Battery Questions

[Zman300]

Have a 2018 Newmar New Aire 3343.
This rig is completely different from our previous Georgie Boy Swinger.
A ton more gadgets with electrical draw.

The previous owner said it likes to be plugged in to shore power.
Does it have to be all the time?
I left it unplugged for a few days, now it is completely dead.
It's been plugged in to a 110 out for about 24 hours but it is still dead.
That's all I currently have available.
I can install a 50-amp outlet at home.
Problem is, our storage unit only has 110 available.
Is that going to work.

Our RV adventure isn't starting out too good.
Didn't have many problems with our previous RV.
Towards the end had a few that were very frustrating.
This is bringing back bad memories.
Hope I don't regret this purchase.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[Richpatty]

110v should be fine…need to look at the inverter/charger and make sure it is charging….and not at too high a rate or it could blow the breaker on the 110 outlet.

And try to shut as many things down as possible including the 12v load via the salesman switch.

 

[Chuggs]

Your inverter's charger may have a minimum voltage required for the charger to begin charging. The Magnum we have does...so, you need to jump the battery to raise it to this minimum level...at which time the inverter charger will go back to work.

If you need to unplug for more than 24 hrs...consider auto gen start or adding solar or both... There is a finite number of aH in the bank...and it needs some form of charge, beit driving, generator, solar, or shore power.

 

[Zman300]

110v should be fine…need to look at the inverter/charger and make sure it is charging….and not at too high a rate or it could blow the breaker on the 110 outlet.

And try to shut as many things down as possible including the 12v load via the salesman switch

I have a lot to learn, not sure what the salesman switch is.

Your inverter's charger may have a minimum voltage required for the charger to begin charging. The Magnum we have does...so, you need to jump the battery to raise it to this minimum level...at which time the inverter charger will go back to work.

If you need to unplug for more than 24 hrs...consider auto gen start or adding solar or both... There is a finite number of aH in the bank...and it needs some form of charge, beit driving, generator, solar, or shore power.

It has a solar panel, but from what I've read it doesn't put out enough to do any good.

 

[Chuggs]

I have a lot to learn, not sure what the salesman switch is.

It has a solar panel, but from what I've read it doesn't put out enough to do any good.

Saleman switch is the House DC power relay control switch by the passenger side on newer coach's that cuts a portion of the House DC circuits. Useful for momentarily removing power from some microprocessor circuits to reboot them...and useful for RV dealers to quickly isolate lights, water pump, fantastic fans etc... when they leave after showing a potential buyer the coach.

The stock solar is usually a 10A...but Newmar has used 5w and 20w as well. The 10w is direct connect thru an inline fuse to the chassis batteries...and yes, it is worthless. I wouldn't go less than 400w for a simple battery maintainer...and more like 1600w if you want to keep the fridge powered...but it does depend on your latitude, time of year, temperature, breeze, and shadows/obstructions...

 

[Zman300]

Have a big jump pack, tried that on the chassis batteries, wouldn't turn over.
Hooked up the charger finally got it started.
Let it run for an hour, house batteries won't charge. Cannot start the generator.
Manual says the engine alternator may help charge the house batteries if certain parameters are met. But doesn't say what they are.

I assume the house batteries start the generator.
What's the best way to connect the charger to the house batteries?

Thanks

 

[Roadglide117]

I would put a good size battery charger on over night to get a good charge. If your batteries are original, they could need replaced.

 

[Zman300]

I would put a good size battery charger on over night to get a good charge. If your batteries are original, they could need replaced.

House batteries are less than a year old.
Is there a best way to connect the charger for 8 batteries.

 

[Roadglide117]

you need to connect charger correctly to charge all batteries in the loop. connect on post starting the loop not a battery in the middle....so I don't have a pic

 

[Kevin D Pem]

So you have 8 batteries. That is a battery bank.

First you need to separate (via cable disconnection) your batteries. Measure the voltage of each battery (a discharged battery will read 12.0 volts). Any battery that reads less, as in 10v has a dead cell and will drain the entire bank. So it should be removed from the system.

Depending on whether the batteries have been run lower than 50% charge, age. Is irrelevant, as this can distroy a new battery in one event.

After you have proven each battery's condition, all the above advice is solid.

 

[Chuggs]

Like RoadGlide said. You have to be careful where you place leads.

Honestly..you need to try to get your voltage up high enough for your Inverter's charger to work. I would look for the INVERTER Positive...easy cause it is connected to the big honkin' T-fuse on the sidewall. The negative can connect to the Inverter negative terminal...or the chassis grounding point on the frame.

Make sure the area is well ventilated before making connections. You don't want to chance a spark setting off a hydrogen gas flash.

Your booster and smart car chargers may also not connect to a bad battery bank...you'll need to either use a dumb charger or a jump from a good battery. These are safety features...but can really make the simplest intended task difficult. You may need to check the voltages either on the guage inside or using a voltmeter to see if your charge is actually occuring.

 

[Zman300]

you need to connect charger correctly to charge all batteries in the loop. connect on post starting the loop not a battery in the middle....so I don't have a pic

Connect at the two blue circles?

 

[Zman300]

Connect at the two blue circles?

View attachment 28929

When I connect the charger, the needle pegs drops pegs drops. And I hear a clicking so I disconnected it.
What am I doing wrong.
Checked the batteries they're a little over 4 volts.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I assume golf cart batteries. If I am correct in that assumption, your battery/s have a dead cell.

Chargers have a thermal disconnect. Sounds like it is tripping, this would likely be due to overload. Find the batteries with dead cells and remove them from the bank. Those batteries can't be revived

 

[Zman300]

I assume golf cart batteries. If I am correct in that assumption, your battery/s have a dead cell.

Chargers have a thermal disconnect. Sounds like it is tripping, this would likely be due to overload. Find the batteries with dead cells and remove them from the bank. Those batteries can't be revived

Yes golf cart batteries.
Only a few months old should be under warranty.
Will be quite a project.

 

[Chuggs]

It may be the charger has a processor. If your voktage is too low on your batteries...it may be thinking you have connected it wrong. 12v to a 6v battery, or 6v charge to a 12v battery, if it is 6v/12v selectable or auto select. This is why and old timey dumb charger is needed when your bank is so low. It's an entirely different animal when you habe low batteries...and they still have 11v or so...but need to be charged back up. If you let them die to the point they have less than 10v...the typical smart charger isn't gonna like that.

Try hooking up that charger to your car. It might take to that and charge like it's designed. If it doesn't work on your car, with reasonable voltage...maybe the charger is toast.