Full Version: 6v Batteries
When I hook up a volt meter to a 6v battery how many volts should it read. One says 8.2 and the other 8.4 and everything in the trailer is dead. Help.
QUOTE (Dmax @ Jun 15 2010, 11:25 AM) 
When I hook up a volt meter to a 6v battery how many volts should it read. One says 8.2 and the other 8.4 and everything in the trailer is dead. Help.
depends on where you put the test leads on the battery.
i am going to assume you have 2 6v batteries wired into a series here.
if you put a volt meter across the positive and negative of the same battery, you should read 6v. but it you put the leads across the positive of the leading battery, and the negative of the trailing battery, it will should 12v. if you are only getting 8.2 - 8.4 volts out of the two in a series, then yeah, trailer will be dead.
quick question, and not to insult you either. did you just install them? did you have 12v batteries before? if yes, and you did not change the wiring, then you are not going to get them to work in parallel (that is how 2-12v batteries are wired together for a 12v load). 2 - 6v batteries must be in series to get 12v load out of them
No insult. Batteries are about 3-4 years old and just died. And yes they are wired right.
QUOTE (Dmax @ Jun 15 2010, 11:40 AM)
No insult. Batteries are about 3-4 years old and just died. And yes they are wired right.
ah.... yeah, they be dead then...
i was just curious, and i didnt want to insult ya.
funny story.
my friend had crappy 12v batteris in his rig. he heard me talk about my 6v batteries in my rig. so he decideds to replace his 12v batteries, and put 6v batteries in his trailer, but didnt rewire. he couldnt figure out why nothing worked. he had swore up and down he bought defective batteries, cursed the guy he bought them from at the trailer supply place, took them back, got new ones, etc. once i showed him with my volt meter the difference between series and parallel voltage was, he understood.
QUOTE (Dmax @ Jun 15 2010, 11:25 AM)
When I hook up a volt meter to a 6v battery how many volts should it read. One says 8.2 and the other 8.4 and everything in the trailer is dead. Help.
This might be the float charge. follow the instructions below and if you still be out of limit voltage readings the next step would be a specifica gravity measurement of the electrolyte then a load test.
If the batteries are older than 3 years old expect a bad cell.
http://www.trojanbattery.com/BatteryMaintenance/Testing.aspx
QUOTE
II. Open-Circuit Voltage Test
For accurate voltage readings, batteries must remain idle (no charging, no discharging) for at least 6 hrs, preferably 24 hrs.
1. Disconnect all loads from the batteries.
2. Measure the voltage using a DC voltmeter.
3. Check the state of charge with Table 1.
4. Charge the battery if it registers 0% to 70% charged.
If battery registers below the Table 1 values, the following conditions may exist:
1. The battery was left in a state of discharge too long.
2. The battery has a bad cell.
Batteries in these conditions should be taken to a specialist for further evaluation or retired from service.
TABLE 1. State of charge as related to specific gravity and open circuit voltage
Percentage of Charge
#1-Specific Gravity Corrected to
80o F Open-Circuit Voltage
#1 6V 8V 12V 24V 36V 48V
100 1.277 6.37 8.49 12.73 25.46 38.20 50.93
90 1.258 6.31 8.41 12.62 25.24 37.85 50.47
80 1.238 6.25 8.33 12.50 25.00 37.49 49.99
70 1.217 6.19 8.25 12.37 24.74 37.12 49.49
60 1.195 6.12 8.16 12.24 24.48 36.72 48.96
50 1.172 6.05 8.07 12.10 24.20 36.31 48.41
40 1.148 5.98 7.97 11.96 23.92 35.87 47.83
30 1.124 5.91 7.88 11.81 23.63 35.44 47.26
20 1.098 5.83 7.77 11.66 23.32 34.97 46.63
10 1.073 5.75 7.67 11.51 23.02 34.52 46.03
For accurate voltage readings, batteries must remain idle (no charging, no discharging) for at least 6 hrs, preferably 24 hrs.
1. Disconnect all loads from the batteries.
2. Measure the voltage using a DC voltmeter.
3. Check the state of charge with Table 1.
4. Charge the battery if it registers 0% to 70% charged.
If battery registers below the Table 1 values, the following conditions may exist:
1. The battery was left in a state of discharge too long.
2. The battery has a bad cell.
Batteries in these conditions should be taken to a specialist for further evaluation or retired from service.
TABLE 1. State of charge as related to specific gravity and open circuit voltage
Percentage of Charge
#1-Specific Gravity Corrected to
80o F Open-Circuit Voltage
#1 6V 8V 12V 24V 36V 48V
100 1.277 6.37 8.49 12.73 25.46 38.20 50.93
90 1.258 6.31 8.41 12.62 25.24 37.85 50.47
80 1.238 6.25 8.33 12.50 25.00 37.49 49.99
70 1.217 6.19 8.25 12.37 24.74 37.12 49.49
60 1.195 6.12 8.16 12.24 24.48 36.72 48.96
50 1.172 6.05 8.07 12.10 24.20 36.31 48.41
40 1.148 5.98 7.97 11.96 23.92 35.87 47.83
30 1.124 5.91 7.88 11.81 23.63 35.44 47.26
20 1.098 5.83 7.77 11.66 23.32 34.97 46.63
10 1.073 5.75 7.67 11.51 23.02 34.52 46.03
QUOTE (Dmax @ Jun 15 2010, 11:25 AM)
When I hook up a volt meter to a 6v battery how many volts should it read. One says 8.2 and the other 8.4 and everything in the trailer is dead. Help.
Check and reset the GFi in the kitchen or bathroom.
Checked the charger, dead. Got a new charger and all is well.
QUOTE (Dmax @ Jun 15 2010, 06:44 PM)
Checked the charger, dead. Got a new charger and all is well.
FYI Most chargers have an High-Amp internal fuse on the output side. Did you check that?
QUOTE (cartwrencher @ Jun 15 2010, 06:46 PM)
QUOTE (Dmax @ Jun 15 2010, 06:44 PM)
Checked the charger, dead. Got a new charger and all is well.
FYI Most chargers have an High-Amp internal fuse on the output side. Did you check that?
No fuse. This charger is probably older than I am.
My Charger died on the last trip out!! Good thing we have 4 6 volts.. I am getting ready to install a new Inverter/Charger, should be fun!!
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.