Question on batteries

[RVRAC]

Well, I made a big mistake.  Two weeks I went to the storage to check my unit that is in storage, but when I left I did not turn of the shutoff switch, some lights were on. Last week when I went back the batteries had no power.  I turned the generator for 30-40 minutes and got them charged 3/4 according to the red lights.  I turned off the power switch before leaving.  I went back yesterday and the batteries had no power.  Question, are the batteries ruined or do I need to try to recharge them for a longer time? Do I need new ones?

 

[Gizmo100]

Ruined...Likely not but it would depend on what shape they were in to start with.

I would take them home and put them on a slow charge for 24 hours and then test them.

Best of luck

 

[John From Detroit]

Well. kind of like the punch line of an old joke "Depends"

If you have MARINE/deep cycle (Really starting batteries) good chance they are toast
If you have DEEP CYCLE (like the GC-2 Pair Damon gave me.. Good chance they will recover but charge 'em ALL the way up. like 6 to 8 hours of charge time.

ANd not also "Chance" means exactly that. No guarantees.

 

[Alfa38User]

The 3/4 you saw was likely the result of charger voltage reading. There is no way 30-40 minutes would give any charge at all to a dead battery. It takes MANY hours (24-48) to do that if the batteries are recoverable.

After a long charge take them to a battery dealer and have them load tested (usually free) and find out the truth about their state.