2003 PaceArrow Dometic Refrigerator/re:12 volts

[joe0759]

I posted a problem about my Dometic refrigerator had stopped working on the ride back from Myrtle Beach about 3 weeks ago. I had two helpful suggestions that said that I should check the batteries because it needed at least 12 volts to get it started. The batteries are only 5.8 amps apiece. Now I'm wondering why they are not on full charge of 6 volts as I just bought them one year ago. Is there a switch that I have to use that I am missing to keep it charging?
Also when we bought this MH 2 years ago the dealership did work on the inverter and we've had no problems till now. Since we bought this MH we have had to get front and rear house air conditioners and 2 6 volt batteries but did purchase a 4 year warrantee. Whew!! So we paid the $250 deductible and got the air fixed. We also had to get the brakes done...and there was a wiring problem that made the check engine light come on. The labor to diagnose the problem was $400.and the wiring was $20.
.We love our RV! We just don't know what to do to get repairs and hate to waste money if I can fix it myself!! I can do a lot of work myself. I don't trust the people that we take it to. They said we needed brakes after we had had it checked in Florida at Lazy Days and had only driven 1300 miles since. Lazy Days said we had 60% brakepads left! So who was lying to us?. Thanks for your help in advance!

[joe0759]

Hi Paul, I'M Joe, We are plugged into the house, with an extension cord 20 amp circuit, 110 volt. We did this to try to maintain the charge in the batteries, for lights and the furnace. We have it covered for the winter. I start it up every so often just to keep it "limbered up". It looks like I may have to get new batteries or see if one 12 volt deep cycle will work as well. I do not think anything else is running. We shut it down for months at a time. Let me know if you can think of anything else,and thank you for your help Joe

[paulcardoza]

When the coach is sitting covered in your driveway, I assume you are not connected to shore power at all? Are you CERTAIN there is nothing running besides the refrigerator? How long do you have it sitting there typically?

If it's longer than a week, you may want to consider buying a 30A-15A adapter and running an extension cord out to the coach to keep everything charged up. Or uncover it, so that the solar panel can maintain the batteries for you.....

[joe0759]

The 6 volts were not charging up enough. I took my 12 v battery out of my truck and the refrigerator started and is cold!! Thank you very much. I bought a new charger and I'm going to charge the 6 volts tonight to see if the batteries are going to charge. (All i had was a trickle charger and that was old.) One charged to 5.98 and the other to 5.77. The 12 v had 12.7. We noticed this am that the 12 v was down to but 12.4. Now we wonder if the converter is at fault. We also have a solar panel but have the MH covered to keep the pollen off it. We store it in our driveway!So the solar panel can't do it's job if its covered can it?

Thanks go out to huffmeister and dougrainer. We are just getting started with Mh and somewhat clueless on how this works. I think this forum is the best information source and we learn so much just reading other topics. We love our MH and look forward to winter trips and summer vacations........
This is Jean of joe0759 if I posted the wrong numbers and called volts amps, My husband Joe, isn't doing it. He is working.Just so you know HE'S not stupid!!!I am his secretary and don't know about volts and amps. That battery link was so informative and Thanks again. We will figure it out and with your help!!

[huffmeister]

joe0759 wrote:
I posted a problem about my Dometic refrigerator had stopped working on the ride back from Myrtle Beach about 3 weeks ago. I had two helpful suggestions that said that I should check the batteries because it needed at least 12 volts to get it started. The batteries are only 5.8 amps apiece. Now I'm wondering why they are not on full charge of 6 volts as I just bought them one year ago. Is there a switch that I have to use that I am missing to keep it charging?

Go to Battery info.
for an excellent info article on the subject.

[dougrainer]

1. VOLTS,Not amps 6 volts, but 2 six volt batteries should be connected to produce 12 volts.
2. Yes, the refer needs 12 volts to operate the controls, but even with bad batteries your Inverter/charger will supply the needed 12 volts.
3. If other 12 volt appliances lights and such operate you have enough voltage to run the refer. It takes milliamps to run the refer controls. Doug