How would we diagnosis if our batteries are being charged when connected to shore power? Not sure if we just need new battery or some other possible problem. And, we are somewhat technical minded but not advanced!

Buy a digital voltmeter - $5 at HF. Battery voltage should be 13.4+ when charging. If not a sealed battery check the water level.Take the batteries to a auto store for a free load check. Mark all cables and take pictures first.

The 12 volt side of life is an excellent tutorial.

To test converter functionality, measure, first, (from one battery terminal to the other) the voltage of the battery at rest with converter not powered. Second, measure voltage again with power to the converter. The first measurement should be 12->12.7 DCV. The second measurement should be >13.2 DCV, likely > 13.6 DCV. If your battery is now low and you have been connected to shore power for some rime, check the inline fuse or circuit breaker that is close to the battery. These are sometimes attached to the frame or tongue, occasionally inside a junction box. Without that circuit breaker closed, no power can reach the battery from the converter. Some breakers have a small reset button.

Great Info. here! Thanks! As soon as it quits raining we will see what we have.

I do this all the time with my battery bank especially when camping off the power grid where my batteries are very important for a succesful camping run. I have a three meter battery monitor panel which looks at BANK1 and BANK2 and reads their DC VOLTAGE level. My third meter reads the DC CURRENT either being pulled from the battery from the various loads in the trailer or the reverse of that when being charged by the on-board converter/charger.Looking at these meters I can tell if the charging circuit is connected or working and when not hooked to shore power or generator I can get a pretty good idea what my battery banks state of charge is. Of course i am looking for the 12.0VDC point which is very close to the 50% charge state where I don't want my battery banks to get below.The batteries at fully charged if your 12.6-7VDC. They are at 50% charge state if you read 12.0VDC...This handy chart shows the approximate charge state of the batteries based on the DC VOLTAGE reading. Of course the absolute way to determine this is to do a HYDROMETER check. Approximate charge state levels works fine for me. You can use a multimeter as suggested above to accomplish the same thing.Batteries are just too expensive for me to not keep a close watch on them. They are the heart of my OFF-ROAD camping...As stated above if you are reading 13.6VDC or higher depending on the charge mode the converter/charger is then you know your on-board converter charger is charging the battery bank when you are on shore power or running from a generator.Pretty easy daily routine if you have a digital readout battery monitor panel installed. Watching the trailer OEM Percent of CHARGE meter is useless as this meter will read any level you want to see seemly by how you hold your head haha... I have found everyone I have looked at to be almost worthless... This is great idea but you need to have digital meters installed to really know what the charge status is of your batteries.my battery monitor panel looks like this... You can see the OEM Percent of Charge status meter in this photo and for most of the time it reads FULL or NOTHING... That doesn't work for me haha..You can purchase a battery monitor meter system from various vendors with the BOGART ENGINEERING TM2025-RV model probably the most popular. Roy Ken

How To Trouble Shoot If batteries Are Getting Charged

LynnandCarol
Explorer
Nov 02, 2015
OP Update.. Tested my battery (2) both had 12.6 DCV. Then tested the trailer battery lines and got 13.5 DCV. Removed covering from junction box and no fuse or any other inline fuse on the external wiring. so not sure where to go from here??
RJsfishin
Explorer
Nov 02, 2015
SMK quote:
Because they have it. Use what you have is low cost option.
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I didn't know you were talking about the OEM voltmeter. Most here don't even consider that a meter, when is reality it can be quite useful.
Dirtclods
Explorer
Nov 01, 2015
Everstart 932W Digital Battery Monitor with 12-Volt Adapter

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Everstart-932W-Everstart-Battery-Monitor/16139506
time2roll
Nomad
Nov 01, 2015
RJsfishin wrote:
smkettner wrote:
Analog meter works just fine.

I agree, but what would be the point ? They are harder to read from a distance, and they cost more.
Because they have it. Use what you have is low cost option.

Yes if spending money get a digital with 2+ decimal places.
RWDIII
Explorer
Nov 01, 2015
if you are thrifty like I am try this,cost is nothing but your time
HF meter free,velcro in garage free
13.6volts on charger or with truck running,12.5 batt alone
RJsfishin
Explorer
Nov 01, 2015
smkettner wrote:
Analog meter works just fine.

I agree, but what would be the point ? They are harder to read from a distance, and they cost more.
And if any v meter is good enuff, then whats the problem w/ the analog that EVERY RV comes w/, the one that most here say is worthless,....the one that I have always said can be very useful, like in this case.
As w/ any voltmeter, learn how to read it, and the OP'er wouldn't have had to asked the question. Anyone that says a volt meter is worthless, is showing their..........lack of education.
Tell'm to try a load tester w/o a voltmeter.
time2roll
Nomad
Nov 01, 2015
Analog meter works just fine.
RJsfishin
Explorer
Nov 01, 2015
The question was, "are the batteries being charged?"
Chop a hole in a wall near the 12v distribution center, and pop this puppy in the hole,....connect pos & neg, and all for about 7 bucks!
Any more questions ?

Or make your own little panel and use this one for 2 bucks
wolfe10
Explorer
Nov 01, 2015
Sorry, assuming my google search turned up the meter you have, an analog voltmeter is close to useless.

The difference between a fully charged 12 VDC battery and one that is 50% discharged is ONLY .5 volts. VERY hard to discern without a digital voltmeter.

Please spend the few bucks and get a digital one. They are not that expensive.
LynnandCarol
Explorer
Nov 01, 2015
We have a GreenLee AM-6 Pocket Multimeter voltmeter! Whew :)