Not getting power from new RV battery :(

[Serenity_Road]

Hello Everyone,

I am trying to do a little problem solving. We are not getting any power from our new RV battery. We have check the leads, fuses, wires (looking for loose ones), converter, and battery. Everything works with shore power; however not works just on the battery. The frig does even run on gas model without being hooked to another source other than the battery. Need all the help/advice we can get.

Thanks,
Delores

[Serenity_Road]

Thanks everyone; we replaced the breaker and all problems have been resolved.

[skripo]

YC 1 wrote:
Electrons are color blind so do not assume a black wire is negative. As suggested, maybe a reverse battery issue. Or just dropped a wire and need to stand on your head to find it.

Black is positive and white is negative in trailers. Drives me crazy every time I rewire something.

Check that you didn't connect it up backwards.

[gchackett]

Are you sure there is juice in the battery?

[Dascro58]

We experienced a very similar problem a few weeks back during a camping trip. I had just installed a new battery prior to leaving. Turned out the two 40 amp converter "reverse polarity" fuses blew when I made a dumb mistake (only for an instant) when hooking the new battery up.

Good luck. Double check those two converter 40A fuses.

[handye9]

Assuming you have checked for disconnect switch, fuse panel, battery connections:

Look for an inline fuse in the positive battery lead.

Look for an auto reset breaker. Looks like this. Follow positive battery lead, to where it enters the trailer. This is the breaker mentioned by enblethen. If it is good, it will have 12 volt power between the two posts.

Sometimes the breaker will reset when you disconnect and re-connect the battery power. Some have a manual reset button. Some trailers have more than one. If it is bad (won't reset), they are available at most auto parts stores. They come in different amp sizes. Match up the size with your old one. Disconnect battery and shore power while changing the breaker.

The battery should have nothing to do with city water issue. If you're talking about electric water heating element, that's not a 12 volt issue, either.

When you find the fix, please let us know what it is.

[Serenity_Road]

We will check to see if we have a disconnect switch. We checked the two larger fuses(next to the switches; had 40 on them) visually but will do a more in depth. The little fuse checker that came with some of our old fuses didn't light up on any of the fuses and we think they are all good (all the little metal inners are not broken).The cables are connected correctly now; not sure if they were when DH first hooked them up. Will definitely replace the Reverse polarity Fuses. We checked and the ground wire is tight to the frame. Yes we have a voltmeter and use it. Not on our trip to Fort Wilderness a week ago, but we noticed the problem before leaving home and replaced the battery and issue continued. At fort wilderness, we had an issue with city water not flowing into TT or water pump coming on. DH unplugged water heater and pressed the reset button for the water heater? and plugged it back and that seemed to correct the water issue. Our TT had been plugged to our house for months while stored in the backyard. Our portable Surge Guard was not attached while plugged in at home.

Hope these additional details help.

Thanks all,
Delores

[YC_1]

Electrons are color blind so do not assume a black wire is negative. As suggested, maybe a reverse battery issue. Or just dropped a wire and need to stand on your head to find it.

[2oldman]

All we can do is guess. You don't have to:

a) get a voltmeter
b) use a voltmeter

[enblethen]

Look around the tongue area for a circuit breaker. Commonly installed in box at the end of the umbilical cord from TV.
Check for dropped ground wire while installing new battery.
Check 12 volt DC distribution panel for blown battery fuse.

[Dakota98]

Battery disconnect switch ? Do you have one ?

[Old-Biscuit]

You get 12V DC when on shore power so converter is working BUT you do not get 12V DC when not on shore power

That mens you have battery disconnect switch OFF (if you have one) OR you connected new battery cables up backwards and blew the fuses on converter.

Converter has 1 or 2 large (30A or bigger---depending on converter) 'Reverse Polarity' fuse(s). They blow when battery is connected wrong to protect DC system/circuits.

They are on backside (or side) of converter.

Check cables on battery. Don't assume colors mean anything!
Follow negative cable to trailer frame----ground
If cable on battery negative does NOT go to trailer frame.....correct cables and replace 'Reverse Polarity' Fuses

Also New battery will not charge if they are blown

[Tequila]

If you are not getting battery power then the fridge would not work on gas. Assuming you are not plugged in. I suspect an issue with your convertor.