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Islandsmith's avatar
Islandsmith
Explorer
Jul 19, 2013

Batteries not charging after long road trip.

We just got back from a 5,700 mile tour and along the way encountered some extremely rough roads in Michigan and Indiana that delivered some extremely jarring hits. We had full services everywhere we went so this problem didn't present itself until we got home but it seems that our rigs batteries are not being charged by the truck or when plugged into 120V power.

I'm assuming (I know, dangerous...) that something shook loose along the way and I'm looking for some guidance on where to start my investigation and how to isolate the problem.

The trailer is a 2005 Jayco Jayfeather 21J if that makes any difference.

Hoping someone can lead me in the right direction.

Peter

:)
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Jul 27, 2013
    Don't forget batteries are a bunch of lead, a lot of mass.

    Suspended in a liquid and subjected to paint shaker road conditions an already weakened plate structure simply falls to the bottom of the sediment chamber.

    Down here roads that make an interior rearview mirror jiggle down and wedge against the windshield kill a lot of batteries. In that case a soft sprung vehicle or AGM battery is a rational fix.

    The six point five volt battery is done. Like a blood pressure reading of thirty over five in a human being.
  • mena661's avatar
    mena661
    Explorer
    Jul 27, 2013
    Islandsmith wrote:
    The tester shows the converter charging at 13.7V and after disconnecting I get 12.7V across both batteries. One of the batteries, however, is only at 5.7V when not on the charger, the other is right at 6.5. Do I have a bad battery? This is an area where I don't have much expertise in terms of knowing what the "right" voltage should be. No manual in my stack of stuff either...
    Are these 12V or 6V? If 12V, they're both dead.
  • Islandsmith's avatar
    Islandsmith
    Explorer
    Jul 27, 2013
    The tester shows the converter charging at 13.7V and after disconnecting I get 12.7V across both batteries. One of the batteries, however, is only at 5.7V when not on the charger, the other is right at 6.5. Do I have a bad battery? This is an area where I don't have much expertise in terms of knowing what the "right" voltage should be. No manual in my stack of stuff either...
  • popeyemth's avatar
    popeyemth
    Explorer
    Jul 20, 2013
    Yes the TT converter should do that
    Get a cheap Multi meter and check the batt voltage, then plug to shore power and check again.
    If the converter is charging the voltage should go from 12 volts to 13plus
    You need a meter anyway .
  • Islandsmith's avatar
    Islandsmith
    Explorer
    Jul 20, 2013
    Thanks for the replies. To clarify, doesn't it also charge from being plugged into the 120V supply as well?
  • gatorcq's avatar
    gatorcq
    Explorer
    Jul 19, 2013
    I would use a silicon spray for electrical instead of WD 40 first. The I would start searching for re-settable fuse, circuit breakers.
  • popeyemth's avatar
    popeyemth
    Explorer
    Jul 19, 2013
    Most likely is road scum in the trailer plug
    Clean with wd40 and use a meter or test light to be sure you haven't blown a truck fuse
    Good Luck, Mike

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