We have been part time rv'ing 19 years and this rig - a 2006 Mobile Suites is our fifth one. I am a fairly good fixer upper when it comes to them.But this one has me - and several of my rv friends stumped.On July 18 my wife, dog and I took off for 70 days. Trailer was plugged in at home most of the two days before leaving. First day drive about 4 hours.Get to first stop - an overnight. The hot water heater does not work on electric. Ok, works on gas; we can work with that. Never had any issue before.For the heck of it I decide to check the batteries. They had been filled prior to the charging at home.They read 5.69 volts on both - identical. Huh? On electric all night and I check in the morning - 6.37 volts identical. Checked a few more times over the next few days. No real change.Coincidental that both happen at same time? Or what?All else is fine.Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Bad batteries. Possibly converter dead. Remove one battery lead and read converter voltage. Should read about 13.5 volts

if its a suburban it could be the elemant is out. or the black wire burned in the junction box at the heater or the switch at the bottom of the unit went bador the breaker is thrown

No battery I am aware of can successfully recover from residing at 5 voltsSo this makes your meter suspect. Verify on another battery.Meter good? Replace batteries.Test converter when connected at night.Appropriate permutations from that point on.

To check battery voltage you will need to disconnect one battery from the other.

Geez, thanks guys!OK, went to one of the two batteries in the Chev 3500 - these are about two months old - it read 13.6 volts.Went back to trailer batteries. Did each one individually and both read 6.8 volts....exact same; which seems strange to me to be the same.There are 3 sets of black and white wires going out of the compartment and three with blue connectors going to the little trip switch in the battery compartment.Need to get the batteries checked I know. It would not surprise me they are shot - it is just the identical that gets me wondering.Thanks.

5th Wheel Electrical Issues | Good Sam Community

Lauren
Explorer
Jul 30, 2017
Have gas going then on the refer. And I have thermometers in both refer and freezer --- have had issues there in the past.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Jul 30, 2017
FHU your batteries should have near "normal" voltage which would allow the the water heater to work no matter how it's control circuit works.

Also a casualty while disconnected are the contents of the refrigerator. Beware of tainted food.
Lauren
Explorer
Jul 30, 2017
The connections have not been changed since they went in there - eh, quite a while ago. So I take them out - this is not fun for an old f--- (although in good shape) but with a bad back.

He test them and both are ready for the graveyard. I was ready to buy new ones that would work and he only had one!

So will live with this for a while. Like I said, we will have FHU's all thru so can even wait til we get back.

Actually, more concerned with the water heater no working on electric. That also was new this trip. But goes well on gas.
MrWizard
Moderator
Jul 30, 2017
Are your batteries 6v in series or 12v parallel
Did you replace them
Are they hooked up wrong ? aka (2) 12v in series
This will give you what you are seeing
They would start out at 24v but be reduced to 12v which is 6,v each and the will not operated that way
Lauren
Explorer
Jul 30, 2017
Geez, thanks guys!

OK, went to one of the two batteries in the Chev 3500 - these are about two months old - it read 13.6 volts.

Went back to trailer batteries. Did each one individually and both read 6.8 volts....exact same; which seems strange to me to be the same.

There are 3 sets of black and white wires going out of the compartment and three with blue connectors going to the little trip switch in the battery compartment.

Need to get the batteries checked I know. It would not surprise me they are shot - it is just the identical that gets me wondering.

Thanks.
corvettekent
Explorer
Jul 30, 2017
To check battery voltage you will need to disconnect one battery from the other.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Jul 30, 2017
No battery I am aware of can successfully recover from residing at 5 volts
So this makes your meter suspect. Verify on another battery.
Meter good? Replace batteries.
Test converter when connected at night.
Appropriate permutations from that point on.
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Jul 30, 2017
if its a suburban it could be the elemant is out.
or the black wire burned in the junction box at the heater
or the switch at the bottom of the unit went bad
or the breaker is thrown
donn0128
Explorer II
Jul 30, 2017
Bad batteries. Possibly converter dead. Remove one battery lead and read converter voltage. Should read about 13.5 volts

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