I have a pair of 2 year old golf cart batteries hooked up in series for my TT. When I check the voltage at the battery posts, I read 12.6 V. When I go inside the TT and measure the voltage in a 12 volt outlet with a voltmeter, I get 9.2 V and of course the lights etc do not work. So, I don't think the wiring is bad. Do you think my batteries are shot or maybe my inverter is bad? How can I tell? I did have some mice get in the TT this winter--could they have messed things up?

Something is causing a voltage drop between the batteries and the converter. I would look for corroded connections, a bad breaker (often well hidden) or any other item that's between those two connections.

Look for loose connections including grounds between your batteries and the rest of the camper.An Inverter is used to convert the 12v to 110. A converter is used to convert shore power to 12v to your batteries. Since your batteries are charged that doesn't sound to be an issue.You should be getting close to the same battery voltage to your 12v outlets or lights.

You should be getting exactly the same reading at the outlet as you see at the battery (assuming little to no load as a voltmeter doesn't draw enough for a measurable voltage drop). Of course you have a wiring problem, it can't be anything else. Probably a bad ground. Trace your wiring and clean up all connections.

Quote:and of course the lights etc do not work. So, I don't think the wiring is bad------------------------------------------------------If the lites don't work, why would you think the wiring is not bad ?

RJsfishin wrote:Quote:If the lites don't work, why would you think the wiring is not bad ?I was assuming that if I am still getting the 9V inside the TT that the wiring must be OK (i.e., there is a connection to the battery). But I'm no electrician. Seems the consensus is that it is the wiring. If there is a faulty ground, would that lead to the voltage drop? I will see what I can figure out with it tomorrow. I appreciate the help and am thankful it is not the batteries!

battery question | Good Sam Community

mjmeyers
Explorer
Jul 16, 2014
RJsfishin wrote:
Quote:
If the lites don't work, why would you think the wiring is not bad ?

I was assuming that if I am still getting the 9V inside the TT that the wiring must be OK (i.e., there is a connection to the battery). But I'm no electrician. Seems the consensus is that it is the wiring. If there is a faulty ground, would that lead to the voltage drop? I will see what I can figure out with it tomorrow. I appreciate the help and am thankful it is not the batteries!
RJsfishin
Explorer
Jul 16, 2014
Quote:
and of course the lights etc do not work. So, I don't think the wiring is bad
------------------------------------------------------
If the lites don't work, why would you think the wiring is not bad ?
hmknightnc
Explorer
Jul 16, 2014
You should be getting exactly the same reading at the outlet as you see at the battery (assuming little to no load as a voltmeter doesn't draw enough for a measurable voltage drop). Of course you have a wiring problem, it can't be anything else. Probably a bad ground. Trace your wiring and clean up all connections.
Heap64
Explorer
Jul 16, 2014
Look for loose connections including grounds between your batteries and the rest of the camper.

An Inverter is used to convert the 12v to 110. A converter is used to convert shore power to 12v to your batteries. Since your batteries are charged that doesn't sound to be an issue.

You should be getting close to the same battery voltage to your 12v outlets or lights.
ScottG
Nomad
Jul 16, 2014
Something is causing a voltage drop between the batteries and the converter. I would look for corroded connections, a bad breaker (often well hidden) or any other item that's between those two connections.

Forum Discussion

battery question

About Technical Issues

Related Content

Battery Question??

Battery question

Battery Question

Battery Question

Battery/ charging question