Maintaining batteries

[Silas_Carpy]

New to rving as of May this year so first time winterizing. If I understood everything I read, including owners manual, I can leave batteries in rv and connect to shore cord and inverter will maintain charge. I’ve had it hooked for about 3-4 weeks now. I’ve been monitoring the batteries and today the 12 volt chassis battery was at 11.55 volts and the 6 volt coach batteries were 5.85. Does this method not maintain charge. 2009 Fleetwood pulse on dodge/Mercedes’ sprinter. Thanks.

[valhalla360]

Yes, it should be fine.

Something is wrong with your system if you are running below 12v after being connected to the charger for weeks.

[CA_Traveler]

First and immediate step is to get those batteries charged. Discharged batteries have a shorter life, maybe much shorter. Borrow a auto charger for each bank to start.

[KD4UPL]

Being plugged in should keep them charged. Yours obviously is not. What brand and model of inverter/charger are we talking about?

[BFL13]

Silas Carpy wrote:
New to rving as of May this year so first time winterizing. If I understood everything I read, including owners manual, I can leave batteries in rv and connect to shore cord and inverter will maintain charge. I’ve had it hooked for about 3-4 weeks now. I’ve been monitoring the batteries and today the 12 volt chassis battery was at 11.55 volts and the 6 volt coach batteries were 5.85. Does this method not maintain charge. 2009 Fleetwood pulse on dodge/Mercedes’ sprinter. Thanks.

If an inverter/charger, make sure the charger is "enabled" and there is 120v to the rig such as to the MW

If a converter, make sure it has 120v input. On that,
A. be sure there is 120v to the RV--see if the MW is lit. If so,
B. check for 120v to the converter. If so,
C. check the converter's RP fuses, check the battery fuse (or DC CB if that)
D.snap off the converter's 120v CB and see if the 12v lights work from battery (they will be dim at the reported voltage, but should still work)--if they do the battery fuse is ok, so that leaves the RP fuses if there is 120v to the converter.

The engine battery needs its own maintenance charger--it does not get any from the converter or inverter/charger. Various ways to arrange that-Trickle Charge eg.