Question on Fleetwood Levels Panel

Assuming the batteries are indeed 6V batteries in series (very common arrangement).

You need to check the output of the converter right at the converter on the main positive and negative output terminals. That should read 13.6 at least.

Then check your batteries and see what is there. When you are powering the converter, the batteries should read the same at the converter as at the batteries.

If your converter is putting out, and your batteries do not show it, you have a loose connection from the converter to the batteries. Best method is to use your jumpers and jumper first from the negative on the batteries to the negative on the converter. If that fixes it, you have a loose negative return feed.

If not, do the same with the positive, carefully. If that fixes it, you have a loose positive connection.

A good way of checking if things get fixed is to put on an interior light or two. They will get much brighter instantly if you find the loose wire and fix it. I had a loose negative, and found my problem in the terminal strip just by wiggling the negative at the terminal strip. Suddenly brightness.

If your converter is not putting out, check the input, and recheck the output, then bench test it before throwing it out and replacing it. Often it is just a loose wire.

If you are using the wall panel as a way of watching your battery level, that is NOT the way to do it if you are connected to shore power. That panel will always show the voltage range of the Power Converter, regardless of the batteries. You can REMOVE the batteries and that panel will still show 12 volts when connected to shore power or the Engine is ON. Doug

Thank you Artum!
I appreciate your reply. My electrical knowledge is not the best (I've owned the RV for 5 years and didn't realize until your reply that the batteries were 6V).
I just checked my house batteries and they are both showing about 13.6 volts, as they should. So per you notes it looks like the batteries and the converter/charger are working OK.
So that leaves the flaky panel indication. It has never shown less than 12v. Where does this bad info come from? Do you know? From the converter?

Hi dougrainer,
hmmmm....shore power was off when I was working on all the batteries and noticed the low voltage at the house batteries and 12V indication at the panel.
So when I disconnect from shore power, shouldn't the panel show me the actual status of the house batteries, not the Power Converter output?
I guess my specific question is: What exactly is the panel telling me when I push the Battery Levels button?
THX

The meter displays the voltage of the 12V system, in some form or another. When the converter is running, this is the converter output voltage; when it's not running because you're disconnected from shore power, it would be the battery voltage. To be more precise, it's really the same voltage in any case; neglecting any voltage drops in the wiring the voltage at the battery and at the converter and at the distribution panel is one and the same voltage. (Under relatively high currents, the voltage drops due to wiring resistance probably shouldn't be neglected, and the voltages may vary measurably.)

Is this a little bargraph display with about three or four lights for voltage? If so, the transition between the lights is probably somewhere between 11 and 12V if it's marked at those voltages, but who knows exactly what (without some testing). Those little monitors are not very useful for determining battery status...perhaps better than absolutely nothing at all, but that's about all that can be said. Some do have some means for "calibrating" them by adjusting a little trimpot, which might make it slightly more useful.

Lead acid batteries don't like being discharged too much. A battery at 12V (resting) is due to be recharged. The lower the voltage goes, and the longer the battery sits discharged, the more likely and more severe damage to the battery can be.

OK I found my house batteries online and they are really 12V Interstate SRM-24s.
Now reading 8 volts at the posts (shore power off) after 48 hour shore charges so I guess they are bad. I will replace.
But the levels panel still shows 12v. lol
My panel is ultra cheapo: three LEDs: red, yellow and green to indicate 10v, 11v and 12v respectively, so I have never expected a lot of info out of it, but now I am wondering what is is telling me. Seems like I could take the batteries out and it would still read 12v.