dc power

[seabeeson]

I cannot switch on the dc from the batteries. Nothing works. I have full power (ac & dc) when plugged to shore. Is anyone familiar with this problem?

[westend]

seabeeson wrote:
It is being charged by both the solar and convertor. I was at 1/4 yesterday before I started in on this. Today it was at 11.92 or 3/4 after being charged with home shore, 20A circuit. Which lead out of the convertor goes to the battery box. Convertor had 12.74V coming out of it and I think those are the cables going to the battery box. The convertor said 745A 12V. Also have 2 AGM batteries in parallel.

You are relying on a metering system built into the RV and that is probably totally inaccurate. Your Fluke is the tool to use here and you need to verify that the convertor and solar are charging the batteries. In all cases, voltage will be above 13V. Start at the simple end. Disconnect battery cables and measure at the posts what you have in the batteries. Connect cables, power on convertor and measure again. You should see 13+V with the converter powered on.

[Bobbo]

You should print out this voltage chart. Anything below 12.1v, to me, is a dead battery. Anything below 12.3v, you need to seriously consider charging.

[RJsfishin]

Wow, your readings are confusing.
11.92 is not 3/4,....it is dead.

Any converter should read 13.6.
745 amps on a converter ?? Something is not right, very not right.

seabeeson wrote:
It is being charged by both the solar and convertor. I was at 1/4 yesterday before I started in on this. Today it was at 11.92 or 3/4 after being charged with home shore, 20A circuit. Which lead out of the convertor goes to the battery box. Convertor had 12.74V coming out of it and I think those are the cables going to the battery box. The convertor said 745A 12V. Also have 2 AGM batteries in parallel.

[Hank_MI]

Not sure I understand all your readings. We had a relay fail (engine battery) on our previous motorhome. You could hear it switch when the battery was turned on or off but it would no longer latch in the on position.

[seabeeson]

It is being charged by both the solar and convertor. I was at 1/4 yesterday before I started in on this. Today it was at 11.92 or 3/4 after being charged with home shore, 20A circuit. Which lead out of the convertor goes to the battery box. Convertor had 12.74V coming out of it and I think those are the cables going to the battery box. The convertor said 745A 12V. Also have 2 AGM batteries in parallel.

[mrgreetis]

Battery at almost 12 v sounds like it is shot. Should be at least mid 12 volts. 11.9 is equivalent to 40 %. Is it being charged by the converter as well as solar? Converter output should be 13.x when plugged into shore power to charge the battery. You should measure that at the battery terminals at that time. if you don't have that at the battery, it sounds like the battery is not being charged by your converter and also not enough by your solar.

[seabeeson]

It is a 2003 Fleetwood Jamboree
Checked with a Fluke 77 VOM.
Battery charged by solar panel.
Battery and relay/switches are in the door step well.
Battery checks at almost 12V. Has relay? box with "RV Custom Products" on it. These read almost 12V like the battery. With the panel switch on the left side reads 0V, right side reads almost 12V. With the panel switch off, left and right read the same as above. Also the RV Custom Prod. contacts closed and pos. and neg. say 0. The solenoid switch is engaging when the panel switch is turned on and off.
All fuses that I found were in good condition.
I found some white rectangular box mounted near the converter under the kitchen table but did not feel any buttons or switches on it.
Could not find any other relays or switches any where else.
Thanks for everyone's help and welcome any other thoughts or comments.
Jeff

[wa8yxm]

Step 1 Measure voltage or use test lamp.. Battery positive to negative (I prefer the test lamp by the way does a better and faster job) Touch actual battery terminals.

Now move negative probe/clip to any handy unpainted metal.

Start following the Positive cable out to the other end Test

Whatever device it is hooked to check the other side of that (IF there are big and small terminals just test big)

Continue till your light is dark and tell us what you just passed


Battery.. Switch Circuit breaker or fuse and sometimes a second fuse

Switch and breaker/fuse may be swapped.

[rbtglove]

I just had the same problem, and thanks to info I got from this forum I was able to fix it. If your battery checks out as mine did you might look for a breaker box that on the main feed. Its only bout an inch x 3/4inch rectangle and the primaries from the battery hook up to it. Apparently the newer ones are designed to automically reset but the older ones have a manual reset. Can check it with a meter to see if it is the the problem. Only costs a few bucks to replace and easy job. Had 4 other RVs and never even knew about this thing that apparently is on most RVs. If its tripped you will only have 12v when you have shore power connected.

[Dennis_M_M]

Not just loose, but corroded battery cables as well.

[Dakota98]

Oasisbob wrote:
Put a volt meter on your battery to confirm it is not low or dead first thing. Check fuses if no disconnect switch. Let us know

X-2

[Oasisbob]

Put a volt meter on your battery to confirm it is not low or dead first thing. Check fuses if no disconnect switch. Let us know

[Vulcan_Rider]

Is there a battery disconnect switch ? Is it ON ?
Are the battery cables tight ?
Is there a main discharge fuse for the batteries ??

You REALLY need a meter; they can be had for about $10.

[lanerd]

Let us know what type, model rv you have. Might give us a better idea of what the problem could be. If a dp, this problem is usually due to the disconnect switch being turned off.

Ron