The batteries on my fifth wheel will not charge when hooked up to the shore line or from the truck when towing. They will take a full charge when I put an external charger on them. Haven't tried with the onboard generator. Could this be the auto transfer switch?Thanks for any information
batteries not charging
- Thread starter dizz49
- Start date
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Bill B
Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2007
- Posts
- 19
Dizz - The charging line AND return (ground) does a very minimal job when towing. Just too far, too lite of wire etc. And at night, with the running lights on it drops even more, that pesky return path (ground) might have an extra 10 amps or so from the lights.
Depending on the electrical charger, most of the older ones do a poor job, we need to know more about what you have, age, charger, age of batteries, type etc
Depending on the electrical charger, most of the older ones do a poor job, we need to know more about what you have, age, charger, age of batteries, type etc
Trailer is a 2006 keystone Cambridge. Batteries are 2-6 volt NAPA golf cart batteries. They are about two yeas old. I have checked the converter and have between 13 and 14 volts output. These batteries do not charge when plugged into the shore line either. It is currently below zero here so I didn't try to start the generator. Seems as though the converter should charge them.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
If the converter shows 13+ volts at the batteries (measure it - don't trust the built in battery gauge) then the converter is working.
The auto transfer switch wouldn't affect the charging alone - you would either have 120v power throughout the RV or not.
Do you have a battery disconnect switch/relay? If so, it can remove the batteries from the circuit while still allowing the converter charger to provide 12v in the house and otherwise appear to be operating normally. You could also have a big cartridge fuse (100-200 amps) protecting the battery positive feed and it could be blown.
The auto transfer switch wouldn't affect the charging alone - you would either have 120v power throughout the RV or not.
Do you have a battery disconnect switch/relay? If so, it can remove the batteries from the circuit while still allowing the converter charger to provide 12v in the house and otherwise appear to be operating normally. You could also have a big cartridge fuse (100-200 amps) protecting the battery positive feed and it could be blown.
John From Detroit
Well-known member
If you know what kind of converter you have, please post.
One possible problem is this: there are some fuses, We call them "Reverse Polarity Fuses" designed to protect the converter, and the tow vehicle when some one forgets which set of cables goes to positive and puts a battery in.... Backwards.
Alas. there are other things that can blow those fuses too, INCLUDING old age.
One possible problem is this: there are some fuses, We call them "Reverse Polarity Fuses" designed to protect the converter, and the tow vehicle when some one forgets which set of cables goes to positive and puts a battery in.... Backwards.
Alas. there are other things that can blow those fuses too, INCLUDING old age.
Old Blevins
Well-known member
Gary RV Roamer said:
So, with the battery cables disconnected and shore power plugged in, what's your voltage at the cables? If there's no power at all, I'd be looking for a disconnect switch or a fuse. If there's power but it's <13 volts, I'd be looking at the converter. If there is 13+ volts, it's either the battery connections or the batteries themselves and your charger is putting only a surface charge on them. Switch or fuse seems most likely to me, but it's easy to narrow it down.
bmf24
Well-known member
I just went thru a similar thing and did as above. start measuring and checking. With a volt meter it only took about 20 min to figure out it was the battery that was bad.
Good luck!
Good luck!
