Low batteries

[danddclydes]

Ok - I admit it, the weather and general laziness has left me with batteries not strong enough to start my motorhome. It has been extremely cold!!! Now what do I do to jump it or somehow charge the batteries enough to start it? I am new to this and know I sound clueless.

Thanks for any help!
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DandDClydes - 2014 Newmar Ventana LE 3845 - Pennsylvania arctic

[RayChez]

If you are close to shore power, just plug it in and your house batteries will charge up. Once they are charged THEN you can start the engine by pressing the jump button on the dash. Hold down for a minute and then at the same time turn the ignition switch on. It should crank over and start the Diesel engine. The alternator will then charge your chassis batteries.

[bsinmich]

There is the possibility that 7V reading was from a 6V battery. Newmar probably has 6V banks in series for 12V for the house. The house batteries may not be too bad. You should have a switch that says "store" and "use" (mine is 11 years older than yours) and you should use the "Store" position when not in use. My MH is stored in a barn with "store" selected and I fully expect it to start right up if the snow ever quits. 120" and counting on snow.

[Matt_Colie]

Dandd,

Get something going now or you will loose a bunch of battery.

My suggestion, if you can't get to shore power is use jumper cables to start the APU (genset) that can recover the hotel bank in about five or six hours. (Really - 7 is WAY DEAD) If they are more than a few years old, they be uncoverable already, but try.

Once you have something on the meter, run you jumper cable (you will only need the positive) to the main engine battery.

I don't really care what you do, but please realize that bring back batteries that are that depleted cannot be rushed without hurting the batteries even more.

This sort of thing was my common job before the depression, but please believe me and get charging those batteries NOW.

Matt

[mena661]

Some chargers don't work at that low voltage (7V). But plug it in and see.

[2ndhom]

wolfe10 wrote:
Do you have shore power?

You already have a built in converter, charger or inverter/charger that will at least charge up the house battery bank.

Yep, best bet!!!
Do you have a way of plugging into your house with at least a 20 amp outlet?

[wolfe10]

Do you have shore power?

You already have a built in converter, charger or inverter/charger that will at least charge up the house battery bank.

[John_Wayne]

If your not sure on this I would just plug the unit in and let the converter do the charging. Rather then risk hooking the 12 volt batt. charger up wrong to 6 volt batt. which I think your house batts. are. Then you can push the switch to use the house batts. to start the engine, after using the block heater before trying to start the engine.

[danddclydes]

Thanks all for the advice. I will get a charger on them ASAP.

[zman-az]

Get them on charger ASAP. Dead batteries can also freeze. Because they are new batteries you should be able to recover them although 7 is extremely low. How long did it sit before it was last charged? Do you have shutoff switches for the batteries? If you left them on the batteries will not hold a charge for long.

[MountainAir05]

Your best bet is to put a Smart battery charger on 10 amps setting and let it run for the # of days it is going to take to charge them up. Make sure what every charge you use it is the right voltage for the battery that you hook up to. Just running the engine or gen will not charge them up in a short time.

[wolfe10]

Do you have access to 120 VAC shore power? If so, plug it in which will certainly charge the house battery bank and MAY charge the chassis bank as well (Newmar can tell you if the chassis batteries are charged).

If not, you can jump the generator-- Newmar can tell you which battery bank starts the generator.

[danddclydes]

I just checked the gauges and am reading Chassis batteries 10.1 and House 7 volts so I am thinking no help from the boost! Should I charge the chassis then get the generator and engine going to recharge? - Sorry for the stupid questions but I am really new to this and after taking delivery in November I still haven't even managed to stay one night in it.

[doxiemom11]

Our class A has a battery shut off for both the engine and house batteries. If we are sitting somewhere for awhile, we shut the engine battery off - if stored, we shut both sets of batteries off. This keeps them from running down.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

My (limited) understanding is that you hold the boost button while attempting to start the engine. Be sure to cycle the glow plugs twice before starting. It is -24 f here.

[danddclydes]

Sorry for not being clear... It is a Diesel, 2014 Newmar Ventana LE.. I tried the boost button but not sure if I was supposed to push and hold and for how long to try to get it to start. Also it is about 15F currently ( really envy those of you in Florida )