Battery Charging woes
Bought 2 new deep cycle 12V coach batteries in March. We went on a 1 week dry camping trip in July. Ran the generator for probably 2 hours per day on that trip. The batteries steadily discharged...
Forum Discussion
You are talking about at 19+ year old motor-home. How long have you owned it?
Have you replaced the original single-stage charger with a more modern 3-stage charger? If not there is no way you could go dry-camping for a week with only a 2 hour charge on the batteries each day. The original charger would have required 12 to 24 hours to fully recharge the batteries.
Your mode of checking and charging batteries does not cut it (an hour or to charging every few, or more weeks).
If you have checked and cleaned all connections: battery, alternator, grounds, found on the 12v circuit, the single stage charger should have increased the voltage from starting charge (unplugged for 12 hours) from 11.9 volts (whatever) to around 13.6 volts with in a short time to show that it is charging. Then you would have had to continue to charge for 12 to 24 hours.
The MH engine and alternator should increase the voltage to 14 to 15 volts when read with a multi-meter at the battery-terminals. All reading should be done here for best accuracy.
Using a clamp-ammeter (reading done at one of the battery-cables next to battery) should show a 20 to 50 or more amps from alternator; 10 to 15 amps from single stage charger, rated charge of 3-stage chargers (45, 55, 60, etc.). This would be expected from any batteries being discharged to 70%soc or less.
If you can't see at least 13.5 volts charging (any mode) the converter/charger is shot, or bad connections as mentioned. If this MH is new to you I would get the system checked by a qualified technician.
I suspect your two new batteries from April are close to being goners from sulfation taking place from improper charging.
Have you replaced the original single-stage charger with a more modern 3-stage charger? If not there is no way you could go dry-camping for a week with only a 2 hour charge on the batteries each day. The original charger would have required 12 to 24 hours to fully recharge the batteries.
Your mode of checking and charging batteries does not cut it (an hour or to charging every few, or more weeks).
If you have checked and cleaned all connections: battery, alternator, grounds, found on the 12v circuit, the single stage charger should have increased the voltage from starting charge (unplugged for 12 hours) from 11.9 volts (whatever) to around 13.6 volts with in a short time to show that it is charging. Then you would have had to continue to charge for 12 to 24 hours.
The MH engine and alternator should increase the voltage to 14 to 15 volts when read with a multi-meter at the battery-terminals. All reading should be done here for best accuracy.
Using a clamp-ammeter (reading done at one of the battery-cables next to battery) should show a 20 to 50 or more amps from alternator; 10 to 15 amps from single stage charger, rated charge of 3-stage chargers (45, 55, 60, etc.). This would be expected from any batteries being discharged to 70%soc or less.
If you can't see at least 13.5 volts charging (any mode) the converter/charger is shot, or bad connections as mentioned. If this MH is new to you I would get the system checked by a qualified technician.
I suspect your two new batteries from April are close to being goners from sulfation taking place from improper charging.
