Forum Discussion

Ltrip's avatar
Ltrip
Explorer
Apr 15, 2021

On the road, battery and charging problems

A bit of a long story.  I am stumped, but can't (unwilling) to do too much on the road.
In Feb, I bought and installed 2 6V AGM GC2 Lifeline batteries.  At home, plugged into 30 amp circuit, my Zamp battery monitor showed 13+v, so I assumed the on board charger (Progressive Dynamics 9260c) was working and charging the batteries.  Now I am on a trip and the batteries wont take a charge, if there is one.  The Zamp monitor does NOT show a 13+v charge from the on board charger.  I hook up an external, stand alone charger (Schumacher ship n sail, or something like that)  It never shows more than 60% charged, and comes back and says "bad battery"  Not sure if the brand new batteries are "bad" or if the PD is not charging.  Assuming bad batteries, and needing to get home to have Batteries Plus fully test them, I bought 1 group 24 12v deep cycle RV battery and hooked it up.  We are on 110 30m amp hook up and the Zamp monitor has gone from 12.9v to 12.4v in 1/2 day.  So it seems the PD is NOT charging.  I will hookup the external battery charger in the morning to see if that works.
I can remove the power center and see the PD.  But getting my hands/arms in there will be very difficult.  And I fear loosening wires in the power center.
As I said, stumped, bummed and frustrated.
Any thoughts/advice would be greatly appreciated!
  • ndrorder's avatar
    ndrorder
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2021
    I didn't see mention of cycling the circuit breaker for the converter.
  • Gjac's avatar
    Gjac
    Explorer III
    Apr 15, 2021
    Your batteries are brand new. It worked at home and I assume you changed no wires on your trip. If you are plugged in somewhere set your multimeter to 20v setting and check what your batteries read. Then check at your converter. If converter is charging but batteries don't see the charge reset all your circuit breakers. If you hook your portable directly to your batteries disconnect converter and check battery voltage with your multimeter you should see 13 plus volts. Let us know what your get.
  • schlep1967's avatar
    schlep1967
    Nomad
    Apr 15, 2021
    Batteries Plus is nation wide. Google to see if there are any near your current location.
  • Ltrip's avatar
    Ltrip
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2021
    Reply to several comments. Thanks!!!
    I posted in 2 forums. One forum suggested to disconnect the battery via the disconnect switch, while still on shore power. I did, and no 12v lights worked. That implies/proves the PD is not putting out 12v.
    I did recycle the breaker switches. No apparent change.
    Re: using the external charger. When I hook that up to the new 12v battery, I expect the battery monitor to show > 12.7v. It does not. The battery monitor was at 12.3 this am and did not change when I hooked up the external charger.
    But I do believe my small solar panel is helping.
    As stated earlier, I am very hesitant to access the convertor because it is very difficult to access, and I fear screwing something up. I am trying to be realistic about my own skills.
    Thanks again. I will post updates.
  • Drew_A_'s avatar
    Drew_A_
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2021
    Check the fuse at the battery positive wire outside near the battery. Also, pull the wire off the positive terminal of the battery and check the voltage from that wire to ground.

    It's either the fuse or the converter is dead.
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Apr 15, 2021
    Looks like your converter was not working even before you left. Suspect blown reverse polarity fuses from a mistake when installing the new batteries. Easy to check and fix.

    When you isolated the batteries to check them and the "monitor" did not change when you charged the batts, that could mean the monitor is also isolated. You need your own digital multimeter set to voltage to put on the batteries directly.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Apr 15, 2021
    I would reconnect the Lifelines and use the 24 to jumpstart them so the portable charger will begin charging without error. Or use your vehicle to jump the Lifelines.

    I assume the Lifeline's voltage has been run down so low the portable thinks they are bad.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Apr 15, 2021
    Bad battery. Yes, they can go bad that fast.
    You may also have blown the protection fuse(s) in the converter.
  • Gjac's avatar
    Gjac
    Explorer III
    Apr 15, 2021
    Ltrip said: Re: using the external charger. When I hook that up to the new 12v battery, I expect the battery monitor to show > 12.7v. It does not. The battery monitor was at 12.3 this am and did not change when I hooked up the external charger.
    Sounds like your battery monitor is not working because it is disconnected somehow. Again check voltage with a multimeter at the pos and neg terminals of the battery when using your portable charger it should read 13 plus volts. Let us know what it reads. Do you have a multimeter?
  • Ltrip's avatar
    Ltrip
    Explorer
    Apr 16, 2021
    Thanks all! Yes I have a multimeter. I checked voltage at the battery while installed inthe trailer and got 12.3v. I attached the external charger and got 12.3v. The monitor also said 12.3. That implies my charger went bad at basically the same time as the converter/charger. Crazy.
    Right now I have the 2 6v batteries connected in series separate from the trailer with the external charger on it. I hope they will charge normally. Then I can swap with the 12v and repeat the process.
    Also today I had the external charger on the 12v while installed in the trailer. When I returned to the trailer the charger read "bad bat" But it is brand new.
    I am pretty busy the next 2 days but will try to report back. I also trying to schedule a mobile tech for Monday or Tuesday at my next stop.
    Cheers

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