Minor fix questions on my trailer

[Iowa Dave]

The awning with arms has big springs inside of the tube to assist in rolling it up. I read an installation guide on Carefree awnings once and it went into detail on setting the tension on the springs for proper canvas tauntness ( my word). It cautioned against letting the spring “get away from you”. I don’t have the instructions but perhaps they can be found on a Carefree website or through a phone call to the factory. I can’t remember the process but I know we used a long small diameter pin punch, putting in and retracting it as the spring was wound.
I think there was a hole in the end of the cylinder where the punch was inserted as we tightened the spring. Perhaps another owner has a better memory or a troubleshooting instruction publication. Good luck and be careful.
Iowa Dave

[ghosthunter]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

The awning with arms has big springs inside of the tube to assist in rolling it up. I read an installation guide on Carefree awnings once and it went into detail on setting the tension on the springs for proper canvas tauntness ( my word). It cautioned against letting the spring “get away from you”. I don’t have the instructions but perhaps they can be found on a Carefree website or through a phone call to the factory. I can’t remember the process but I know we used a long small diameter pin punch, putting in and retracting it as the spring was wound.
I think there was a hole in the end of the cylinder where the punch was inserted as we tightened the spring. Perhaps another owner has a better memory or a troubleshooting instruction publication. Good luck and be careful.
Iowa Dave

Well not willing to try it myself , so I put it on the list for the RV shop tomorrow. Going in to have double 30 lb tanks and tray with cover installed. They said they would check it out.

[ghosthunter]

Now on to my next problem…

While getting the trailer ready to move in am. I unplugged shore power and discovered the twin 6 volt batteries were dead. Ummmmm

The trailer has been in the drive way plugged into shore power since end of September.
I checked water level than and topped the batteries off. I had a small heater plugged in at the GIF in galley. Nothing else going except the normal functions stuff.

So why aren’t the batteries charged??

Any ideas?

[ghosthunter]

Here is the batteries.

[Ron in BC]

Do you mean that when you disconnect shore power the batteries are dead?

Or do you mean that even with shore power connected there is no voltage indicated at the battery terminals?

The converter is a battery charger and the shore power that supplies it with 110V goes through one of the circuit breakers. Are they all on or is one tripped?

A simple voltmeter is very handy to track down what's happening.

Ron

[ghosthunter]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Do you mean that when you disconnect shore power the batteries are dead?

Or do you mean that even with shore power connected there is no voltage indicated at the battery terminals?

The converter is a battery charger and the shore power that supplies it with 110V goes through one of the circuit breakers. Are they all on or is one tripped?

A simple voltmeter is very handy to track down what's happening.

Ron

#1
When shore power is un plugged batteries are dead, nothing works.

When shore power is plugged in everything electrical works.

I did look at breakers non we’re tripped.
The battery disconnect switch is on.

[ghosthunter]

Here is breakers.

[Ron in BC]

Do you have a volt meter and can you measure battery voltage at the terminals with the breaker in both the "on" and "off" positions?

Ron

[ghosthunter]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Do you have a volt meter and can you measure battery voltage at the terminals with the breaker in both the "on" and "off" positions?

Ron

I do have a multi tester. Not real savvy with it yet. But I will try that tomorrow in daylight.

Plugged in to shore power or not ?
Battery diconect on or off.
Or just turn off breakers?


Thanks

[ghosthunter]

Well now I am confused.

I did three things.

I turned off all the trailer breakers and turned back on.

I un plugged the shore power and pugged back in.

I topped off all the battery cells with distilled water. Let charge for five hours.

Unplugged shore power and checked battery monitor in trailer full.

All lights working on battery.

What the heck?.?

[Ron in BC]

What the heck indeed. I have a saying for this situation. Never argue with success.

I'll let others speculate on what may have been the problem.

I see that you have a battery monitor and take it that it wasn't indicating any voltage at all to begin with?

Ron

[ghosthunter]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

What the heck indeed. I have a saying for this situation. Never argue with success.

I'll let others speculate on what may have been the problem.

I see that you have a battery monitor and take it that it wasn't indicating any voltage at all to begin with?

Ron

I have a 2013 15 b so the tanks and battery indicators are all in same unit. When I first discovered the problem the monitor read zero and the lights dimmed and went out.

Now it reads full and everything works

[ghosthunter]

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

I have a 2013 15 b so the tanks and battery indicators are all in same unit. When I first discovered the problem the monitor read zero and the lights dimmed and went out.

Now it reads full and everything works

Here it is

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

Here it is

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Charg...a-568857243322

We have the same panel that you do. I’ve really never used the battery gauge in the panel because it’s “just” lights and l felt like I wanted a voltage number. So the device linked above or one similar had been purchased by the previous owner and it I plugs into one of the 12 volt outlets and gives a reading. I checked it for accuracy with my multimeter and my brother also checked it with his Fluke and it’s pretty darn close. I suspect they are available at some auto parts stores, camper supply places etc. Camping without shore power but with the solar going, I’m reassured when I get up in the morning and look at the readout and it says 12.6 or whatever and a couple hours later I look at it again and it reads 13.4 etc. (unless it’s a dark rainy day in the shade) then it’s slower to charge up. My solar monitor is down under the table and a little harder to see so I like this device.
Iowa Dave

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

Well now I am confused.

I did three things.

I turned off all the trailer breakers and turned back on.

I un plugged the shore power and pugged back in.

I topped off all the battery cells with distilled water. Let charge for five hours.

Unplugged shore power and checked battery monitor in trailer full.

All lights working on battery.

What the heck?.?

Hi: ghosthunter... I think you just found your ghost!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Perry Butler]

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

Well now I am confused.

I did three things.

I turned off all the trailer breakers and turned back on.

I un plugged the shore power and pugged back in.

I topped off all the battery cells with distilled water. Let charge for five hours.

Unplugged shore power and checked battery monitor in trailer full.

All lights working on battery.

What the heck?.?

As the computer department in our small school teachers would call me and complain about their problems. The first thing I would do is tell them to "completely turn your computer off. After a minute turn the computer back on. Call me if you still have the problem." Ninety percent of the time I never heard from them again, until a few months later, never turning their computer off, we'd go through the whole scenario again.

You just did a similar scenario to what I had the teachers do.

I've seen bad breakers trip without the red showing. If you have an EMS perhaps it may have tripped without knowing. BUT what you basically did was reset your system. Considering what you did, if I was allowed only one guess it would be a lazy breaker.

Learn to use your multimeter. I'm guessing your batteries were not being charged. The multimeter would let you know, and then work backwards from the batteries.

Just another opinion.

Enjoy,

Perry

[fudge_brownie]

Those appear to be the original batteries. Unless they were replaced with identical products along the way. Based on your 2013 model year they could be 8 years old. I think longevity on these batteries is 5 years, give or take a year. You maybe in need for replacements. The batteries do have a "born on date" affixed to the top. I was not able to read the sticker.

Edit: If you change the batteries take a look at the wires used to connect the batteries. On my 2014 model I found Escape had used a high gauge wire, perhaps 11, on the connections. Something in the 4-6 gauge size is better.

[HarleyD]

The first phrase any computer support person learns is:
"reset your equipment".

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by fudge_brownie

Those appear to be the original batteries. Unless they were replaced with identical products along the way. Based on your 2013 model year they could be 8 years old. I think longevity on these batteries is 5 years, give or take a year. You maybe in need for replacements. ....

The original dual 6V batteries in my 2013 19' were still going fairly strong as of this past summer after about 9 years of use, although I have noticed that they do not last as long on a charge as they used to. Maybe one or two more years of use in them.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Perryb67

I've seen bad breakers trip without the red showing. If you have an EMS perhaps it may have tripped without knowing. BUT what you basically did was reset your system. Considering what you did, if I was allowed only one guess it would be a lazy breaker.

Learn to use your multimeter. I'm guessing your batteries were not being charged. The multimeter would let you know, and then work backwards from the batteries.

Perry

The thing is that when shore power was connected his lights worked. Wouldn't that mean that the breaker was OK and providing power to the converter?

I agree, taking a reading with a multimeter at the battery terminals would have pointed out the problem very quickly.

Ron