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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Discussions => Topic started by: Mike Leary (RIP) on June 25, 2017, 08:29:02 pm

Title: Battery questions.
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on June 25, 2017, 08:29:02 pm
Hardly ever check the read-out on the dash. You can see the difference in a few years of being plugged-in all the time.
The "Xantrex True Charge 40+ 3-stage" is working fine, and shows normal charging. My files show the starter batteries were new in 2012, "Optima 800 CCA spiral" and the house batteries replaced in 2015, "Lifeline GPL-8DL" .  I would not think that being on 30 amp would matter. Do I worry?
Title: Re: Battery questions.
Post by: wolfe10 on June 25, 2017, 09:55:10 pm
Mike,

Are you asking which reading is "normal"?  The one on the left (13.4 VDC) is a reasonable float voltage unless it is extremely hot.  If really hot, lower.

The 12.8 is reasonable voltage with the charger not on, but batteries fully charged (surface charge discharged).

Suggest you use your digital voltmeter and post readings on each bank.  Look at the Truecharge 40+ and make sure it is working.
Remember, voltage at the audit system is WAY down stream from the batteries and will be affected by other loads on that circuit.
Title: Re: Battery questions.
Post by: turbojack on June 26, 2017, 09:03:02 am
  I would not think that being on 30 amp would matter.

No it does not matter, as long as charger is turned on and working.
Title: Re: Battery questions.
Post by: wolfe10 on June 26, 2017, 09:10:33 am
No it does not matter, as long as charger is turned on and working.

Correct.  Even 15 amp connection is enough unless you turn on enough other loads to exceed 15 amps.  And the Truecharge 40+ is not particularly sensitive to low voltage-- far less so than your A/C and other appliances.
Title: Re: Battery questions.
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on June 26, 2017, 10:00:13 am
The one on the left (13.4 VDC) is a reasonable float voltage unless it is extremely hot.  If really hot, lower.

Thanks, all. Had not seen a reading that low. Yes, it has been un-seasonably HOT here; above 100 and stern RA on every day! Gasp!
Title: Re: Battery questions.
Post by: larry reed on June 26, 2017, 10:42:43 am
HI
when I entered the coach this morning the 12 volt dc was dead. it was plugged in to 110 ac, but the inverter showed 12.4 volts @88 degrees.  no charge.  I checked the fuse /breaker at the box on the foot of the bed it was on.  where is the charger on a 2002 u270
36 ft single slide ? where should I start to find the problem, seems I always start ,the last place to look.
there are no lights on in the two control boxes ,for the inverter ( frame mounted )in  the pass side pass thru celling. 
the unit just came back from having the slide repaired.
Larry
Title: Re: Battery questions.
Post by: wolfe10 on June 26, 2017, 11:37:47 am
Larry,

With 12.4 VDC, the system should not be dead.  Is the "salesman switch" (the one by the door on)?

Please tell us what inverter you have. Many are inverter/chargers-- so charger built into the inverter.
Title: Re: Battery questions.
Post by: larry reed on June 26, 2017, 12:23:19 pm
I Have a Pro /Stine 2.0 
HI
when I entered the coach this morning the 12 volt dc was dead. it was plugged in to 110 ac, but the inverter showed 12.4 volts @88 degrees.  no charge.  I checked the fuse /breaker at the box on the foot of the bed it was on.  where is the charger on a 2002 u270
36 ft single slide ? where should I start to find the problem, seems I always start ,the last place to look

there are no lights on in the two control boxs  in the basement

after 3 hrs  two red lights have appeared on the bottom left corner of the control box in the basement area.  and the kitchen now shows 7.7 volts @ 88 degrees it is a Pro/Stine 2.0
Title: Re: Battery questions.
Post by: wolfe10 on June 26, 2017, 12:52:23 pm
Larry,

Have you confirmed voltage at the batteries?

If indeed 7.7 VDC, very likely the inverter/charger will NOT charge.  It is a safety feature.  You will need to use an auxiliary charger to get it up into the 11 range for the Prosine to be able to start charging.

You will want to confirm that you don't have one or more dead batteries.
Title: Re: Battery questions.
Post by: larry reed on June 26, 2017, 04:44:08 pm
 Thanks for or help!!!!
I found That the ground & neutral were backward causing  a fault on the system.  it is now charging 45 amps .
 I hope this was not to much bother .
Thanks Larry Reed
Title: Re: Battery questions.
Post by: wolfe10 on June 26, 2017, 05:28:25 pm
No bother. Let us know if we can answer any other questions.
Title: Re: Battery questions.
Post by: Numbers on June 26, 2017, 08:11:36 pm
Thanks for or help!!!!
I found That the ground & neutral were backward causing  a fault on the system.  it is now charging 45 amps .
 I hope this was not to much bother .
Thanks Larry Reed

Larry,

Which ground & neutral wires were backwards?

Chris