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  1. #1
    Fireside Member
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    Are my new Batteries Toast

    I need some expert knowledge regarding my T145 6V batteries that are only 7 months old. Went out this am to check on things in the Momentum and found No, None, Natta bit of juice showing on my battery monitor panel. The TH has NOT been hooked to shore power b/c my Transfer Switch has failed and have not had the new one installed yet. I figured since I have a 300W solar system it would keep the batteries charged anyway. Well, to make a long story short both batteries are FROZEN solid! 5 days ago they were just fine. We did get about 8" of snow and -12 degrees the last 3 nights. So, are they toast or are they salvageable? Has anyone had experience with their batteries freezing?

    Papa Bear
    Me, My Wife and our two Boys
    Sophia, our Toller
    2015 Momentum 328m
    2016 Chevy LTZ CC, LB, 3500HD, SRW, Duramax/Allison (Brand NEW)
    B&W Turn-Over Ball with B&W Companion fifth wheel Hitch

  2. #2
    Big Traveler
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    From Trojan's website http://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/WP_...orage_0512.pdf

    Doesn't look good for your batteries.

  3. #3
    Fireside Member
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    Ya, that's what I figured. The snow kept the solar from charging them and the rest is history. Thanks Chief!
    Me, My Wife and our two Boys
    Sophia, our Toller
    2015 Momentum 328m
    2016 Chevy LTZ CC, LB, 3500HD, SRW, Duramax/Allison (Brand NEW)
    B&W Turn-Over Ball with B&W Companion fifth wheel Hitch

  4. #4
    Long Hauler LCBoyer's Avatar
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    That's tough! Contact your insurance company
    2018 Freedom Elite 24FE, 2 Yorkies, and my wife MARILYN, HAM call K0LCB. Traveling around this great country, making friends and seeing lot of beautiful and interesting places

  5. #5
    Site Sponsor Cate&Rob's Avatar
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    PaPaBear - Ouch !! But don't give up just yet. Trojan's are incredibly tough batteries and like their website says . . . freezing "usually" results in damage. I would thaw them out and try charging them very slowly. If you can see 5.5V (11V for a series pair) after a little bit of charging, you might be able to bring them back. (This would mean that no cells have shorted)

    They had to have been completely discharged to allow them to freeze. You must have significant parasitic loads that didn't get turned off. I know this advice is of no value to you WRT your current situation . . . but the safest way to leave unwatched batteries in cold climates, is fully charged and completely disconnected. Been doing this for 5 months at a time, in Canada, for 30 years. Never had a frozen battery.

    Rob
    Cate & Rob
    2015 Reflection 303RLS

  6. #6
    Seasoned Camper
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    for the future, when the link doesn't work anymore this is what it says:
    In extremely cold climates, batteries stored outdoors may be subjected to freezing. Freezing usually results in irreparable damage to the plates and containers. It is therefore imperative that batteries that are subjected to freezing temperatures be stored fully charged or at a high state of charge.
    2016 Solitude 369RL
    2005 Airstream 396 XL LandYacht Motorhome (Yes they made some!)
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  7. #7
    Seasoned Camper
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    thaw them out . be sure they are not leaking .... charge them up, test the voltage .. only way to see if there good or bad.

  8. #8
    Site Team WhittleBurner's Avatar
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    You will also have to do a load test on the battery to truly know if it's any good or not. Just charging the battery and then testing it can give you a good reading. If the battery has a bad cell, as soon as you try to use it the charge will drop off dramatically.
    Marcy & Gary
    2014 Grand Design - Reflection 303RLS
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    2015 GMC Denali 3500 - Retired
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  9. #9
    Seasoned Camper
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    A bad cell will show up in voltage test.

  10. #10
    Site Team WhittleBurner's Avatar
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    Not necessarily. I have seen battery's test at 12 volts after being charged up, but still be bad. When you load test a battery you hook it up to a carbon pile and hold it for 15 seconds, the voltage should not drop below 9.5 volts if it does it is bad.
    Marcy & Gary
    2014 Grand Design - Reflection 303RLS
    2022 GMC 3500 Denali Duramax Longbed SRW
    2015 GMC Denali 3500 - Retired
    2003 F350 - retired
    Michigan
    We're in trouble now, the dog are bloggin'!
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