Forum Discussion

lamoz1's avatar
lamoz1
Explorer
Feb 06, 2019

Dead batteries woes

Hello

Well I've been at it for months now and cannot figure what is draining both my house and chassis batteries. 99 bounder with a cut off switch for both. I cut off the chassis battery and can hear a click at the control box. Most things shut off, like the ignition and power step, but have noticed it still has power to the cigarette lighter, LP detector, power to the generator and maybe the fridge. I don't think the cut off switch does anything to the house batteries. Both batteries are less than 4 months old, a marine rv for house and regular battery for chassis. I turn the generator at least 1hr per day to keep them topped off but sometimes I come to find one battery dead or both in less than
a day. I've use a multi meter to find a drain and I get none. When running the generator my chassis battery is not getting charge, instead is being drained as is connected to the generator and needs 12v to run if I'm not mistaken. This whole issue is making me pull my hair, since I will be living in it for a few months with no shore power.

suggestion are welcomed. Thank you
Class A
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Feb 06, 2019
    First: IF the batteries are disconnected.. In "Store" mode. they WILL NOT CHARGE and in fact the generator should not start either.

    If the batteries are not being charged by the generator first check the breakers on the Genny. Should be two. if your rig is 50 amps one runs half the RV the other the other half ONE runs the converter. (It is on one or the other halves)

    On a 30 amp RV one runs most everything the other one A/C.

    Then check the breaker box. Make sure you don't have a tripped CONV breaker (I've had that)

    IF like mine your converter is a "plug in" model. Make sure it's plugged in (YES I've had to do that several times)

    Now we test the converter itself. And post the results.
    Measure output voltage

    There may also be a fuse or trippe circuit breaker in the line.


    IF you have a big INVERTER/CHARGER.. Well post that and we will modify the sequence.

    Next
  • RLS7201's avatar
    RLS7201
    Explorer II
    Feb 06, 2019
    In your RV Custom Products Battery Control Center (BCC) is a silver isolator relay. It is probably the reason your chassis battery is not charging when on generator or shore power. It will also keep your house batteries from charging when the engine is running. That relay has a high failure rate. When replacing, make sure you purchase a "Continues Duty" relay. The 2 battery bank disconnect relays are also in the BCC. They are in a black plastic housing.
    The cigarette lighter and propane detector are intentionally left connected, by Fleetwood, when the batteries are disconnected.
    When you push the AUX battery cut off switch to off, the house batteries should be disconnected.
    Your propane detector is powered from both battery banks.


    Richard
    95 Bounder
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Feb 06, 2019
    I don't know how much Battery power you use everyday
    But I can tell you
    With me, the pc, lights, furnace to stay warm
    One hour is not enough generator powered converter charging time
    And I have a 75 amp charge converter
    Yours is possibly 45 amp
    With the rainy cool weather, you might need 3 to 4 hours everyday
    And a 8 to 10 hour run one day a week

    Batteries have to brought back to full complete charge at least once a week When full-time,
    and that means they reach a charge state of less than 1 amp going in. with a voltage above 14.4v at the batteries

    Continued partial charging everyday just means the batteries performance fades as they slowly Die
  • twodownzero's avatar
    twodownzero
    Explorer
    Feb 07, 2019
    I have 400 watts of solar and my batteries are never dead. Plenty of extra juice. I can even check battery status with my phone, bluetooth. But if you have a drain and not just more load than you're replenishing, or bad batteries, solar won't fix it.
  • Gjac's avatar
    Gjac
    Explorer III
    Feb 07, 2019
    The easiest way to resolve your problem is to disconnect your neg cable and measure the amp draw between the neg cable and neg post by inserting the leads of your multimeter between the two on the 10 amp scale with the MH not plugged into shore power. If you see more than an amp, say 2 or 3 amps start pulling your 12 v fuses until you see the amp draw bellow 1 amp. You may find that something is left on. If on the other hand you see less than 1 amp I would suspect that you have not fully charged either your house or chassis batteries. Do you have a portable battery charger? Most portables charge at least 10 amps. What type and how many amp converter charger do you have on board your MH? On older MH's they may only charge at 5 amps. Charge until both batteries say full then disconnect the neg cable, if the batteries are good they should hold a charge for several months. Let us know how you make out.
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Feb 07, 2019
    My 97 Bounder , 36ft with slide out, came with a 55 amp converter, but it was only 13.8v

    I suspect the OP has something similar

    My converter is in the outside bay/compartment under the kitchen, next to the entry door
    The (2) 6v house batteries are up front behind the grill
    The voltage at the batteries was always too low for a proper charge
    I changed the converter to a power max adjustable voltage 75 amp model
    And then added a third battery, a 200 ampHr deka 4d AGM
    I put it in the compartment, it's a sealed a AGM, and there is ventilation in the compartment
  • steved28's avatar
    steved28
    Explorer
    Feb 07, 2019
    Clamp-on DC ammeter. Best investment I ever made in tracking down current draw.
  • lamoz1's avatar
    lamoz1
    Explorer
    Feb 07, 2019
    I will check on all this on Saturday. I notice some people use (2) 6v batteries. Is there
    and advantage to this? I'm using a single 12v but have bought another one so I'll be running (2)
    12v batteries for the house.
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Feb 07, 2019
    The 6v " GOLF CART" , have an advantage over the standard "car" battery
    In handling long slow deep discharge

    One 12v car/marine battery, is woefully short on ampHrs capacity for full-time RV living

    A mere 40 ampHrs of use means the battery is down to 50% to 60% of charge
    One hour of charging might being that back to 75%, if you are lucky

    I suspect you are critically over using and then under recharging

    Manny of us, did the same thing with our first RV and first set of batteries

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