I have 2ea 6volt batteries but when the 120ac power drops out, like a power failure, the 12 volt system does not automatically kick on. I must go out side and open and close the battery disconnect switch. As soon as I do this the 12DC power turns on and all is fine.This seems to only occur when there is a temporary "power failure". Is this normal?How would I check/verify the 12 volt charging is working from the converter?Thanks for any input.Randy

Hi,The battery disconnect is usually left in the closed position, when ever the rv is in use.

Plug in your AC cord and check the voltage at your battery terminals. It should be at least 13.4, maybe a little higher. If it's below that your converter isn't charging.As for the change over problem, no, it's not normal. The relay that handles that should be build into your converter. It may be sticking or something.How old of a trailer are we talking about? If you have an older model with a single stage converter now might be a great time to upgrade to a newer 3 stage converter.

If you have to open AND close the disconnect it seems to me like the switch is bad. Opening and closing it again wipes the contacts and makes it work again temporarily.

KD4UPL wrote:Plug in your AC cord and check the voltage at your battery terminals. It should be at least 13.4, maybe a little higher. If it's below that your converter isn't charging.As for the change over problem, no, it's not normal. The relay that handles that should be build into your converter. It may be sticking or something.How old of a trailer are we talking about? If you have an older model with a single stage converter now might be a great time to upgrade to a newer 3 stage converter.Will get out today and check the voltage. I'm guessing I can just disconnect one side of the battery cables and read across the ends of the +/- cables?This is a 2003 model and has the paralllax 7300 series.

beemerphile1 wrote:If you have to open AND close the disconnect it seems to me like the switch is bad. Opening and closing it again wipes the contacts and makes it work again temporarily.I have a "key" type disconnect switch. I guess I'll spray it with wd-40, let it sit a few days then force some dielectric grease down into it. Any other cleaning idea vs replacement?I might add, I added this disconnect when I had the trailer sitting for an extended period of time and the batteries would drain. I placed the switch in the negative leg just after the battery terminal which is the - leg that goes to the converter. As we now live full time in the TT, I never open the switch, except now, when the 110v power fails and I need to go turn the switch on and off to get the batteries to kick in the 12v.Good or bad?

Battery operation question | Good Sam Community

BBdawg
Explorer
Jul 07, 2013
KD4UPL wrote:
Plug in your AC cord and check the voltage at your battery terminals. It should be at least 13.4, maybe a little higher. If it's below that your converter isn't charging.
As for the change over problem, no, it's not normal. The relay that handles that should be build into your converter. It may be sticking or something.
How old of a trailer are we talking about? If you have an older model with a single stage converter now might be a great time to upgrade to a newer 3 stage converter.

Will get out today and check the voltage. I'm guessing I can just disconnect one side of the battery cables and read across the ends of the +/- cables?

This is a 2003 model and has the paralllax 7300 series.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Jul 07, 2013
If you have to open AND close the disconnect it seems to me like the switch is bad. Opening and closing it again wipes the contacts and makes it work again temporarily.
KD4UPL
Explorer
Jul 06, 2013
Plug in your AC cord and check the voltage at your battery terminals. It should be at least 13.4, maybe a little higher. If it's below that your converter isn't charging.
As for the change over problem, no, it's not normal. The relay that handles that should be build into your converter. It may be sticking or something.
How old of a trailer are we talking about? If you have an older model with a single stage converter now might be a great time to upgrade to a newer 3 stage converter.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jul 06, 2013
Hi,

The battery disconnect is usually left in the closed position, when ever the rv is in use.

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