Forum Discussion

goufgators's avatar
goufgators
Explorer
Apr 02, 2018

House battery charging problem...

This in re: to a 2017 Winnebago. The coach had sat for a few weeks and when I went out to move it today, the coach batteries were dead. It has been constantly plugged into a 30A receptacle. In addition, I had left the on/off 'salesman's switch' in the on position. Isn't the inverter or is it converter supposed to keep the batteries topped off when a/c power is provided thereby preventing discharge? Or, should I have left the on/off switch in the off position? Thanks for any advice. BTW, it's under new veh. warranty but thought if something simple or that I'm doing something wrong, advice from you knowledgeable members might save me from a 60 mile round trip to CW.
Class A
  • Gjac's avatar
    Gjac
    Explorer III
    Apr 05, 2018
    goufgators wrote:
    Gjac wrote:
    When you pushed the button to off was the MH still plugged into shore power?


    Yes.
    Then that is probably why the light is still on. Mine stays on when plug in and the battery disconnect is turned to off.
  • rgatijnet1's avatar
    rgatijnet1
    Explorer III
    Apr 05, 2018
    ON my inverter/charger, there is a circuit breaker for the charging portion, as well as two circuit breakers for the inverter portion.
  • goufgators's avatar
    goufgators
    Explorer
    Apr 05, 2018
    Dale.Traveling wrote:
    goufgators wrote:
    From the OP: Although likely not the problem of 'dead batteries', I found that the on/off switch for the house batteries was stuck in the 'on' position and would not turn off (per little green light). So, decided to take it in to CW for (likely) a new switch and to locate cause of batteries draining. Thanks for comments...

    If the coach is plugged into shore power (or the generator is running) and the AC-DC converter/charger is energized the light will not go out since the converter is providing DC power to the coach. Similarly when converter is producing DC power you can not tell the state of the disconnect in since the light will not change. You may think the batteries are connected and getting a maintenance charge but they may not be and with time will self discharge. Maybe the this is what caused the initial problem?

    Good information. I'll follow up on your comments/advice. Thanks!

    Additionally, even though the coach is new the batteries could be on their last leg. Very rare for a dealership to plug a coach in to maintain a good charge level. Also manufactures don't always install ture deep cycle batteries for the coach side. Add the two together and throw in a couple to deep discharge/charge cycles while waiting on the sales lot and your batteries may be at their end of useful life.
  • goufgators's avatar
    goufgators
    Explorer
    Apr 05, 2018
    Gjac wrote:
    When you pushed the button to off was the MH still plugged into shore power?


    Yes.
  • Dale_Traveling's avatar
    Dale_Traveling
    Explorer II
    Apr 05, 2018
    goufgators wrote:
    From the OP: Although likely not the problem of 'dead batteries', I found that the on/off switch for the house batteries was stuck in the 'on' position and would not turn off (per little green light). So, decided to take it in to CW for (likely) a new switch and to locate cause of batteries draining. Thanks for comments...

    If the coach is plugged into shore power (or the generator is running) and the AC-DC converter/charger is energized the light will not go out since the converter is providing DC power to the coach. Similarly when converter is producing DC power you can not tell the state of the disconnect in since the light will not change. You may think the batteries are connected and getting a maintenance charge but they may not be and with time will self discharge. Maybe the this is what caused the initial problem?

    Additionally, even though the coach is new the batteries could be on their last leg. Very rare for a dealership to plug a coach in to maintain a good charge level. Also manufactures don't always install ture deep cycle batteries for the coach side. Add the two together and throw in a couple to deep discharge/charge cycles while waiting on the sales lot and your batteries may be at their end of useful life.
  • xctraveler's avatar
    xctraveler
    Explorer
    Apr 05, 2018
    On my Phaeton there is a std 120 outlet in the power bay by the chassis batteries with a Trickle Charger plugged into it to maintain the chassis batteries. There is no direct charge from the shore current to charge the chassis batteries. When I store long term (not recently) I have to pull the fuse for that charger otherwise the little light that says it is working will drain the battery it is meant to protect eventually. I suspect the Winnebago may have a similar configuration unless they omitted the Trickle Charger
  • Gjac's avatar
    Gjac
    Explorer III
    Apr 05, 2018
    When you pushed the button to off was the MH still plugged into shore power?
  • goufgators's avatar
    goufgators
    Explorer
    Apr 04, 2018
    From the OP: Although likely not the problem of 'dead batteries', I found that the on/off switch for the house batteries was stuck in the 'on' position and would not turn off (per little green light). So, decided to take it in to CW for (likely) a new switch and to locate cause of batteries draining. Thanks for comments...
  • Harvey51's avatar
    Harvey51
    Explorer
    Apr 03, 2018
    Indeed the first step is to check the voltage at the battery as just described.

    Don’t mess with an ammeter or amp range on a multimeter unless you know how it works - for instance, connecting to the battery terminals will likely destroy the ammeter. Ammeters have very low resistance to avoid interfering with the current so a current too large for the meter is likely to flow.

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