2014 Bighorn Battery/12 volt problem

[GoPackGo]

Any help or thoughts on this situation are REALLY appreciated -

The short version - I only have working 12 volt appliances (lights, fridge, etc) when I am plugged into shore power. I do not have 12 volt lights or fridge when trying to run off of the house battery.

The longer version - I checked my house batteries the other day when plugged into shore power and found them to be super hot, even some steam venting. I immediately turned the battery switch to 'off' and added lots of water. Turned the switch to 'on' and checked back later to find the same situation so I again turned the switch to 'off'.

My guess is that possibly one of the two 12 volt paralleled batteries went bad and the charger kept trying to bring it up which ended up overcharged the other one. It kept on charging which caused the cooked batteries.

I pulled both the batteries, replaced with one new one, and flipped the switch to 'on'. I checked it periodically to make sure it wasn't getting hot.

The next day (today), I moved from one rv park to another and used my rig's restroom while at a rest stop. That's when I noticed that the fridge and interior lights were off. I figured that somehow, the new battery had gotten totally drained of electricity.

Now here's the part that has me really confused. When I reached the new park, I unplugged from my truck but did not plug into shore power. I then pushed the button for the landing gear and they came down ! The Lippert Level-Up system also worked fine and I was also able to extend all 3 slide-outs. I then immediately checked and still - no lights or fridge. I then plugged in to shore power and the lights came on and the fridge started up.

I do have exterior running lights and brake lights and I believe my new disc brakes are working because I would feel it if they were not.

I am not sure if the interior lights and fridge work when plugged into my tow truck. I know the lights and fridge were not working while plugged into the truck (2013 F350), but the truck was not running, so maybe everything went off when I shut off the truck. Will check further.

The converter/charger is the Progressive Dynamics 9200.

I checked the fuses inside the rig and they look good. They are in a Progressive Dynamics fuse box with a small red light next to each fuse which I believe would come on if the fuse fails. None of the 110v breakers are tripped.

Any thoughts on where to start ? I am most confused about the fact that the one electric and two hydraulic slides as well as the leveling system runs fine, even when not plugged into shore power, but nothing that is 12 volt in the interior of the rig works at all UNLESS plugged in to shore power.

I THINK the battery is charging normally. Will also check into this too.

The main battery switch is 'on'.

I do have a number of auto-reset circuit breakers near the battery so possibly one of them is the culprit.

Last - The 110 volt side seems to be fine. AC works, outlets work, washer and dryer work.

Again, thanks for any help on this.

[GoPackGo]

Thanks to Me Again. The TINY manual reset button was the holdup. I could not see it at first because there was other wiring in the way. As soon as I started specifically looking for it, I did notice it and it definitely was tripped.

Things are back to normal now, although I am keeping a close watch on the new battery to make sure there is no overcharging issue.

In answer to other comments - I may not go back to 2 batteries. The new one is a Group 27 and I don't boondock hardly at all so I don't really need 2 batteries. I believe I had the 2 old ones hooked up properly because the problem happened 2 years after they were installed. I still think it's probable that one of them went bad and that started the problems.

And thanks for the advice about the Heartland Owners Club. I posted here first because I thought I could probably get a quicker response. I had intended to post my issue on one of their boards the day after I posted here but that did not become necessary. Thanks again.

[Me_Again]

GoPackGo wrote:

Me Again wrote:
So what happen to the OP? I gave him the solution to his issue, yet we see no response. Chris

I truly appreciate the help and you very well may have solved my problem BUT - I full time and had to move to a new location yesterday so I was driving, then setting up, then dinner, THEN I read your post. Decided not to attempt a fix in the dark.

So give me a chance to check it out - probably today.

Thanks again.

If you have not joined the Heartland owners forum and club you should. The problem you have has been noticed many times. There is lots of useful info available there. Chris

[pyoung47]

Be sure all of the polarities are correct -- it's easy to get them mixed up, since you were originally using two batteries. When you get it figured out, I would certainly go back to two batteries, especially if you ever boondock. Cooking the batteries, makes me think you may have had them hooked up backwards.

[GoPackGo]

Me Again wrote:
So what happen to the OP? I gave him the solution to his issue, yet we see no response. Chris

I truly appreciate the help and you very well may have solved my problem BUT - I full time and had to move to a new location yesterday so I was driving, then setting up, then dinner, THEN I read your post. Decided not to attempt a fix in the dark.

So give me a chance to check it out - probably today.

Thanks again.

[azrving]

Me Again wrote:
So what happen to the OP? I gave him the solution to his issue, yet we see no response. Chris

Happens all the time, people are busy. I tried to message the gal with the bees in her ac unit but she doesn't allow messages. I just wondered who won. Sort of like ads on Craigslist. Seller says oh geez I sold that weeks ago. Oh really? Take the ad down dipstick!!!

[Me_Again]

So what happen to the OP? I gave him the solution to his issue, yet we see no response. Chris

[Me_Again]

Here is a link to help you fix the issue. Look at page four, and reset the breaker. Chris

https://manuals.heartlandowners.org/manuals/Electrical/Basic%20Electrical%20Info/12V%20Block%20Diagr...

[Me_Again]

I think you have a tripped manual reset circuit breaker on the wall near the batteries. Look for a little red or black button on the side of one of the circuit breakers. There should be a block with 5 or 6 breakers.

The Heartland forum is a good source of info BTW.

Might look like this.



Chris

[newman_fulltime]

you left a ground wire off somewhere in the battery compartmant and when plugged in you are grounding through the converter

[GoPackGo]

rjxj wrote:
Did you get all the wires back on the battery properly? Were there two positive wires at the positive terminal?

That's a good thought and I wonder the same thing. Will check.

But I THINK that there is only one main positive and one negative line. The positive cable has the main shut off switch and also the main circuit breaker like this - battery, then circuit breaker, then main switch.

[azrving]

Did you get all the wires back on the battery properly? Were there two positive wires at the positive terminal?

[GoPackGo]

cmeade wrote:
I had your problem but with my 2010 ram 3500. Batteries got hot and one was swollen and steaming from vent/caps.. I replaced both batteries and all is fine. My WAG is the old battery is not playing well with the new one and slides and leveling are on new battery and lites and fridge (inverter if residential) are on old battery and cable between batteries is small enough to not allow rapid discharge of the stronger/new battery. Pull both batteries and go to place you bought new battery from and have them tested. If new battery was damaged by bad battery then you need two new batteries and all will be fine. Also could be bad connection between batteries??

I apologize for not being more clear. I pulled BOTH old batteries and replaced with one new battery. No more parallel batteries. And I now have the situation/problem I described.

[GoPackGo]

Fulltime5er -

Thank you.

I've decided to go with just one battery instead of two.

I have talked with Progressive Dynamics tech help about what could have caused the cooked batteries. They did say that the scenario I described is possible. In any event, the charger appears to not be overcharging the new one. But I agree with youir main thought - I will be checking the charger to see what the output is.

But I don't think the charger is the problem I have regarding my current situation with lack of working 12 volt interior appliances.

[cmeade]

I had your problem but with my 2010 ram 3500. Batteries got hot and one was swollen and steaming from vent/caps.. I replaced both batteries and all is fine. My WAG is the old battery is not playing well with the new one and slides and leveling are on new battery and lites and fridge (inverter if residential) are on old battery and cable between batteries is small enough to not allow rapid discharge of the stronger/new battery. Pull both batteries and go to place you bought new battery from and have them tested. If new battery was damaged by bad battery then you need two new batteries and all will be fine. Also could be bad connection between batteries??