bph
Wyoming
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Joined: 04/23/2006
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I am looking for input about an electrical issue that has just started. I just recently switched from 4-6 volt to 3-12 volt batteries connected as our manual recommends. This weekend strange things happened. Water pump would come on and quit, auto generator start wouldn't start, power inverter would quit, the radio would just come on when we had the switch set to off. Nothing in the breaker box was tripped when this would happen. When the generator was running is didn't seem to be charging the batteries. Most of the time we park we dry camp and rely on all of thses things working. Any advice as to what to look for or at would be appreciated.
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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Hi,
What does the voltmeter in the RV read?
Does it read full? Are the lights really bright? Do the batteries read 2/3 full or 1/2 full? I would expect the battery to read 1/2 - 3/4 full at this time - with the charger off.
Did everything work normally after changing the batteries? Or did this start to happen only after installing the new batteries?
There might be a fuse between the charger and the batteries. If one of the battery cables shorted out, that might have caused the fuse to go bad.
I have a remote control on my inverter/charger. If I disconnect the power, it can shut itself off.
As for the radio coming on by itself, I guess a radio could do that (once when you re-connect the power), just not the ones I have seen!
Fred.
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garym114
Texas
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Make sure the batteries are connected to each other properly. 12 volt batteries have to be connected together differently than 6 volts. You may have them connected to output 24 volts. Look at the battery connect drawing for 12 volt batteries in the middle of this page.
When you look at the picture it is best to have the positive output coming off of the top battery and the negative coming from the bottom battery.
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smkettner
Southern CA
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Separate the batteries, charge them and test them.
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dclark1946
Richardson,TX,USA
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smkettner wrote:Separate the batteries, charge them and test them.
And get a digital multimeter so you can check voltages. Add a clamp on ammeter for even better diagnostics to check charging and load current at the battery.
Dick
Dick & Karen (converted tent campers)
Richardson,TX
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bph
Wyoming
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Joined: 04/23/2006
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Thanks all for the fast input. This was the first time out since changing the batteries.
What should the on the inverter panel say such as search, watts etc. The batteries according the panel state they are between 1/2 and full. Betteries are hooked up negative to negative and to coach. For a total of 3 batteries.
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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Joined: 02/25/2005
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Some batts just don't seem to play well together.
I have two of the same type/brand/size of batts connected together but one is about 9 months older than the other. If I try to charge both of them while their connected together, the current goes down, up, down, up, etc.
I suspect the older one may be sulfated so I'm desulfating it now.
Apparently matching batts is even more critical then I thought. Are yours all of the same age and model?
Scott, Grace and Wesly
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MELM
GA
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Learning from some recent threads...
There have been a couple of recent threads where batteries were replaced and there were problems afterwards and the cause of the problems was one wire that had not been reconnected to the batteries - it had "disappeared" from obvious view during the battery changeout.
Strange 12 volt problems are often associated with a ground or battery negative connection.
Could you have missed a cable connecting to one of the battery terminals? In many RV's, there are more than one cable on the battery terminals that go to the coach loads and charging system.
It might also help if you post the make and model of your RV.
Mel & Mary Ann; Mo'Be (More Behave...) and Bella
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bph
Wyoming
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Yes, the batteries are all the same and the same age. New.
The coach is 2006 Monaco Windsor.
We hadn't used is since March. Everything worked as it should then. We had the old batteries in then
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garym114
Texas
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What about the other 12v loads?
Lights - interior 12v, do they stay on, bright , dim
Does the water pump work when the engine is running?
Does the inverter work when the engine is running?
What charges the batteries when you are plugged into shore power?
Do thing work when you are plugged into shore power?
Do you have a multimeter?
Just trying to get more info.
Any other anomalies?
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