Is my battery toast

[dales133]

So I've been away almost 3 weeks came home and my batteries dead.
It's about 2 years old or so I guess but never had an issue with it until now but it dosn't seem to be taking charge overnight and is sitting on 3.8v

[dales133]

My deep cycles on 10.9 but can I start on that if so how

[Marty363]

If its not taking charge I'd say it would be cactus mate. Mine charges at 13.6v.

[dales133]

I've just swapped to a better battery charger and it looks like it might be doing better.
The Shit ty charger I had it on was reading 3.9v

[gronk]

3.9V is normally cactus, but you never know after a charge ( if it will charge )

If your deep cycle is on 10.9V, that isn't good either, so give it a charge as well.

Either of them shouldn't have been down much at all after 3 weeks....unless you had something connected to them......even some cars will drain a battery in 3 weeks, depending on make .

[edz]

Take them to an auto sparky that has a big thumper of a a battery charger, you may not get them back to 100% ever again though.
Had to do this to a couple of dead flat N70 truck / farm types and they came up to about 85 / 90 %  no guarantee though they will recover ...

[dales133]

I'd say whatever discharged the main battery had been drawing on the deep cycle too.
The deep cycles only 12 months old

[gronk]

I'd say whatever discharged the main battery had been drawing on the deep cycle too.
The deep cycles only 12 months old

This can't be a mystery ??   

What was connected to them ??

[dales133]

There is nothing connected to the deep cycle currently except the battery isolator.
The braker on the battery cable tripped a couple of months back without me noticing and the deep cycle drained considerably before I noticed but I recharged it and it seems to have been fine since, it's 12 months old.
The starter/main battery is 2 years or so old and I've never had an issue with it it's connected up to the factory 80 series system.
All I can think of is that I hadn't shut a door properly or something and the interior light drained they battery but I'm not sure.
The better charger got enough charge to start it and I went over to check out a job and left it running 10 mins or so then drove home and now it starts on its own but it's only got the first charge light on on the charger so it's obviously still flat as a pancake.
I've never had an issue leaving it for a couple of weeks sitting before

[gronk]

If the aux battery was dead flat, obviously your isolator didn't isolate it..

If you had left an interior light on for 3 weeks, the crank batt would have been dead flat also, so maybe something else with a smaller load has  flattened it ..

Give the crank batt a full 24 hrs on charge and do the same for the aux.....if it will charge ??

What sort of charger are you using ?

[oldmate]

does it look like this? 

[dales133]

If the aux battery was dead flat, obviously your isolator didn't isolate it..

If you had left an interior light on for 3 weeks, the crank batt would have been dead flat also, so maybe something else with a smaller load has  flattened it ..

Give the crank batt a full 24 hrs on charge and do the same for the aux.....if it will charge ??

What sort of charger are you using ?

The aux battery wasn't dead flat just the cranking battery.
It's up to 50% charge but it's taking ages.
The chargers a supercrap charger but one of thier better ones that does a pretty decent job, the aldi one did nothing over night but I don't think it was designed to charge from flat

[Bird]

[dales133]

Up to 75%...may get lucky

[Barry G]

I won't be down till Monday but could bring my CTEK if you like.

[Mallory Black]

put some charge in then take the covers off and do a hydrometer test on each cell.
slightly messy but it kind of settles any doubt one way or the other if it's shorted a cell or not.
We have a Projecta battery charger that has a rejuvenate cycle on it to basically help remove gunk from the plates and it sometimes can bring a battery back from the brink.

Although at 2 years old it might be best to say that they've had a good innings.
Batteries are the most unreliable part of a car so if there's doubt just get new ones

[Bird]

Up to 75%...may get lucky

it may charge, chances are it wont hold it for long - or while under load in use. I wouldn't chance it if you were going away and relying on it.

[dales133]

Thanks guys, I recon the deep cycles problem gonna be ok and I can test the cells ect on that but the main batteries a century maintenence free job so not much I can do.
If i can get a bit of time out of it I'll be happy as the last thing I need right now is to buy a new battery.
Need to get 1 or 2 for the camper too.
Might take you up on the ctek barry I'll see how she gos tonight

[Barry G]

Thanks guys, I recon the deep cycles problem gonna be ok and I can test the cells ect on that but the main batteries a century maintenence free job so not much I can do.
If i can get a bit of time out of it I'll be happy as the last thing I need right now is to buy a new battery.
Need to get 1 or 2 for the camper too.
Might take you up on the ctek barry I'll see how she gos tonight

[dales133]

Well it got to 100% and I've just put the aux on charge.
I need to get back to work tomorrow but I might try to find somewhere that can test them

[GeoffA]

Thanks guys, I recon the deep cycles problem gonna be ok and I can test the cells ect on that but the main batteries a century maintenence free job so not much I can do....

Not sure about Century, but some "maintenance free" batteries still have filler caps.
They may be hidden under a sticker, or you may need to prize off a cover plate to get to them.
Done this for others with a couple of different battery brands.

[dales133]

Thanks Geoff I'll check it out

[Barry G]

If you need a new battery I would recommend Super Charge. I run their top of the range 'Gold' model in my vehicles, very reasonably priced from their warehouse in Sunshine. Could pick one up for you if you need.

[slydar]

We have a Projecta battery charger that has a rejuvenate cycle on it to basically help remove gunk from the plates and it sometimes can bring a battery back from the brink.

we invested in one of those too, the 16 amp job and it seems to be a ripper - have you used the rejuvenate?

[dales133]

Well it started fine several times today even after sitting most of the day with the tailgate open.
I realy need to try to buy some time with this battery if I can because I need to pay some trade bills and 700 to take this slut to vcat that owes me 5 grand that's ****ed my finances for the last 3 months....sorry even thinking of the frontbum makes me furious.
So anywho. ..touch wood it lasts me a while.
It dosn't sit much as a rule and I can't aford to go away for 3 weeks again in a hurry!

Wouldn't mind trying it on one of those fancy chargers if anyone close has one?