Coach batteries not charging!

[mikeborny]

I am out camping and noticed lights going dim. Have been plugged into shore power at campground for more than a day yet coach batteries were showing empty just now. Now running generator and it shows absorb charging 14.8v. I did notice that the voltage when I checked the magnum control center showed voltage changing from 9v to 14v. My batteries never seem to show above 2/3 full even though I just had them checked and the shop said they were fine.


Mike & Amy + 3 and the dogs!
2014 berkshire 390bh-40

[Campin Cajun]

Have you checked the water levels in the batteries lately?

[mikeborny]

They said they checked them this week when I had some work done on the coach. I have been having a low voltage warning come on when I started the RV so I had them check batteries. Hope they charge with generator as I can not retract jacks or get slides in!


Mike & Amy + 3 and the dogs!
2014 berkshire 390bh-40

[Superchief]

Mike, Things definitely don't sound right! As for having them check the batteries because if a low battery warning, I would interpret that as checking the starter batteries. They maybe okay, but the house batteries is what should have been checked for water level. I would check them myself to ensure that they got the wrong message. The second thing that seems to be going on is that the generator appears from your post to be sending a charge to the house batteries, but shore power does not appear to be doing that. Do you by chance have the charger turned off or on standby on the inverter controller? I would also check the inverter to make sure it didn't get turned off in the compartment. Others will almost likely chime in with more ideas. Best if luck! Craig


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[Superchief]

Some of those "if's" should be "of's"!!


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[mikeborny]

Control panel shows absorb charging with generator running. Hopefully they will charge over night. To late to be messing with batteries right now. Good thing its 60' in Ohio now!! I need to get a surge guard protector that can also check power supply. Any recommendations for what works best?


Mike & Amy + 3 and the dogs!
2014 berkshire 390bh-40

[conceptumator]

I use the Progressive Industries hard wired surge protector. Works great.

One thing. The low voltage warning when you start it us most likely the engine heating system. Being up north you're likely to see it - I see it even here in Florida. If the engine is not warm enough when you put it in gear the engine heaters will still be on to warm it. They draw more voltage than the alternator produces so you get a low voltage warning until the engine warms and the heaters shut off.




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2015 Legacy SR340 360RB with 2014 Wrangler Unlimited Toad
Gigi, Poppy and Sadie the Jack Russell (all 14 lbs of her)

[mikeborny]

Ok, now the generator has just shutoff and I have no power. The control center now shows batteries 1/3 charged, but I have no power at all in coach. I still have 3/4 tank of fuel so that is not issue. Can not shut off the use/store switch up front which is lit to on. Only things that show any power are the use/store swith. No power to magnum control panel. Any ideas.


Mike & Amy + 3 and the dogs!
2014 berkshire 390bh-40

[mikeborny]

If coach batteries are dead, would the coach still run electrically with shore power? Just thinking of things to test.


Mike & Amy + 3 and the dogs!
2014 berkshire 390bh-40

[baddmann]

Your problem sounds like a bad battery or bad connection issue.

First thing I would do is double check the water level in the house batteries and all connections to them.

If that is good, I would then test each battery. They are six volts each.

[KennyGolub]

I was haunted with all kinds of warnings and electrical problems earlier this year, and it turned out to be the chassis batteries. Once replaced, all was good.

Here is the confusing part (to me, anyway). I've asked both Freightliner and FR folks if the chassis batteries are charged while on shore power. Half said yes and half said no. I went out and put a load tester on the chassis batteries, and within a few seconds, heard the converter kick in (not sure what, if anything, that means). But in any case, all last winter I assumed they were keeping a charge with shore power. While it did start fine in the spring, mid summer and fall is when all the weird electrical problems began.

After the chassis batteries were replaced, once again, I left everything to the shore power. A couple weeks later, when I went to start it, briefly, I saw the low battery flash on and not a real "crisp" turning of the starter.

I then took out a battery tender, turned the coach master switch to off, and left the battery tender take care of the chassis batteries. Now she starts up like I have two brand new batteries (well, actually, I do) and no more warnings.

While I'm still not sure if the shore power charges the chassis batteries. I will always use the battery tender on those whenever it will sit for a length of time (especially in the winter).

So after this long story, I guess all I'm trying to say is when multiple things are out of "sync", I would look at the batteries as being the culprit first.

Ken

[mikeborny]

Disconnecting batteries and saw this magnum line not connected to batteries. Anyone know what it is and where it connects?


Mike & Amy + 3 and the dogs!
2014 berkshire 390bh-40

[Superchief]

Mike, I would try starting the generator again. Sometimes it just shuts off (hopefully you don't also need a fuel filter). If the generator will not start because the batteries are low, try starting the coach and while running, restart the generator. That has worked for me in the past. As far as shore power, there would appear to me to be a problem from the post to the coach. When the batteries are charging the voltage on the control panel should read around the 14.1 volts you mentioned in the 1st post. The 9 volt number that originally showed before the charge maybe the state of the batteries. Having your batteries fall before 50% charge level is not good. If you are still plugged into the post, I would check the post, try switching to another post, check to make sure the post power is on, etc. I would also check the battery level, the fuse on the back of the battery wall, and I would check the off/on switch on the inverter (that is probably on, if generator did charge the batteries up to 1/3). Hope this helps! Craig


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[Superchief]

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[Superchief]

Negative post on back right battery. Sorry it doesn't show up that well.


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[mikeborny]

Thanks, not sure if that was part of problem!


Mike & Amy + 3 and the dogs!
2014 berkshire 390bh-40

[Superchief]

. Better picture!


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[Superchief]

Mike, looking at your battery picture, it appears that your battery cable is also not attached. I would think when they checked your batteries, they took them out and did not reconnect them properly!!!!!


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[RSchleder]

Have you checked the water in the house batteries yet?
Also, if/when you get a full charge on these batteries, do a LOAD TEST on them. You can pull them out and have a "battery store" do it or for a few bucks, buy your own LOAD TESTER and do it yourself.
I'm guessing your batteries are shot and they need replacing. Keeping water in the house batteries is a key to prolonging house battery life. Let them run low on water for a extended period and get your credit card ready to take a hit for new ones.

[Superchief]

To answer your question, that is part of the connection to the controller. I also see that you said you were disconnecting the batteries, so that might not have been the issue of them not connecting them properly.


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