, Jim.

Four years is a bit young but odds are they haven't been loved. The only value these have now is for a core/trade in.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

YC1 · 08-04-2020, 07:54 AM

Most rv batteries are murdered, few are allowed to live a full life.

I have seen them last 8-9 years but that is incredibly exceptional and require lots of love.