Battery Life?

P&L · 06-26-2021, 10:54 AM

Our battery is a little over 5 years old and registers 11.5-11.7 volts fully charged. When trying to use our electric tongue jack nothing happens. Isn't that enough power to life the jack? I think it's time to replace it...

Bobbie54 · 06-26-2021, 11:00 AM

It's only charged to about 30% so yes. Also- when you try to use the jack does the voltage drop? If not, there is an issue with power to the jack as well.

P&L · 06-26-2021, 12:20 PM

Thank you.
It works when plugged into the tow vehicle. When it isn't plugged in, it's as if it wasn't in use and no power at all.

gbaglo · 06-26-2021, 12:37 PM

I'm on my third ( 12V wet cell ) battery at 12 years.
After charging and resting the battery, with nothing drawing power it should read about 12.6.

fudge_brownie · 06-26-2021, 03:34 PM

I have only managed five years from my batteries. Some claim to have had theirs last longer. I babied mine so I am missing the magic formula. Tires and batteries seem to have similar life spans - five years.

P&L · 06-26-2021, 03:40 PM

Thank you everyone! Off to buy a couple of batteries we will go. If anyone knows if one battery is better than another, let us know. Lithium is not in the cards at this time.

gbaglo · 06-26-2021, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P&L

Thank you everyone! Off to buy a couple of batteries we will go. If anyone knows if one battery is better than another, let us know. Lithium is not in the cards at this time.

I replaced Interstate with Trojan ( highly respected ).

fudge_brownie · 06-26-2021, 04:29 PM

If you have been having problems with propane alarms caused by off gassing consider replacing with AGM batteries.

Eggscape · 06-26-2021, 05:49 PM

Does it work when you have it plugged into 120 volts at home or a camp power post?

fudge_brownie · 06-26-2021, 06:16 PM

Yes it does. The Interstate 6 volt that came with Escape will off gas, as all flooded batteries do. Substituting an AGM results in less off gassing and less alarms. In two years no alarms, had at least five of them before AGM.

Effie · 06-26-2021, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fudge_brownie

Yes it does. The Interstate 6 volt that came with Escape will off gas, as all flooded batteries do. Substituting an AGM results in less off gassing and less alarms. In two years no alarms, had at least five of them before AGM.

Did you have the alarms with the e19?

Brian B-P · 06-26-2021, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fudge_brownie

I have only managed five years from my batteries. Some claim to have had theirs last longer. I babied mine so I am missing the magic formula. Tires and batteries seem to have similar life spans - five years.

Hmmm... I think my average for both is over five years. Vehicle service and local conditions do matter.

Hawkeye Ed · 06-26-2021, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P&L

Our battery is a little over 5 years old and registers 11.5-11.7 volts fully charged. When trying to use our electric tongue jack nothing happens. Isn't that enough power to life the jack? I think it's time to replace it...

I'm no battery expert but I wonder if there's something else going wrong if your battery won't even get to 12 volts when you charge it. When my batteries have lost a lot of their capacity they still charge to near 13 volts (lead acid batteries). It's just that they don't last very long and the voltage drops very quickly as they discharge. But even a brand new battery is almost completely discharged when it gets down to 11.5 - 11.7 volts so it's no surprise you can't operate anything with a big amp draw like an electric jack motor.

Now, a battery that's lasted 5 years has actually lasted about as long as one could expect. So you're probably due for a new battery anyway. So when you get the new one make sure your charging system is operating properly.

You have lots of battery choices, mainly regular lead-acid or AGM, depending on how much you want to spend. Just make sure you get a true deep-cycle battery, not one of those dual-purpose starter/deep cycle batteries that are designed for people with small boats where they need the battery to start their motor.

fudge_brownie · 06-27-2021, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Effie

Did you have the alarms with the e19?

My 19, had the batteries on the tongue. No problem with off gassing. Prior to 2010 the 19 had batteries inside under the front curbside bench. No experience with that arrangement.

escape artist · 06-27-2021, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P&L

Thank you everyone! Off to buy a couple of batteries we will go. If anyone knows if one battery is better than another, let us know. Lithium is not in the cards at this time.

Hi: P&L... Like the Energizer bunny I run on batteries. They usually last 10 yrs. and rather than change them, they replace the whole Pacemaker. It's "Plug and play" and the unit only cost about $2500.00 thanks to universal health care.

Alf
escape artist N.S. of lake Erie

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