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Topic: Battery questions. (Read 1002 times) previous topic - next topic

Battery questions.

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?
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Battery questions.

Reply #1 –
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.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Battery questions.

Reply #2 –
Quote from: mike leary –
  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.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Battery questions.

Reply #3 –
Quote from: turbojack –
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.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Battery questions.

Reply #4 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
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!
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Battery questions.

Reply #5 –
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

Re: Battery questions.

Reply #6 –
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.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Battery questions.

Reply #7 –
I Have a Pro /Stine 2.0 
Quote from: larry reed –
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

Re: Battery questions.

Reply #8 –
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.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Battery questions.

Reply #9 –
 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

Re: Battery questions.

Reply #10 –
No bother. Let us know if we can answer any other questions.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020
 

Re: Battery questions.

Reply #11 –
Quote from: larry reed –
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