Not sure if this is the right forum or not, but here goes.A couple of months ago, I got a new to me 2012 Koala trailer. The dealer said he was going to put a new house battery in it. The house battery is a Group 24.The trailer came with a WFCO converter/charger.Fast forward to now. The battery will not run the electric tongue jack. It tries to. Sometimes it will move the jack 5 or 6 inches before acting like it's out of juice.However, if the trailer is hooked up to a 120VAC outlet, the jack works just fine.I keep the TT pluged into the 30amp reciptical at the house, and it also has a chance to charge while we're traveling, which so far, has only been 220 miles round trip. I'm going to Sears to get a new multimeter since my old one bit the dust.Where should I start looking?Should I take the battery out, let it sit for a couple of hours and then test it, to make sure it's good?Where do I turn after that?Thanks,

First check the water in the battery.Next check the connections, at the battery and the ground connection.Then do the voltage readings and let us know the results.

Unplug the trailer and check the voltage at the battery terminals with the volt-meter.If it reads above 12.6 volts right after unplugging it, charging has just been taking place. Now wait for about 24 hours (unplugged) and check the voltage again. The voltage should be holding at 12.6 to 12.7 volts. If it is lower than the battery is bad do to sulfating and poor management.You described a weak battery in your post. What kind of battery did they install? Starting, marine, or deep-cycle? What brand? Have your checked the cells for low water level?The converter/charger will charge at either about 13.7 volts, or 14.4 volts early on if 3-stage and return to 13.6 volts in 4 hours or less. When charged the meter would read 13.2 volts in about 24 hours (or less) if left plugged into shore-power.My MH came with a WFCO 8945 (45 amp 3-stage charger) which still works fine. If the charger gets the charging pattern I mentioned it is working.

MNtundraRet wrote:Unplug the trailer and check the voltage at the battery terminals with the volt-meter.If it reads above 12.6 volts right after unplugging it, charging has just been taking place. Now wait for about 24 hours (unplugged) and check the voltage again. The voltage should be holding at 12.6 to 12.7 volts. If it is lower than the battery is bad do to sulfating and poor management.You described a weak battery in your post. What kind of battery did they install? Starting, marine, or deep-cycle? What brand? Have your checked the cells for low water level?The converter/charger will charge at either about 13.7 volts, or 14.4 volts early on if 3-stage and return to 13.6 volts in 4 hours or less. When charged the meter would read 13.2 volts in about 24 hours (or less) if left plugged into shore-power.My MH came with a WFCO 8945 (45 amp 3-stage charger) which still works fine. If the charger gets the charging pattern I mentioned it is working.Thanks for the information.The battery is an Interstate. It's the typical 12 volt marine type. The WFCO is the 8955 model. I know it's a 55 amp 3-stage charger.After I get a new multimeter, I'll go through all those checks.

I'll report back once I figure out what's going on.1995brave wrote:First check the water in the battery.Next check the connections, at the battery and the ground connection.Then do the voltage readings and let us know the results.

Pretty simple to see if the converter is charging. Measure battery voltage with the trailer unplugged from shore power and after plugging in. If no rise, not charging.

Battery charging problem, maybe? | Good Sam Community

pianotuna
Nomad III
Aug 21, 2013
Hi,

How long do you plug in the rv before trying to use it?
TomG2
Explorer
Aug 21, 2013
Pretty simple to see if the converter is charging. Measure battery voltage with the trailer unplugged from shore power and after plugging in. If no rise, not charging.
Atlee
Explorer II
Aug 21, 2013
I'll report back once I figure out what's going on.

1995brave wrote:
First check the water in the battery.
Next check the connections, at the battery and the ground connection.
Then do the voltage readings and let us know the results.
Atlee
Explorer II
Aug 21, 2013
MNtundraRet wrote:
Unplug the trailer and check the voltage at the battery terminals with the volt-meter.

If it reads above 12.6 volts right after unplugging it, charging has just been taking place. Now wait for about 24 hours (unplugged) and check the voltage again. The voltage should be holding at 12.6 to 12.7 volts. If it is lower than the battery is bad do to sulfating and poor management.

You described a weak battery in your post. What kind of battery did they install? Starting, marine, or deep-cycle? What brand? Have your checked the cells for low water level?

The converter/charger will charge at either about 13.7 volts, or 14.4 volts early on if 3-stage and return to 13.6 volts in 4 hours or less. When charged the meter would read 13.2 volts in about 24 hours (or less) if left plugged into shore-power.

My MH came with a WFCO 8945 (45 amp 3-stage charger) which still works fine. If the charger gets the charging pattern I mentioned it is working.

Thanks for the information.

The battery is an Interstate. It's the typical 12 volt marine type. The WFCO is the 8955 model. I know it's a 55 amp 3-stage charger.

After I get a new multimeter, I'll go through all those checks.
MNtundraRet
Navigator
Aug 21, 2013
Unplug the trailer and check the voltage at the battery terminals with the volt-meter.

If it reads above 12.6 volts right after unplugging it, charging has just been taking place. Now wait for about 24 hours (unplugged) and check the voltage again. The voltage should be holding at 12.6 to 12.7 volts. If it is lower than the battery is bad do to sulfating and poor management.

You described a weak battery in your post. What kind of battery did they install? Starting, marine, or deep-cycle? What brand? Have your checked the cells for low water level?

The converter/charger will charge at either about 13.7 volts, or 14.4 volts early on if 3-stage and return to 13.6 volts in 4 hours or less. When charged the meter would read 13.2 volts in about 24 hours (or less) if left plugged into shore-power.

My MH came with a WFCO 8945 (45 amp 3-stage charger) which still works fine. If the charger gets the charging pattern I mentioned it is working.
1995brave
Nomad
Aug 21, 2013
First check the water in the battery.
Next check the connections, at the battery and the ground connection.
Then do the voltage readings and let us know the results.

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