visch1
CAPE COD, MA
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Joined: 05/04/2008
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Hi. I've only been RVing with my 29 footer since June '08 purchased second hand. It's a '06 which I think was put together in early '06. I have not nor do I expect to overnight without 120 volt connection. I've on several days this summer, living on Cape Cod, gone to a public beach for a day to "get away". Just Previous to the one week trip I'm on I checked the batteries of the coach and the voltage, using a Fluke Meter, read 11.7V. I then used a cheap hydrometer with the floating balls and no balls floated, indicating dead batteries. This finding was about a week before leaving so figured there was enough time to recharge. I did try to start the Owan 4000 gen and it had enough to turn over and start. ?.
I have a Charge Wizard and reading the voltage it was 14.6V par of the time and dropped down to 13.4v most of the time. The balls never floated at all. I next discharged the batteries completely and started a new recharge with the same results. All this says to me I need new batteries.
Now the questions. Will just putting a new good quality battery connected to a near dead one deplete or weaken the new one long term? #2 For my usage do I need 2 batteries? In my figuring the engine and being plugged into 120 should be enough to keep it charged. #3 two weeks previous to checking them I did a trip of about 1K miles shouldn't that have been sufficient to charge them? True I don't know their condition at that point. #4 I had the main DC switch off and the steps shut off so I expect no drainage. During the summer I cleaned all the battery connections along with the body ground and battery case and used Corrosion X on all leads. And last ? would 1 good replacement battery be enough for my usage? TIA
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thomasinnv
where ever i stop
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Joined: 06/28/2008
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if you are always going to be plugged in, then yes, 1 battery would be sufficient. sounds to me like the battery is toast. you cannot put a good battery in with a bad battery, it will draw down the good battery, and in short time it will ruin the new battery. i would just get a couple of walmart group 29 for around 75 ea. if you are in a cold climate area and happen to lose power for a night, one battery would have a pretty hard time running the furnace for a whole night.
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BFL13
Victoria, BC
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Joined: 02/15/2006
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In your rig does "shutting off the main DC switch" not cut off the converter (which charges the battery) from the battery?
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robatthelake
Vancouver Island
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Joined: 08/24/2003
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I would either replace both batteries or, remove both and install One New one!
You need to have a good 12 Volt connected to activate the electric brakes in the event of an accidental disconnection while moving the trailer!It also is needed to filter the power from Your Converter to the various 12 volt circuits.
If You ever decide to Dry Camp for a few days You can always add another battery to get You through , but as long as the majority of Your camping has reliable AC power I can't see why a single battery won't do.
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Dave H M
IL
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Joined: 08/11/2006
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you could go an econo route and just take both batts out and put one big assed 12 volt battery in there. It depends on what kind of amps you need to work the slide. My 07 Laredo just came with one scrawney battery and it works the slide fine.
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visch1
CAPE COD, MA
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Joined: 05/04/2008
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BFL13 wrote:In your rig does "shutting off the main DC switch" not cut off the converter (which charges the battery) from the battery?
I refer to the switch located in the enterance which has a red light on when activate, when plugged into shore power the red light comes on automatically, probably caused by the converter coming on.
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BFL13
Victoria, BC
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How could you discharge the batteries completely when they were already at 11.7? How did you then start the "recharge" that didn't work? Where are you taking those Charge Wizard voltages from--the battery posts or elsewhere?
You need to read the voltage at the battery posts to see if they are getting a charge from the converter with the battery disconnect in the right position.
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visch1
CAPE COD, MA
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Joined: 05/04/2008
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BFL13 wrote:In your rig does "shutting off the main DC switch" not cut off the converter (which charges the battery) from the battery?
No I don't think so because as soon as the 120V is connected the DC indicator light goes on and the battery voltage goes up to 13.5V indicating the converter is on. In rereading your question it reminds me of the confusion I have with converters & inverters. Both in general mean the same, both change something, so I want to convert 120V AC to 14V DC.
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visch1
CAPE COD, MA
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Joined: 05/04/2008
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"How could you discharge the batteries completely when they were already at 11.7? How did you then start the "recharge" that didn't work? Where are you taking those Charge Wizard voltages from--the battery posts or elsewhere?
You need to read the voltage at the battery posts to see if they are getting a charge from the converter with the battery disconnect in the right position."
After finding the low voltage of 11.5 I tried the generator, it wouldn't start in the firs 15 seconds but did crank, waited a minute and cranked again and it started in 5-10 seconds which is it's normal procedure.
My discharge procedure was to put a bunch of lights on overnight. then I plugged the 120V shore power back in.
The readings were taken at the battery posts. 11.5V not charging,14.5V charging under Charge Wizard control, 1st 4 hours, 13.4 thereafter until 120V disconnected.
I'm using a Fluke meter which I checked on my car and the RV chasiss battery. Also got the poor reading using the hydrometer.
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wwest
Redmond WA
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Joined: 03/17/2005
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"need new batteries.."
Maybe not.
Did the battery(ies) hold at 12.4 volts or greater after charging and with the charger removed...??
If so I wouldn't trust the "balls".
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