Forum Discussion

RocketDog's avatar
RocketDog
Explorer
Feb 03, 2017

House batteries

Here we go again. My house batteries are not charging while plugged into shore power, but will while driving. I intend to check the charger/converter tomorrow. Would anyone with a 2005 Bonder, Workhorse chassis is a 32W, be willing to send me a shot of the battery compartment showing the cable connections? I have four, the normal - & +. I have two others, one to neg and one to pos. My two battery status indicators show Aux almost 13 volts and the Main shows nothing. Any help? Thanks
Class A

6 Replies

  • wildmanbaker's avatar
    wildmanbaker
    Explorer
    Feb 04, 2017
    John Wayne wrote:
    Well if they are charging while driving I would say your wiring is OK it's the charger/converter that is the problem.

    True, unless a wire was not hooked-up correctly, or missed. When you start the engine, the house and chassis batteries are connected together for charging. Fleetwood MH also do the same when plugged into shore power. You need to take voltage readings at the house batteries, under the 2 conditions to verify what is happening. Also check for any wires that are near the house batteries, that are not connected.
  • John_Wayne's avatar
    John_Wayne
    Explorer II
    Feb 04, 2017
    Well if they are charging while driving I would say your wiring is OK it's the charger/converter that is the problem.
  • tropical36's avatar
    tropical36
    Explorer II
    Feb 04, 2017
    RocketDog wrote:
    Here we go again. My house batteries are not charging while plugged into shore power, but will while driving. I intend to check the charger/converter tomorrow. Would anyone with a 2005 Bonder, Workhorse chassis is a 32W, be willing to send me a shot of the battery compartment showing the cable connections? I have four, the normal - & +. I have two others, one to neg and one to pos. My two battery status indicators show Aux almost 13 volts and the Main shows nothing. Any help? Thanks

    Assuming you have four 6v house batteries, then each pair will be connected pos to neg to make 12v. Then the remaining terminals, will be connected pos to pos and neg to neg for a full 12vdc output.
    I wouldn't think that the alternator would charge them either, if connected wrong, so you might look for a wire off somewhere.
    Your chassis battery or batteries are most likely 12v and will be connect pos to pos and neg to neg, if more than one.
  • crasster's avatar
    crasster
    Explorer II
    Feb 04, 2017
    Lookup series and parallel wiring.

    If they are are 12V batteries you wire them in parallel.
    If they are 6V Golf cart batteries, you wire 2 and 2 in series (6V+6V = 12V), then merge all batts in parallel.
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Feb 04, 2017
    RocketDog wrote:
    My house batteries are not charging while plugged into shore power, but will while driving.... My two battery status indicators show Aux almost 13 volts and the Main shows nothing.

    So while driving the house batteries are charging and the chassis battery is not charging? :h
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Feb 04, 2017
    And now you've learned the lesson of marking the wires and taking pictures before disassembly. :S

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