Could something I'm doing be frying my batteries?

[mgray]

The set of batteries that came with my truck when I bought it almost 3 years ago only lasted me 5 months before they suddenly stopped storing a startable charge over night. Now mind you I didn't know how old they were, and they went bad after about 4 months driving and camping down thru Mexico, so they were run low a few times and went on some intense drives. I had to replace them in Mexico, and I was able to find some 800cca Delco's from a dealer in Mazanillo, although they were pretty dusty. I couldn't find a date code on them, so again I don't know how old they were, but they told me they were good

Now they've done the same thing, and just suddenly can't keep a good charge overnight. These ones only lasted 2.5 years. They were maybe run low 2 or 3 times, and never completely drained I don't think.

Anyways I'm wondering if jumping, sometimes from 2 other sources is bad? I've sometimes used another vehicle connected to one battery, and a portable 800amp booster pack connected to the other battery. Sometimes a portable 800amp booster pack to one battery, and a battery charger set to 100amp start booster to the other battery. Could that damage things?

Could my alternater be frying them? It seems to only charge around 13.6-14.0v which I've been told is actually good for batteries. But could it be putting out too much current?

What about some high drawing accessory that could be shorting out?

I've done all my grounds last year and they still look good, the only bad one is at my back frame where it's rusty and it's for my brake controller which I never use, but I know there's something going on with that ground. I cleaned it up, ground the rust away and sprayed battery connector protector on it. But within a day it had gone back to not working(controller doesn't display numbers, just a . instead of 0.0). If it gets sprayed with water it will work for a short time.

What about a faulty brake switch?

Those are pretty much all the electrical issues I can think of that are going on with my truck that might be screwing with my batteries.

Or is it just bad luck with old batteries? I have some new Optima red's I'm going to put in, but I want to make sure there isn't something else going on that might ruin them too.

Thanks

 

[ak diesel driver]

If that's the volts on the factory guage I'd be concerned. they usually read low. put on a digital VM and verify.

 

[schiker]

They were maybe run low 2 or 3 times, and never completely drained I don't think.

Anyways I'm wondering if jumping, sometimes from 2 other sources is bad? I've sometimes used another vehicle connected to one battery, and a portable 800amp booster pack connected to the other battery. Sometimes a portable 800amp booster pack to one battery, and a battery charger set to 100amp start booster to the other battery. Could that damage things?
What about some high drawing accessory that could be shorting out?

I've done all my grounds last year and they still look good, the only bad one is at my back frame where it's rusty and it's for my brake controller which I never use, but I know there's something going on with that ground. I cleaned it up, ground the rust away and sprayed battery connector protector on it. But within a day it had gone back to not working(controller doesn't display numbers, just a . instead of 0.0). If it gets sprayed with water it will work for a short time.

What about a faulty brake switch?
Or is it just bad luck with old batteries? I have some new Optima red's I'm going to put in, but I want to make sure there isn't something else going on that might ruin them too.

Thanks

Is the radio original ie no sirius add on etc or other electrical alterations???

The brake controller should go to "sleep" and not pull appreciable load.

The only thing that sounds suspicious is how low do yoYur batteries normally get. Starting batteries are only meant to start and give a quick discharge but shouldn't be drawn down more than some fairly high percentage. I think its something like not less than 70 ish %? repeatedly. The less the better. Starting batteries like to stay charged and topped off. Drawing them down and recharging evaporates due to heat from power conversion/chemical reaction and loss of the electrolyte expoes the lead to air. That will cause it to "die" it gets a oxidation ? or something then won't react with the acid/electrolyte like normal.

I think you can only charge batteries so fast depeding on voltage applied. Slow charge is better as less heat is generated and the chemical reaction is more even and doesn't expose the lead to as much oxidation from bubbling electrolyte.

I think its better to jump from drivers side and let the batteries build up a little before starting instead of supplying alot of auxillary amperage. My experience is that battery cables tend to have small contact area (sharp pointy teeth and not good surface mating) and thus poor connections for high current. Side post are worse than top post for this as the bolts are harder and allow less "bite". If it doesn't start let it recover some more then try again.

I usually get approximately 4-6 years from avg batteries but do have a Sirius add on that I sometimes forget to turn off and will draw down batteries and I have to boost. This shorten the lifespan of my last set.

 

[WarWagon]

2 + years on Delco's are good. They are a low quality battery designed for bean counters at GM. You are lucky if they make it out of the 3/36 factory warranty without failing or leaking.

Why are you boosting, jumping, etc. all the time? This discharge will shorten the battery life. Get deep cycle units if you are going to do that from RV loads etc. Check for a constant key off drain otherwise.

Voltage you have is fine. 13.5V+ means the alt is alive. Could be going weak prior to failure though. Your alternator would puke diodes and fail if it was 'putting out too much current'. Trust me and the pile of deep fried units I have been through...

Your brake controller needs research. "0.0" indicates a trailer connected on mine and " . " low power or sleep mode.

Bad brake switch would have your brakes lights on overnight. Check them before you jump start next time... Or back into the drive and see if the lights are on exiting the truck into the house...