Originally posted by JohnBG
When the camper is plugged into 120VAC should it be charging the battery? Or do I need to charge it with a separate charger? My battery is about completely dead as previous owner left it connected and it drained. Or is it time for a new battery? |
If a lead acid battery is completely or nearly drained and left that way for a few months, it is dead beyond any hope of reviving. After 'charging' such a battery, it might seem like it's okay because the voltage of the battery might be good, but it's capacity is almost completely gone.
Rather than plug up the unit periodically, I simply remove my batteries when we aren't using the Pod and place them on a Battery Minder #1500 all the time. It's temperature sensitive, so it doesn't matter that I leave them in my uninsulated garage. This way, I never have to worry whether my batteries are alright.
The other key to battery maintenance is checking the water level periodically, at the beginning and end of the camping season is good. The cells must be topped off with distilled water and nothing else.