Forum Discussion
Bordercollie
Jan 24, 2017Explorer
Check the set screw connections on the converter charger for proper tightness so that heavy gage output cables provide charging power to the house battery.
You may have an additional switch marked "storage" or "aux battery" When it is on, it connects the converter charger to the house battery. When it is off, it disconnects the house battery from the converter charger and from any 12 volt powered alarms, appliance controls, interior lights, etc., that can gradually discharge the house battery. In most rigs, this switch is located on a display panel that shows fullness of holding tanks, state of battery charge and also has a remote RV generator start switch.
A fully charged good house battery when in storage mode should be able to start the generator and/or provide necessary 12 volt dc power to interior lights when turned on after rig is parked, not driven, for (maybe) three weeks (depending on condition and ambient temperature). When you are camping without shore power and without RV generator running, a good fully charged house battery, at 13.6 volts, may power interior lights and furnace blower, etc, for up to three days. It is not good for batteries to run them down to 12 volts or lower. Get a simple digital voltmeter to check house battery voltage and a "turkey baster" battery filler at an auto supply store to replenish battery fluid levels using distilled water. Liquid must cover the plates, don't over fill. Keep battery connectors clean with a wire brush battery terminal cleaner to assure good electrical conductivity. BTW, the engine starting battery in most rigs is not being charged when the rig is plugged into shore power unless it has a device installed to do so. I have an add-on Trik-L-Start device that diverts some charging power to the engine starting battery. RV's are dependent on having 12 volt dc power as well as 120 volt AC power. Learn as much as you can about both RV electrical systems and how they work together and separately.
If you have 120volt ac power available when parked or in storage, it's good to connect a 12 volt "smart" trickle charger to the house battery and another to the engine starting battery. Look at "Battery Minder" chargers. These will keep the batteries charged but not over charged, while parked or in storage and but not connected to "shore power"
You may have an additional switch marked "storage" or "aux battery" When it is on, it connects the converter charger to the house battery. When it is off, it disconnects the house battery from the converter charger and from any 12 volt powered alarms, appliance controls, interior lights, etc., that can gradually discharge the house battery. In most rigs, this switch is located on a display panel that shows fullness of holding tanks, state of battery charge and also has a remote RV generator start switch.
A fully charged good house battery when in storage mode should be able to start the generator and/or provide necessary 12 volt dc power to interior lights when turned on after rig is parked, not driven, for (maybe) three weeks (depending on condition and ambient temperature). When you are camping without shore power and without RV generator running, a good fully charged house battery, at 13.6 volts, may power interior lights and furnace blower, etc, for up to three days. It is not good for batteries to run them down to 12 volts or lower. Get a simple digital voltmeter to check house battery voltage and a "turkey baster" battery filler at an auto supply store to replenish battery fluid levels using distilled water. Liquid must cover the plates, don't over fill. Keep battery connectors clean with a wire brush battery terminal cleaner to assure good electrical conductivity. BTW, the engine starting battery in most rigs is not being charged when the rig is plugged into shore power unless it has a device installed to do so. I have an add-on Trik-L-Start device that diverts some charging power to the engine starting battery. RV's are dependent on having 12 volt dc power as well as 120 volt AC power. Learn as much as you can about both RV electrical systems and how they work together and separately.
If you have 120volt ac power available when parked or in storage, it's good to connect a 12 volt "smart" trickle charger to the house battery and another to the engine starting battery. Look at "Battery Minder" chargers. These will keep the batteries charged but not over charged, while parked or in storage and but not connected to "shore power"
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