2006 National Tradewinds 12-volt issues

[PunksRV]

Hi everyone. I was hoping to get some ideas on troubleshooting an electrical issue on my 2006 National Tradewinds class A. The coach is on a Freightliner chassis and powered by a 400 Cummins ISL. When I put the coach in winter storage everything was fine. Mid-winter I went to start it and it would barely crank. I started the generator to give the chassis batteries a charge and then used the battery boost switch to try and start the engine. As soon as I attempted this I completely lost all 12 volt power. The warning lights and Freightliner information panel wouldn't even illuminate. It was completely dead. Even the electric steps would not retract. I figured the batteries were completely gone as I assumed they were the original chassis batteries.

Yesterday I installed new chassis batteries and the coach started right up and ran normally. The problem is there are still 12 volt issues that I don't understand. The electric steps won't retract. When I try to retract my Power Gear hydraulic jacks the system will come on and attempt to initialize but then goes dark as if its lost power. I noticed that when this occurs the back-up camera monitor also goes black. I cannot even get the 12-volt house battery disconnect to come on although it had been on prior to my replacing the chassis batteries. I also have no power to the system panel that shows the status of either the house or chassis batteries. The house batteries are on a 100 watt solar system and are fully charged.

I have checked all fuses, all 12-volt circuit breakers as well as wire connections to the fuse boxes and can't find anything wrong. I'm not sure what to do now.

[Pass42]

It is also possible that you "left off" one of the wires when you installed the new batteries... don't ask how I know this can happen...........

[prstlk]

I also had several simular problems on my 04 TW. They all seem to be traced to bad grounds. Easy to trouble shoot with a jumper wire off the negative side of the chassis or house bats.
jw

[msmith1199]

I was going to suggest check all fuses and breakers but you've done that. I'd double check them all anyway. On my National, the steps run off the Chasis battery and not the regular 12 volt system from the house. I know this because when I've had the house batteries out the steps still operate.

[I_rv]

don't know if this might help but on my tradewinds the heavy battery cables on the inverter/charger were loose,you could see blueing around the positive cable.this gave me all kinds of strange problems,hope your problem is this simple. good luck