RE: Houston, we have a problem! (12v kind)

mike4947 · Jul 29, 2003, 12:26 PM

WayfarerHAd a problem with the forum not letting me see any messages for 2 days so here s my thoughts.

If you hooked up the battery and the lights started out OK and then got dim you had something drawing a heck of a lot of current in the 12 volt curcuit.
You confirmed it with the battery off and the shore power on by blowing the 20 amp fuse.
IMHO unhook the 12 volt leads from the converter. If the fuse still blows most likely it s a fault in the converter. If not hook up a curcuit and work your way out from the converter till you you don t get the fuse blowing.

Been there, done it, and BTY my knees simpathize with yours.

Wayfarer · Jul 29, 2003, 09:24 PM

Wayfarer7/29 UPDATE

This morning I went out ready to solve all my problems. Had the battery all charged up and so I popped up and hooked up the shore power. Guess what? Everything worked! No blown fuses, no " chirps," just beautiful lights. Then I unplugged the 110 and things went south in short order.
All lights, etc., worked at first but soon grew dim and finally died completely.

Hooked up the 110 again and again everything lit up. Left things that way for about 30-45 minutes, went back and unplugged 110 and things worked, just about 3-4 minutes on 12v, then south again! Guess the converter is working and put just a light charge on the battery. Sound reasonable?

Interestingly enough, there were no blown fuses during this morning s messing around. Took the battery back to garage and charged about 6 hours on 50amp and, after disconnecting, battery shows about 8-9 volts on meter. The hydrometer, different from yesterday, shows all cells reading " recharge." Also tested it on plain tap water and it read the same. Don t ask me???

This evening, figuring I had something draining the battery - fast! - I set the meter to read resistance. I started with the positive battery cable (no battery of course) and found no resistance between the cable and various grounds such as the jack handle, A-frame, etc. Same reading, however, on the ground cable. Now, while I definitely don t understand all I know(?) about this, I m assuming this tells me that I have something grounded which shouldn t be grounded. The Utah came with a little metal box with two connections called a " ShortStop." This is wired in line on the positive battery cable. It also shows no resistance between the two connections.

Sheesh!. This is getting even curiouser and curiouser and now I m really conphewsed...with a campital " K"

Never did get to checking with the bug light or taking the converter out. Guess I m getting old, but what with my knees and now my right leg and hip hurting like crazy I can t put in more than an hour or two. Looks like I ll be taking this mess to some kind of shop and see if they can fix it, although I know it will probably cost me some big bucks.

BTW: looking at the battery which came on the Utah when I bought it (Jun 02)I find that it is an " Interstate Marine/RV" Deep Cycle. Also notice that it lists CCA, which, according to a previous thread of someone s about Walmart Batteries, means that it is not a true deep cycle battery. Figures.

Any ideas?

[font=" Script MT Bold" ]Wayfarer[/font][/size]

ps: Thanks, Mike, I ll try your suggestions next...

MtnCamper · Jul 29, 2003, 10:07 PM

WayfarerJust a silly question, you haven t by any chance, pulled the break away brake switch cable out have you?

Wayfarer · Jul 29, 2003, 10:30 PM

WayfarerGary:

Yes, the brakeaway cable is out. I take it and the safety chains off when the PU is parked outside overnight, which it has been while I ve been going through all this mess. Is that a problem?? Lord, I hope I haven t created all this headache!

[font=" Script MT Bold" ]Wayfarer[/font][/size]

MtnCamper · Jul 29, 2003, 10:59 PM

WayfarerBINGO!

Those brakes will drain a battery is a few minutes. Put the cable back! It s a dead short (well almost the same as).[

]

Wayfarer · Jul 29, 2003, 11:27 PM

WayfarerHuh? I thought[/i] that function of the brakes was only active when the harness was plugged in?? Guess that s what I get for thinking! Don t know exactly where I got that idea - thought I read it on a forum somewhere.

Well, WHEW!

If that solves my problem I ll be eternally grateful! Will hasten to check it out first thing in the morning.

Thanks for the headup, Gary.

[font=" Script MT Bold" ]Wayfarer[/font][/size]

MtnCamper · Jul 29, 2003, 11:32 PM

WayfarerNope, That s one of the primary functions for the battery, in the event of a break away, it powers the brakes, bringing the trailer to a safe stop. So when people pull the cable (your not the first) it sucks the life from the battery. I know one guy who went out and bought a second battery, only to go out and buy a pair of 6V golf cart batteries. The whole the problem was, he was pulling the lanyard when parking the trailer.

Wayfarer · Jul 29, 2003, 11:59 PM

WayfarerMakes sense. If that s my problem, and I suspect it is, it will save me a bunch of time, etc., etc.

Will post results of my " tests" in the AM...and I m sincerely hoping it will be the last of my " updates" to this mini-series of a thread. [

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[font=" Script MT Bold" ]Wayfarer[/font][/size]

Steve-o-bud · Jul 30, 2003, 03:39 AM

WayfarerWOW!

With the breakaway switch pulled out, you are supplying power from the battery directly to the brakes! And they do pull some current. And, when you are plugged in to shore power, most of the current provided by the converter goes to the brakes, with very little available to fully charge the battery. And, it is likely that on the occasions that your battery has been run totally flat by the brakes, and then you plug in your converter, the combined charging current being supplied by the converter, to the battery combined with the current going to the brakes, is enough to blow the fuse!

Sounds like you ve got this licked!

Papaso · Jul 30, 2003, 09:49 AM

WayfarerWow, now that s what I call troubleshooting on line. Really hope that s the fix.

LKaskel · Jul 30, 2003, 11:56 AM

WayfarerBoy did I learn something here! I never realized anyone pulled the breakaway switch when parked. After considering the issues this does make the most sense. Gary, you are the man! Wayfarver, if you have been doing this for a year or so it s possible or actually likely the battery is now bad. If you do not dry camp or use the camper without shore power then your probally ok for now. If you dry camp then.................... well, I wouldn t risk it.

Wayfarer · Jul 30, 2003, 01:24 PM

WayfarerNow I am confused!

[ul]

This morning the battery seemed to be charged up, at least it read about 8-10V on the Volt/Ohm meter.

With the brake-away cable firmly in place I hooked up the battery, popped up, and checked. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Hooked up the 110V and everything worked perfect: lights, leak detector, etc., etc.

Unhooked the 110v and had strong lights, detector, etc. Left one overhead light on and went inside and had a cup of coffee.

About 30 minutes later checked the PU. No lights, nothing. Well, maybe just a hint of a glow in the overhead light. Red " Fault" light was burning on the Leak Detector.

[font=" Script MT Bold" ]Wayfarer[/font][/size]

SheBantam · Jul 30, 2003, 01:24 PM

WayfarerRaymond always pulls the break away switch if he unhitches, then I gripe and raise cain when I have to replug it in. I bought one of those " C" looking things that has the screws opening, just so I would not ahve to pull the switch (otherwise mine has no other way to to unhook it except for pulling the plug end out of the socket. Raymond even pulls the breakaway switch now. I m going to really get on him tonight... you know what has no furry like a woman s scorn...

Wayfarer · Jul 30, 2003, 01:27 PM

WayfarerNow I am confused!

[ul]

This morning the battery seemed to be charged up, at least it read about 8-10V on the Volt/Ohm meter.

With the brake-away cable firmly in place I hooked up the battery, popped up, and checked. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Hooked up the 110V and everything worked perfect: lights, leak detector, etc., etc.

Unhooked the 110v and had strong lights, detector, etc. Left one overhead light on and went inside and had a cup of coffee.

About 30 minutes later checked the PU. No lights, nothing. Well, maybe just a hint of a glow in the overhead light. Red " Fault" light was burning on the Leak Detector.

[font=" Script MT Bold" ]Wayfarer[/font][/size]

Wayfarer · Jul 30, 2003, 01:32 PM

WayfarerPlease pardon the extra posts. For some reason I would post a reply and it would come up blank. Tried three times, etc., finally it came out right on edit. Now I can t get rid of the other posts!!!

First the PU; now the Forum! [:@]

[font=" Script MT Bold" ]Wayfarer[/font][/size]

News:

RE: Houston, we have a problem! (12v kind)

mike4947

Wayfarer

MtnCamper

Wayfarer

MtnCamper

Wayfarer

MtnCamper

Wayfarer

Steve-o-bud

Papaso

LKaskel

Wayfarer

SheBantam

Wayfarer

Wayfarer