Dead Battery

[tcarlisle66]

I have a Columbus Palamino and when I'm connected to shore power my battery dies. I have a power switch in the basement and not sure if it is suppose to be in the on or off position.

[CHICKDOE]

It could be a few things. Do you have a multimeter and can you use it to take a dc voltage measurement. Disconnect from shore power and measure dc voltage at the batteries. Now connect to shore power and take the exact same measurement. This one should be somewhere around 13.6 volts. If it is the same as the first measurement switch the battery switch to the other position and take another measurement. If you get around 13.6 volts this time you had your batteries disconnected. At 13.6 volts they are now connect to the converter. Let them charge for a day or so.

[rsdata]

In order to troubleshoot electrical problems you must get a multi-meter. A digital meter at Wamart or any hardware store will be less then $10. You can't tell anything without doing some measurements. You do not need anything expensive.

Without a meter you are helpless...

[CHICKDOE]

I’m sorry, my first reply may have been too technical for what may be a very simple issue. You say you have a dead battery. I take that to mean when not connected to shore power you do not have any 12 volt power so things like lights, fans, water pump do not come on. You say you do not know how the battery switch should be set. While not connected to shore power go change that switch and see if any 12 volt devices come on. That will tell us if the batteries were disconnected assuming there is some charge left in the batteries. If no change it’s meter time

[bikendan]

The OP doesn't know how to use the battery disconnect switch so the battery may be disconnected.

[CHICKDOE]

agreed. it is very possible that the batteries have a charge but are disconnected. of course they wouldn't get a charge also so who knows. first thing to do is determine if that switch is a battery disconnect switch and if it has the batteries disconnected.

if the switch is one of those that has the red key that can be turned and that allows the key to come out, i was told if the key will come out the batteries are disconnected. if the key will not come out the batteries are connected.

what we don't know is whether the batteries have any charge left. even if the disconnect switch had then disconnected the various parasitic loads may well have rained the batteries.

[bikendan]

Hopefully a Columbus owner familiar with their disconnect switches, will help out.