House batteries won't charge

[Kiotiken]

Hi guys and gals, my 98 mountain aire won't charge house batteries on shore power. I can hear converter kick in when I plug it in.
I've gone through the fuses and breakers and they all look good. I've read that there may be an inline switch that needs reset?
Any help would be appreciated. TIA Ken

 

[B52Bombardier1]

Hello Ken,

How old are your batteries? Can you see an increase in voltage at the battery posts with a multimeter when measuring recharge performance on shore power? This will tell you if your converter / recharger is working.

Old batteries don't accept a recharge very readily and certainly won't have many amp-hours to give back. If these batteries are old, remove them and attempt to recharge them overnight using a good-sized four amp or more automotive battery charger.

Then I would take them to an auto parts store for a test called a "load test". This will tell you the ability of the battery to deliver amps. An indication of 12 volts at the battery posts is an insufficient test unless your battery can deliver a rather hefty number of amps.

Please understand - volts x amps = watts or power . . . the ability to perform useful work.

Rick

 

[Kiotiken]

Thanks Rick, brand new batteries. Will test charge with multi meter though.

 

[cycleguy1979]

You may have a bad contactor. I fried mine by plugging a 50 amp cord into a 110 outlet with reducers(just for one night). Nope, fried and melted the contactor, then nothing on shore power would operate including the charger. Have you plugged into insufficient power recently?

 

[Kiotiken]

Thanks for the reply,yes I've done that often. I will check that out.

 

[RKins]

Do you have 2 converters/chargers in the power bay or an inverter charger. I know the '98 Dutchstar has 2 converters. Not sure if one is for each bank or what? My '97 LA has an Inverter/charger.

 

[Kiotiken]

Thanks for the reply. I've only found one.

 

[RKins]

Is your MA gas or a DP? Can you post a pic of the equipment you have (converter or ?) My Inverter/charger is in the bay just forward of the battery bay.