walker111 wrote:
Update
Pulled both batteries out ( trojan t 105 about 3 years old and brought them home. Checked water levels and noted the water was below the plates so added distilled to all 3 caps in each battery. Cleaned everything up and put them on a trickle charge. This morning they read 12.69 V ( but this is while they were hooked up) so they were not charged and lacking some water.
I hope this is my issue!!!
I will check after work today and that will have given them 24 hours and check strength. I think it should be around 13.4??????
Thought about running the jumpers to the motor like suggested to check for fun but delt with this first. That is how I run my genny during the winter months when going over to check things and exercise the genset.
I did see dirt piled on the tops of the legs so these will need me tending to them when I tow it home again.
Of note. My rig is a 50 amp service and I rarely ever find 50 amp. It is usually only 30 and works for a few days but I know some of my electrical draws are not on the legs of the 30 amp. Example is, when I am plugged to shore power 30 amp my batteries are not charging as per the indicator lights.
Weird but I did not wire the unit. My electric option for hot water tank does not work on the 30 amp either as well as many of my receptacles .
I may have to look into this .
I would have thought that running the genset would have lifted the trailer but in this case no with the batteries in the condition they were showing. The battery light indicators in the trailer were not the tell all.
Thanks all for replies. Again I hope this is the issue!!!!
There are several things wrong with your camper and your assumptions.
The least of which being dirt on the landing gear feet (whatever taht has to do with this?).
1. Depending how low the batteries were on water, they might be fried.
2. If plugged into any working charger and you check voltage at the terminals, it should be approximately the input voltage of the charger, which for smart chargers is about 13.2V on float mode and more the rest of the time. If you're reading 12.69V while charging, something is wrong.
3. Can't check battery charge level by voltage until the battery is at rest for a bit. IE charger unhooked or loads shut off.
4. If all your circuits aren't working, even plugged into a 30A service with an adapter, then your adapter is not working right or something downstream of that is wrong. 50A services are 2 - 120V services, essentially in parallel, not a 240V service. (Most RVs. I think some do have a bridged 240V circuit for maybe a clothes dryer or similar. High end units likely)
5. How the ____ do you charge your batteries if the converter doesnt charge them when plugged in to shore power (30A) while camping.
In short, your batteries definitely needed charged, if they are still viable even and not destroyed.
And you have other electrical issues with the camper.