Kalusniak
Illinois
New Member
Joined: 03/21/2012
View Profile
 Offline
|
I bought a used 2000 Jayco Eagle Trailer (35 Foot, Model Yc2) and the outlets (and microwave) work, but the lights, slide out and pump do not. The previous owner said the batteries would be low, to leave it plugged into the 120V for a couple days and the batteries would charge. It has a PowerSource Battery Charger/Power Supply installed. After 3 days, I went and checked it, still nothing. Does this mean the batteries are shot? Or is something else wrong? Also, if I need new marine batteries, what size/type is recommended?
One other note: When he delivered the trailer, he had to hook up a portable power unit to the battery to get the hitch lift to operate. When he did, the exterior lights were on, the lift worked, he pulled the truck out, diconnected the portable power source and the lights wwent off. This is when he told me to "let the batteries charge".
Any help would be gratly appreciated!
Thank you!
Jeff K
|
opnspaces
San Diego Ca
Senior Member
Joined: 12/22/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Sounds like dead batteries. Does it have more than one battery and are they 6 volt or 12 volt batteries. It should be marked on them or you can remove the fill caps and count the cells. At 2 volts per cell you would have 3 caps for a six volt battery and 6 cells for a 12 volt battery.
Fastest and easiest test is to put a meter or test light across the battery terminals and see what you get. Next fastest would be to plug your tow vehicle (TV) into the trailer, start the engine and see if the interior lights start working. You could also turn the TV around and use jumper cables from the vehicles battery to the trailer batteries. Then start the engine and see if things work.
Also check for a fuse a circuit breaker or a disconnect switch on the battery cables. There is usually one located on the positive wire near the battery.
1996 Suburban 4x4. 350, 4.10 3/4 ton
2005 Jayco Jay Flight 27BH
1986 Coleman Columbia Popup.
|
garym114
Bluff Dale, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 07/24/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
The PowerSource is your converter. It should provide 12v for lights, furnace etc when you are plugged in. The secondary function is to charge the batteries.
Check to see if the converter is plugged in to 120v receptacles and the receptacles has power. Also check output fuses on the converter and 12v fuse panel for blown fuses.
You can't charge batteries until the converter is working. When it is working you should have 12v lights.
If you have a disconnect switch it has to be closed.
* This post was
edited 03/21/12 09:27am by garym114 *
2000 Sea Breeze F53 V10 - CR-V Toad
Some RV batteries live a long and useful life, some are murdered.
Get a Digital Multimeter and Learn How to Use It
|
donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
Senior Member
Joined: 04/21/2005
View Profile
 Online
|
First things first. Get out your volt meter and start checking the fuses and breakers. When plugged in you should have 120VAC at all of the outlets, the microwave should light up and the AC unit should start. From there on all of the 12VDC side should work IF the converter is working. You now need to check the fuses for 12VDC. None? Then go to the converter. There should be a main fuse. Check it! This stuff is pretty simply, just takes some time to sort out. Also, look for a BIG battery disconnect switch. It could be in the off position or defective.
Donn,Lorri,Max (The Rescued Lab)
Resident Know It All 
|
Kalusniak
Illinois
New Member
Joined: 03/21/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
They are 12 Volt Batteries - 2 of them.
I'm guessing dead batteries because when he hooked up the portable power to the battery, the lights worked. Wouldn't this be the same as turning my TV around and hooking up the jumper cables? And, if there was a disconnect switch, and it was "off", I'm guessing the lights wouldn't have come on in the first place. Unless.....the Portable power was providing the current....hmmmmm.
Thank you!!!!
|
|
|
garym114
Bluff Dale, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 07/24/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
donn0128 wrote:First things first. Get out your volt meter and start checking the fuses and breakers. When plugged in you should have 120VAC at all of the outlets, the microwave should light up and the AC unit should start.
If there is no 12v DC the thermostat for the AC will not operate the AC unit. Without 12v the refer will not work, 12v is needed for control power.
|
opnspaces
San Diego Ca
Senior Member
Joined: 12/22/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Kalusniak wrote:They are 12 Volt Batteries - 2 of them.
I'm guessing dead batteries because when he hooked up the portable power to the battery, the lights worked. Wouldn't this be the same as turning my TV around and hooking up the jumper cables? And, if there was a disconnect switch, and it was "off", I'm guessing the lights wouldn't have come on in the first place. Unless.....the Portable power was providing the current....hmmmmm.
Thank you!!!!
Yes it would be the same. In your original post you said the exterior lights worked so I wasn't sure about interior lights. Actually which exterior lights worked? If it was the running lights (side markers, tail lights etc) then that is a completely different circuit. Try putting power to the batteries (jumper cables) and then see if the interior lights work.
|
garym114
Bluff Dale, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 07/24/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
opnspaces wrote: Try putting power to the batteries (jumper cables) and then see if the interior lights work.
If the converter won't operate the interior lights it won't do any good to try the batteries.
|
Kalusniak
Illinois
New Member
Joined: 03/21/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
By outside lights, I mean that the outside lights (porch, etc) that are switched from inside the trailer worked when the portable power was hooked up to the battery.
|
Kalusniak
Illinois
New Member
Joined: 03/21/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
OK, I got some additional insight from the previous owner.
According to him, the batteries have to be charged to run the converter. He doesn't know why, just said that the batteries probably need to be trickle-charged from a 120 source before the lights will work.
Does this make sense? It seems to me that if I'm plugged into a 120 source, the converter should work and the lights should come on. Why would I need battey power???
|
|
|
