5th Wheel Electrical Issues

joebedford wrote:
I'm still confused - are your batteries 6V or 12V?

I believe he has 2 6v batteries. They are wired in series to give him 12v. This is effectively one large 12v battery.

2 - 6v in series

Barbara and I have been fortunate to do some offshore travel over the years (22 countries) and we tell people that if they can only have ONE trip in their lives they should go to Australia and New Zealand - mainly New Zealand....we did Auckland to Milford Sound.

(On edit - typo)

I'm still confused - are your batteries 6V or 12V?

I want to thank each of you for your help on this - the responses have been wonderful and I learned a great deal. One lesson in life that came to me early on - and I sometimes tend to let it go by (but not so much) - is that no one (even me!) knows everything and there is no "shame on you" for asking.

OK.

We are back into a town area and checking around find out there is a place that rents equipment of all kinds - up to heavy construction size - who handles batteries. Call him and he does some checking and comes up with the right ones and they are name brand and he has them in stock! And he is about a mile down the road! And he has a fair price.

Go get two and put them in. Immediately our 12v lights that we dim are bright again! So, OK I think, will leave the water heater on electric overnight and see what happens. HOT WATER on electric.

Ironically, I have two different RV friends at home who told me early on to scrap the 70 day great trip and come home. But with the workarounds and good, solid advice here, I was able to keep going until I could find batteries to at least try that.

Again, thank you so much for your advice and support.

Lauren

New batteries in!

Tired of all alarms going off on LV - they are 12v - two of them. Charging the batteries now but think I found a place that has a couple and will go get them.

Lauren wrote:
OK, been a long time since I charged two batteries in series - do them while both hooked up or do each separately?

Think of your two 6v batteries in series as one 12v battery. Do your measurements and charging using the 12v terminal and the ground terminal. The two terminals that are connected together probably have no other connections to them.

Your charger is probably a 12 volt charger.

OK.

As of this morning ........... taken individually

Battery on left 5.73 volts 11.7 amps
Battery on right 5.70 volts 11.6 amps
Control panel 1 light of 4 (always used to be all 4 when plugged into ac post)

Should I charge them.

When I took them in and he put a tested on them he said they were both completely shot.

Also, for reference. Third night out lights went down fast and then it was no lights. Found 20 amp breaker tripped and reset. Has not tripped since. Do not know - as wiring diagram did not label) what it is for - perhaps converter.

Also. Have heavy gauge black wire coming from battery that goes to a small trip switch in the battery compartment....it has two white wires going out thru the side and have not a clue where. This is a little frayed at the end going into the round connector .......... should I replace?

So that is where I am at.

Gonna charge the batteries in any case.

Input appreciated.

You people are great.

We are at a MA & PA rv park and be they have a charger to use. In that trip is scheduled to Sept 24th in kinda remote places at times I could just run to Walmart next town and get one (have to order but the get in a couple of days) and we will be going their anyhow. I don't need a third one (have 2 at home - used to carry one in 5er but quit doing so years go. $50 is great peace of mind.

OK, been a long time since I charged two batteries in series - do them while both hooked up or do each separately?

I learning / re-learning ............. thanks so much.