I'm throwing this out there before I've had a chance to tear it apart, maybe someone can lead me in the right direction...
We had a bad storm a few weeks ago and lost electric at the house. I had just bought two new 6v batteries for the motorhome that day, because they didn't seem to last long, plus they were older and didn't have much water in them. (I just bought the motorhome and wanted to start with good batteries.) After the storm, I put the new ones on the RV and connected the wires back up, using a diagram that I drew when I took the wires off. I started the generator and ran a cord from the camper to my refrigerator and a couple fans in the house. It ran for about 3 hours then died. I went to start the generator back up and the switch in the RV and on the generator was dead like I didn't have any power, so I figured the batteries must not have been charged up when I got them. After looking in my manuals, I started the RV engine and let it run for about 30 minutes trying to charge the batteries, which did let me start the generator again for about 2 seconds then it died. Then nothing at the switch. I checked the volts at the batteries and at the generator and found 12.2, which tells me the batteries are fine and I'm getting power to the generator. I did find a small box in the upper right hand corner of the generator that came apart. It has a "rod" connected to a coiled up spring and a metal type exhaust hose (i think) coming out the bottom, probably something to do with the idle. That may have been why it stopped and won't stay running. I'll probably have to replace this box, but I need to figure out the power thing first. I also don't have lights in the camper running off of battery, which is another issue, just not sure it is connected. I only found 1 RV place in town that was willing to work on it, but after calling them a couple times and they kept telling me they were planning on looking at it tomorrow (they had it for almost two weeks), I just picked it up and figured I would dig into it myself. They did tell me it might have something to do with the control panel on the generator. Any help would be greatly appreciated. We are leaving in 2 weeks to go out west and the generator would be nice to have working...haha
Kevin & Lawanda Kress (4 girls 1 boy)
1998 Fleetwood Jamboree The Kress Express
first off 12.2 is Not fully charged
its more like 50% >60% depending on which chart you use
you do know about the battery disconnect switch
the batteries have to be connected before they charge and before you have ligjts and 12v power inside the RV,
also if you have an "inverter" it should be turned off if not being used
just to clarify
converters are chargers they use 120v to make 13>14v to charge the house batteries
inverters use battery power to make 120v to power TV, coffee maker , pc, MW etc
without running the generator (mainly for night and 'no generator' hours)
combination inverter-charger ,is both in one pkg/case, but only does one function at a time, it is either inverting, because no source of 120v power is availabe , or it is in charging mode because you are running the generator or plugged into shore power
* This post was
edited 07/15/12 08:03am by MrWizard *
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The batteries are not being charged by your converter. That is the problem. This should happen when the generator is running or if you are on shore power.
Like the Wizard said, the battery disconnect switch has to be closed for the batteries to charge and your lights to work.
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I'm not sure if I have a disconnect switch, because I was actually thinking of putting one on so the microwave clock, etc. wouldn't drain the battery when just sitting around the driveway. It should be around the battery cables, right?
When I was checking the interior lights was while we didn't have power, so as your saying the batteries might not be charged up enough. I will have to check again tonight now that it has been plugged in to shore power for a couple days, maybe I'll have juice to my generator...
Thanks, I look thru this site daily to see what more I can soak up...
the MW does not use battery power it use 120v
if your RV is setting there with out shore power, and the MW display is on
you have an inverter and that inverter is turned on and using your battery power
i'm reasonably sure your 98 fleetwood has a disconnect
it is very likely a a push button or rocker switch
that operates the "disconnect relay"
it might be over the drivers seat
it might be over the entry door
it might be beside the entry steps
it might even be integrated with the inverter control someplace around the kitchen
* This post was
edited 07/15/12 11:25am by MrWizard *
Consider this brochure report from Progressive Dynamics on what it takes to charge a deep cycle battery and how long it take.
Progressive Dynamics ran this test on the amount of time it took a PD9155 (55-amp) converter/charger set to three different output voltages to recharge a 125 AH (Amp Hour) battery after it was fully discharged to 10.5-volts.
14.4-VOLTS (Boost Mode) – Returned the battery to 90% of full charge in approximately 3-hours. The battery reached full charge in approximately 11 hours.
13.6-VOLTS (Normal Mode) – Required 40-hours to return the battery to 90% of full charge and 78-hours to reach full charge.
13.2-VOLTS (Storage Mode) – Required 60-hours to return the battery to 90% of full charge and 100-hours to reach full charge.
Also mentioned here in this thread about what the percentage of charge compared to DC Voltage observed looks like.
This is a typical chart...
photo from google images
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I do have an inverter and "breaker" type switches under the bed. One is labeled main, so if I flip it off then that will cut the power to all the things that would typically drain the battery? Does the refrigerator use the inverter/battery when switched to gas?
MrWizard wrote: the MW does not use battery power it use 120v
if your RV is setting there with out shore power, and the MW display is on
you have an inverter and that inverter is turned on and using your battery power
i'm reasonably sure your 98 fleetwood has a disconnect
it is very likely a a push button or rocker switch
that operates the "disconnect relay"
it might be over the drivers seat
it might be over the entry door
it might be beside the entry steps
it might even be integrated with the inverter control someplace around the kitchen
woodworks4fun - Take the time to look around. Answer MrWizards questions and find the disconnect switch.
You probably do not have an inverter.
The breakers you found under the bed are the 120v AC breakers, not for DC, the batteries. The refer needs 12v fro control power.
OK, I did find a bad fuse on the generator last week. The fuse and wires had dropped down in behind a bracket, so I didn't see it at first. I replaced the fuse and it started right up.(Note: the batteries seem to be charged enough to start the gen)
I still don't have lights, etc. on battery power and I went to start my gen last night and it wouldn't start, sounding like the batteries didn't have enough power to turn it over. My wife is taking the batteries back to the store today to double check to see if they are good (they are brand new).
I've looked everywhere for a disconnect switch/button, but don't see one. I do have an inverter/charger (Inteli-Power 9100-Model PD9140) under the bed. One thing I am going to look at closer tonight is the wiring under the MH to see if something has come loose that I'm not seeing, maybe not charging the batteries, like garym114 said earlier. The MH has been plugged in for a couple weeks now, so batteries should be full charge.
After my wife lets me know if they are good, I'll get them back on the MH tonight. If there are any tests I can run please let me know. I have a couple multi-meters but I'm not real good at understanding them.
I'm sorry for being so confused, but I don't claim to be a mechanic, especially all this electrical jumbo...
We leave Thursday night for a cross country trip, I'm pulling my hair out trying to get this thing working and ready.
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