Battery Care
~ Always remove the negative cable first when disconnecting a battery and attach the positive first when installing a battery. This reduces the risk of arcing.
~ If the battery has been charging, then it's important to let the battery rest for several hours without a load or charger connected to stabilize before testing. Otherwise you'll get a high reading caused by "surface charge".
~If you have an older RV then your converter may not be great battery charger and never fully charge your batteries. Also, after it has partially charged your batteries, it will then begin to boil off electrolyte since the "float" voltage is too high. If you plug your RV into shore power for months at a time, you must keep a close eye on your battery's electrolyte level. It is very common for a converter to boil a battery dry. Newer RV converters have a better design for charging your battery.
~ Buy batteries when you need them or be sure to keep them on a continual trickle charge.
~ Never use solvents or spray cleaners to clean the outside of a battery just use plain water.
~ It's important to keep a battery clean, properly secured and the connections tight. if your terminals need cleaning, disconnect the battery, then mix about one part baking soda in four parts water, and pour it over the terminals. When the foaming subsides, rinse well with water. Mix another batch, and dip your connections, one at a time. Rinse and dry everything off thoroughly, reconnect the terminals, and apply a small amount of die-electric grease to the connections to help retard oxidation.
~ Remove the battery from your RV if you live in an area where it freezes during the winter months. Use a battery minder and plug it into your garage to keep the battery conditioned through the winter. While the batteries are connected to the battery minder, check the batteries periodically to make sure that the minder/charger is working properly. It is best to purchase a battery minder that is a three stage charger with the desolating technology.
~ Any time your RV sits longer than a couple of weeks without being plugged in to shore power the batteries will deteriorate 10% capacity per month and diminishes the life of your batteries. Always remove your batteries and hook them up to a battery minder. AGM batteries will only deteriorate 1% of their capacity per month. Some RVs will have a battery ON/OFF switch to use for short term.
~ If the battery has been charging, then it's important to let the battery rest for several hours without a load or charger connected to stabilize before testing. Otherwise you'll get a high reading caused by "surface charge".
~If you have an older RV then your converter may not be great battery charger and never fully charge your batteries. Also, after it has partially charged your batteries, it will then begin to boil off electrolyte since the "float" voltage is too high. If you plug your RV into shore power for months at a time, you must keep a close eye on your battery's electrolyte level. It is very common for a converter to boil a battery dry. Newer RV converters have a better design for charging your battery.
~ Buy batteries when you need them or be sure to keep them on a continual trickle charge.
~ Never use solvents or spray cleaners to clean the outside of a battery just use plain water.
~ It's important to keep a battery clean, properly secured and the connections tight. if your terminals need cleaning, disconnect the battery, then mix about one part baking soda in four parts water, and pour it over the terminals. When the foaming subsides, rinse well with water. Mix another batch, and dip your connections, one at a time. Rinse and dry everything off thoroughly, reconnect the terminals, and apply a small amount of die-electric grease to the connections to help retard oxidation.
~ Remove the battery from your RV if you live in an area where it freezes during the winter months. Use a battery minder and plug it into your garage to keep the battery conditioned through the winter. While the batteries are connected to the battery minder, check the batteries periodically to make sure that the minder/charger is working properly. It is best to purchase a battery minder that is a three stage charger with the desolating technology.
~ Any time your RV sits longer than a couple of weeks without being plugged in to shore power the batteries will deteriorate 10% capacity per month and diminishes the life of your batteries. Always remove your batteries and hook them up to a battery minder. AGM batteries will only deteriorate 1% of their capacity per month. Some RVs will have a battery ON/OFF switch to use for short term.
Rv Converter Not Charging RV Home Battery
NOTE: Always check that the Battery switch is in the ON position before checking any further. Battery should read around 13.5 volts. We spent almost eight hours and a trip to Walmart checking everything possible to fix this problem to no avail. Then I decide to double check the Battery switch and I couldn't believe it was not ON. I was certain I checked when we set-up but apparently I didn't.
1. Stay safe and unplug the RV from the 120 volt power source.
2. Look at your converter to see if any wires are broken or discolored. Be sure no bare wire is touching another bare wire. These would need to be replaced. If there are in-line fuses on the wires be sure they are not blown. Always replace the fuse with the same amp fuse. A higher amp fuse could cause the wires to overheat and cause a fire.
3. Usually in the converter there will be a fuse and breaker panel for your RV. The breakers are for the 120 volt system and should be checked by touching them to be sure they are in the set position. Next check each fuse by removing to inspect it and then replacing it back in the same position. Any burnt fuse should be replaced with the same amperage fuse.
4. Check all the wires going to the battery. Look to see if any are broken, frayed, burnt or bare wires touching and replace as needed. Are there any inline fuses coming off the batteries that need repairing or replacing. Look at the battery terminals for corrosion or cables that are not attached tightly to the battery posts. Clean and tighten as needed.
If you have checked all of the above and your battery is still not charging then look one more time to be sure the battery switch is in the ON position before calling a qualified RV Repair Shop.
Sources:
http://www.everything-about-rving.com
http://www.rvroadtrip.us
http://www.trailerlife.com
http://www.truckcampermagazine.com
http://www.everything-about-rving.com
http://www.rvroadtrip.us
http://www.trailerlife.com
http://www.truckcampermagazine.com
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
― Ernest Hemingway
― Ernest Hemingway
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