why does the gauge show poor-problem solved

[rbp111]

I purchased two twelve volt batteries about 2 weeks ago. I am now in Arizona, staying in a park with full hookups, preparing to boondock in Quartzsite. The problem, if any, the gauge in the trailer shows the batteries are poor. I will check it out with a volt meter, but shouldn't the batteries, when hooked up to 120 power, show that they are fully charge? Now I am not to sure I want to go to Quartzsite.

I checked the breakers. One of them was tripped, although it did not show it was tripped. The batteries are now charged. Thanks for the advice.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Love Them Suffisticted Meters

[wa8yxm]

Most breakers have 3 positions.. I'll kind of demonstarte.. From one side it would look like this ON: / OFF:\ Tripped --

However some times the handle does not move down to the tripped position and I've seen breakers where OFF and TRIPPED are the same position,, they simply turn off.

Thus when I suspect a tripped breaker I use the tatcial method.. I run my fingures along the line of breakers.. The Tripped on USUALLY feels different (That is on the 3 position ones,, alas that won't work on my Generator).

[Harvard]

rbp111 wrote:

I checked the breakers. One of them was tripped, although it did not show it was tripped.

From my experience I think breakers have 3 positions, OFF, ON and TRIPPED OFF. Tripped Off can easily mistaken for being in an ON position from what I have seen. JMO.

[jmtandem]

I checked the breakers. One of them was tripped, although it did not show it was tripped. The batteries are now charged. Thanks for the advice.

Easy solution. Glad it worked out for you. Now go join the throng of folks and the huge RV show at Q.

[jmtandem]

I purchased two twelve volt batteries about 2 weeks ago. I am now in Arizona, staying in a park with full hookups, preparing to boondock in Quartzsite. The problem, if any, the gauge in the trailer shows the batteries are poor. I will check it out with a volt meter, but shouldn't the batteries, when hooked up to 120 power, show that they are fully charge?

Now I am not to sure I want to go to Quartzsite.

Easy to test. With a volt meter and not plugged into shore power or hooked up to your tow vehicle, check the battery status. Then plug into shore power and recheck. Or, start engine and run tow vehicle while plugged into the trailer connecton and see if they are charging. Be sure the batteries are correctly connected. If they are not charging check the batteries by using a separate battery charger with the batteries unhooked from the coach. If they take a charge then you have a charging issue with your converter. If the batteries won't take a charge then they are the issue. Be sure they are connected correctly and the fuses are OK. For a few dollars an inexpensive volt meter is invaluable in times like these.

I guess I don't see your connection between Quartzsite and the batteries charging or holding a charge. I would think you would want the batteries working just right whereever you went. And, after all, you are already in Arizona.

[RJsfishin]

Whatever, get them charged now, before you ruin then.

[BFL13]

New batteries and then no converter could mean a reverse polarity happened either briefly or still exists. Check the two 30a fuses on the converter or the DC panel (depending on where they are)

Meanwhile you are on battery and they are getting low. If reversed, things will work except fans run backwards.

[MNtundraRet]

It looks like your trailer's converter/charger is not working so your new batteries are not being charged.

Get a multi-meter and read the battery voltage from the battery-terminals. I suspect they will read somewhere below 12.7 volts. Maybe around 12.0 volts. Do the check with the trailer unplugged from shore-power.

Now plug the trailer back in to shore-power. The voltage should rise to 13.6 volts or higher. If not the charger is not working. Check the circuit-breaker for it and look for a blown fuse. If not that then the charger has failed.

[Triker33]

Are they Deep Cycle batteries?
Is the converter charging them?
Test at batteries should be over 13 Volts when plugged into shore power.
If the same Volts at batteries when plugged into shore power and shore power off.
Then converter is not working.

[nelson]

Sorry misread your post. I would startout checking connections unless your batters discharged for some reason. Might want to pull them and get them checked just in case you bought a bad one.