Need a battery expert

[Cmptreasy]

We bought a new travel trailer last October, and have used it once so far. When in storage, I have shore power hooked up all the time. My thought is to keep the battery charged.
Anyway, we took the trailer in for maintenance and was told the battery was unusable and would not accept a charge.
So, my question is should I keep this hooked up to shore power or disconnect the battery while plugged in? Would a solar panel help keep the battery longer?
It just seems odd that the battery would just die like that.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

The make up of batteries vary according to type a 12vMDC battery uses I think magnesium to strengthen the plates. 6v GC batteries use antimony to strengthen the plates. Some AGM batteries don't use anything to make the plate stronger because the plates are kept in place with the Glass mat. The first two will plate the plates with the strengthening material and render the battery useless over time even if you are not using them, but charging them. At the same time under charged batteries develop crystals .

For sure it is important to keep the battery fully charged, but keeping the battery on a charger speeds up the plating process. A fully charged battery sitting 24 hrs should measure 12.67volts. Keep an eye on the battery for proper voltage and top it off every so often for best results.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

A couple of questions come to mind here. First you say you "bought a new travel trailer." Does that mean "brand new" or "new to you?" I ask to determine how old the battery is.

If your travel trailer is a 2020/2021 model that you just bought brand new, the battery may have simply failed and should be under warranty. This does happen occasionally.

If this is a "new to you" travel trailer, how old is the battery and how was it treated before you bought the trailer? Batteries do eventually fail, sometimes after only five years or so due to the aging process. And batteries in previously-owned RVs may have been left sitting for a long period of time without being charged. That can also kill a battery.

Then, there's the matter of battery charging. Your trailer likely does have a battery charger, but is it working properly? Have you checked? You could be "plugged in" but if the charger is not working, the battery will not be properly maintained.

TJ