ebraunusa
MN
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Joined: 05/12/2008
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Hello--
I have a 95 Jayco Jamboree and I just replace my battery with 2 6 volt batteries in parallel and I have a solar charger on top of the camper.
I went camping last weekend and did not have electricity, just ran off the battery. On day 2, my batteries got weak and the lights were diming down. We barlely ran the lights on Friday night and hardly any power during the day on Saturday. The fridge was on gas, so that probably drew some power down.
Well, on Saturday night, the lights were so dim, that I had to start the camper and then I was able to run the generator. I let the generator run for 20 minutes (without the truck running) and turned it off. The lights were bright for 20 minutes and then barely on.
The next morning, the batteries were dead. I ran the generator for 30 minutes, turned it off and turned on 1 light. It only lasted for 45 seconds. The solar charger charged all day, but after 8 hours of charging, 1 light would only stay on for 30 seconds.
I drove home and when I got home, the batteries were charged and the lights worked again. I put on a trickle charger, but not sure what to do.
I thought going with 2 6 volt batteries, I should have no problem running lights and water pump for a weekend (using common sense on the lights running), especially with a solar charger.
So, how long should the batteries last? Do I have a power leak and if so, where and how do I find it?
Thanks!
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Bob & Arlene
DOMICILE Seaford, Delaware
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2 6's need to be in series!
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ozhoo
Anza Borrego Desert
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Your first mistake is thinking that anything bigger than a AA battery can be charged in 20-30 minutes. It takes hours to get them to 80%.
But tell us more about your rig, what size charger are you using? What size geny? What size solar?
O
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ozhoo
Anza Borrego Desert
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Bob & Arlene wrote:2 6's need to be in series!
oops, missed than one....
OP please tell me no, you meant series right?
O
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ebraunusa
MN
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I meant series. UGH, my bad! To connect the batteries, I have a cable that goes from the negative of battery 1 to positive to battery 2. I then have the main cables to the coach go to the other posts on each battery.
I have an Onan 4000. Not sure on the solar charger, just bought the camper and no info on it.
I just put on a external charger. Where do you find the charger info on the camper?
Also, were were just running 3 lights for about 2 hours and we ran the furnace for about 4 hours the first night.
* This post was
edited 05/30/08 09:47pm by ebraunusa *
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SieraSam
Gold Country
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Have you checked out your Converter/Charger that works when you are on shore power or on your generator? Check the input 120VAC power when on shore power. It should be at 120VAC or slightly better. Then check your output lines. They should read a little better than 13VDC. You an use a cheap VTVM yhat you buy at Radio Shack or a Simpson meter. If your input is OK but your output is low or zero. You have a bad Converter/Charger.
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purplepossum
Virginia, USA
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Your refrigerator control board runs on 12v. Most of your detectors are probably hard wired to the 12v system. Did you use the radio in the unit. I killed my batteries three or four times before I learned to completely turn it off by holding down the power button for several seconds till the screen turned dark.
One suggestion I had given to me when I was experiencing a similar problem was to use an amp meter, pull each 12v fuse and measure the draw on that circuit.
Remember, when wiring 6v batteries in series the amp hour rating isn't cumulative. Two 6v batteries in this use, with about 220 amp hours, will only give you 220 hours of 12v use and you don't want to take the batteries down too far so you only get 60% of that. Cold weather cuts battery ratings by as much as 50% also.
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GrimmReaperSound
Canada
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Negative from battery 1 to positive on battery 2 puts them in series.
You add the voltages 6+6=12V when in series.
If you had been in parallel both negatives would be tied together and both positives would be tied together, you would then have 6 volts with a whack of available amp/hours.
As for charging, it's easy to get the 12 volts, it's hard to keep it there. Charging is dependant on the amps being put into the battery. I need at least 4 hours on a 30 amp charger to fill a deep cycle 24, let alone a 27. A small solar setup can maintain a charge, not fill up an empty battery.
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ebraunusa
MN
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Where do I check for the 120VAC? Where is the converter/charger? Would that be in the panel where the fuses are?
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smkettner
Southern California
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What are you charging with? Look in the power center where the brakers and fuses are and find a make and model number. You may need to remove the front panel not just peek in the fuse access door.
Were the batteries fully charged before you left? How do you know they were charged?
Have you ever checked or monitored the voltage with a real digital volt meter?
Even with the best charger you will need a solid three to six hours to get from 40% to 90% charged. With a slow magnetec it could take 24 to 48 hours to charge.
* This post was
edited 05/30/08 08:03pm by smkettner *
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