Batteries Die in a Few Hours! HELP!

[Logan X]

Originally Posted by nickofosho

Update!

So, one of the batteries was dead. I did another load test on each battery and one needed to be replaced. Not sure what happened with the first load test...
Also, I now realize I was draining my batteries to 0% on most dry camping trips. I didn’t understand how that worked so thank you to everyone for explaining this to me!

Swapped the dead battery and we set out on a week long dry camping trip and the batteries both worked great. And I made sure not to let the charge go below 50% using our trusty generator.

Thanks again for all the input everyone!!

Thanks for posting the update. Good job and I’m glad you figured out the problem. I agree with John, it’s best practice to replace all batteries at the same time to avoid future problems. Take care!

[Ken / Claudia]

This thread points out what happens a lot on here. The #1 thing that should have been made sure was not the problem was the problem. Start with the simplest solution to any problem first. Make sure 100% that it is not the problem before ever going further.
I am not trying to put anyone down, this could have been caused by a number of problems that failed. But until both batteries had been properly inspected and tested all else was a waste of time.
The best news is the poster now knows how to check a battery correctly and came back on here to explain his fix.

[chuckster57]

Not to toot my horn, read post #2. IIRC I asked about a load test.

I agree that threads gets sidetracked or “I have this/that” and “my problem was, maybe yours is too”. I enjoy this forum and a vast majority of its members because we all try to be helpful in a non condescending manner.

Ok boast and rant off

[sourdough]

The bad battery as the probable culprit was pointed out at the beginning but was not followed up on. The next thing is apparently the OP only replaced one battery of two that have been run down to 0% repeatedly. Obviously that is just the next "failure" to pop up sooner than later. Those recommending on the total replacement have generally gone through the cheap route and reaped the rewards. Kudos to the OP for posting the final solution.

[Snoking]

Originally Posted by sourdough

The bad battery as the probable culprit was pointed out at the beginning but was not followed up on. The next thing is apparently the OP only replaced one battery of two that have been run down to 0% repeatedly. Obviously that is just the next "failure" to pop up sooner than later. Those recommending on the total replacement have generally gone through the cheap route and reaped the rewards. Kudos to the OP for posting the final solution.

Yep, the new battery will be just as good as the damaged one he left in the system very shortly, and he will be buying two more batteries. If he bought the one battery from the people that tested the batteries, shame on them for not advising him to replace both. Chris

[flybouy]

To the OP....

Hopefully this will be a learning experience and if you don't replace the second battery with one identical to the one you just bought then you will have a "second" and possibly more costly lesson.

Take the advice on the replacing both batteries that's coming from the same people who told you to check the batteries early on during this journey.

[German Shepherd Guy]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Not to toot my horn, read post #2. IIRC I asked about a load test.


I agree that threads gets sidetracked or “I have this/that” and “my problem was, maybe yours is too”. I enjoy this forum and a vast majority of its members because we all try to be helpful in a non condescending manner.

Ok boast and rant off

Glad that the OP came to the same conclusion and fixed it.


I was betting on Chucks answer from the git go so feel great about that.

Oak

[GHen]

If the batteries were connected together, they both hit 0% together. They both need to be replaced.

If only one is replaced, better throw in a couple extra blankets in the rv, the new one will get dragged down to 0% with the old one at the worst time. I predict dead batteries at 2am when the furnace turns on sometime down the road.

[crowbar]

Originally Posted by nickofosho

Update!

So, one of the batteries was dead. I did another load test on each battery and one needed to be replaced. Not sure what happened with the first load test...
Also, I now realize I was draining my batteries to 0% on most dry camping trips. I didn’t understand how that worked so thank you to everyone for explaining this to me!

Swapped the dead battery and we set out on a week long dry camping trip and the batteries both worked great. And I made sure not to let the charge go below 50% using our trusty generator.

Thanks again for all the input everyone!!

Good for you, Nick. Had a similar problem a year or so ago. Had one of my 6v batteries go on me and it was just over a year old. Tried to have it replaced but deep cycle was only guaranteed for a year. The other battery had no sign of weakness so I just replaced the bad one and had no problems at all the following season. One thing I do though, is take the batteries out and keep them inside on a maintainer in the off season. Have a good one.