Electrical system troubleshooting

[ghosthunter]

Need a little help.

Went out today to ready trailer for trip this weekend and discovered I had no battery power inside trailer.

Trailer has been in driveway plugged into shore power since October.

I have two new Interstate 6 volt batteries.
My solar is portable.

Everything works on shore power. Nothing works when unplugged from shore power.

2013 15 B

Photos of my set up.

Tried to test battery voltage with multimeters but could not get a good reading, not sure I was ding it right.

Checked battery switch is in on position.

[rubicon327]

If everything works on shore power and no red LED lights are lit on the DC board that means your converter is properly powering everything and all fuses are good. Check everything between the batteries and the DC board at the power center. You could have dead batteries or have a bad wiring connection, blown main fuse (if installed), bad auto reset circuit breaker or bad battery disconnect switch. To test the batteries set your multimeter to voltage and put it across the two batteries (black lead on battery #1 negative and red lead on battery #2 positive) and let us know what you have.

[camp4528]

As a follow on from rubicon’s excellent starting point, I would also suggest you confirm the solution level in the batteries is correct - the plates should be covered, or “flooded”. This easy (make sure there is no possibility of sparking during your peeking - there may be hydrogen) step will help to determine if the batteries are part of the problem.

If the levels are low, you should read up on battery maintenance and safety procedures before continuing.

[Ron in BC]

As above but if the reading seems low check each battery individually. Sometimes one battery might be failing and the other one is still good. In that case the solution is still to replace the batteries as a matched pair but it does confirm a poor situation.

Ron

[ghosthunter]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

If everything works on shore power and no red LED lights are lit on the DC board that means your converter is properly powering everything and all fuses are good. Check everything between the batteries and the DC board at the power center. You could have dead batteries or have a bad wiring connection, blown main fuse (if installed), bad auto reset circuit breaker or bad battery disconnect switch. To test the batteries set your multimeter to voltage and put it across the two batteries (black lead on battery #1 negative and red lead on battery #2 positive) and let us know what you have.

Thanks I will check that in am.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

As above but if the reading seems low check each battery individually. Sometimes one battery might be failing and the other one is still good. In that case the solution is still to replace the batteries as a matched pair but it does confirm a poor situation.

Yes with lead acid batteries your fully charged voltage is about 2.12 volts per cell. Thus, a nominal 6 volt battery (3 cells) has a full charge voltage of 6.3 to 6.4 volts, and a 12 volt battery (6 cells) has a full charge voltage of 12.7 volts. Checking both batteries individually would show if one is struggling or has a bad cell.

[rubicon327]

Also check your reverse polarity fuses in the DC board (orange; 2 x 40A). As I understand it these can be blown and you’ll still get 12V via the converter when plugged in but not from the battery.

[ghosthunter]

I bought both batteries together last August. Been on shore power in driveway since October.

I am guessing the batteries need to be charged. But why?

Will get all the testing started in am.


Thanks

[HABBERDABBER]

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

I bought both batteries together last August. Been on shore power in driveway since October.

I am guessing the batteries need to be charged. But why?

Will get all the testing started in am.


Thanks

All batteries self-discharge. That is why you need to charge them. Even with no load applied to them, their voltage drops, over time. Lead Acid batteries do so at a pretty good clip, depending on ambient temperature. Other battery types (chemistries) also self-discharge, but at varying rates.

[MrLynn]

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

All batteries self-discharge. That is why you need to charge them. Even with no load applied to them, their voltage drops, over time. Lead Acid batteries do so at a pretty good clip, depending on ambient temperature. Other battery types (chemistries) also self-discharge, but at varying rates.

On shore power the converter should be keeping the batteries charged. If the converter is not doing so, there must be something wrong with it. How does one diagnose that?

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by MrLynn

On shore power the converter should be keeping the batteries charged. If the converter is not doing so, there must be something wrong with it. How does one diagnose that?

This may not help in all situations but appears useful...
https://wfcoelectronics.com/wp-conte...900-Series.pdf

[Rockhead]

Ck n see if disconnect switch is on or off

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Rockhead

Ck n see if disconnect switch is on or off

Sounds like ghosthunter already did. Bottom of first post.

[ghosthunter]

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

All batteries self-discharge. That is why you need to charge them. Even with no load applied to them, their voltage drops, over time. Lead Acid batteries do so at a pretty good clip, depending on ambient temperature. Other battery types (chemistries) also self-discharge, but at varying rates.

But trailer was hooked to shore power entire time. Should have kept batteries charged.

Going out to run tests now.

[ghosthunter]

Two photos of batteries.

#1 was my old batteries last Aug. Original from escape. 9 years old.
Green.

#2 New Batteries I installed in Aug.
Black

Unmarked leads go to my Solar wire for portable panel.

[ghosthunter]

40 amp fuses in wayco appear to be ok. Checking batteries now.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

Two photos of batteries.

#1 was my old batteries last Aug. Original from escape. 9 years old.
Green.

#2 New Batteries I installed in Aug.
Black

Unmarked leads go to my Solar wire for portable panel.

I don't see anything wrong with that wiring offhand.

[ghosthunter]

Reading battery 1. 6.39

Reading battery 2. 6.40

No shore power connected.
Battery switch off.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

Reading battery 1. 6.39

Reading battery 2. 6.40

No shore power connected.
Battery switch off.

That's helpful. We now know it's not the batteries.

[Nigel]

In your second photo there is a third wire connected to the positive terminal. Does the red shrink wrap interfere with terminals making good contact with each other and the battery? From the picture it looks like it could be. Others will have a better understanding of how the systems work.

Nigel