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Off topic but...any RV experts out there?

Started by WNCTracker, January 28, 2018, 12:22:54 PM

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WNCTracker

I don't know squat about RV wiring. My battery won't take a charge. Outlets work when on shore power but no lights, slide out etc. the battery is brand new. The inverter has a red light that's on and a green light on when plugged in and no blinking. It's a Todd 40 model.   The fuses are all good in the box. However I can't find the inline fuse for the battery?  The wire disappears between the inverter and the battery?  Does the wire come out of inverter and to the circuit box then to the battery or does it go to the battery first?  The RV is a 1999 fleet wood wilderness.


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Happy

No rv expert but I am an electrician. You can check for continuity if you can't find the fuse. Also would check and make sure you don't have any power wires grounded out. That can drain batteries fast if in the right location. My cousin had an issue similar to that on his car and I troubleshot it for him. Turned out to be a junk battery. And yes it was a week old. I tried charging it and it wouldn't hold. So just because it is new don't assume it is good.

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Timmer

Just some thoughts from my own RV and having had the same problem-

1 - I have a battery on/ off switch on my same panel that controls my water pump, slide outs, lights, Etc.

2 - I had a heck of a time finding the fuse for the power leading into my camper.  It turns out it was right up under the plastic battery box.  It wasn't until about the 4th time I went looking with a flashlight that I finally found it.

Good luck!

Timmer

All of the tools, some of the skills!

WNCTracker

Quote from: Timmer on January 28, 2018, 12:59:56 PM
Just some thoughts from my own RV and having had the same problem-

1 - I have a battery on/ off switch on my same panel that controls my water pump, slide outs, lights, Etc.

2 - I had a heck of a time finding the fuse for the power leading into my camper.  It turns out it was right up under the plastic battery box.  It wasn't until about the 4th time I went looking with a flashlight that I finally found it.

Good luck!
No such luck here


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WNCTracker

Quote from: Happy on January 28, 2018, 12:42:57 PM
No rv expert but I am an electrician. You can check for continuity if you can't find the fuse. Also would check and make sure you don't have any power wires grounded out. That can drain batteries fast if in the right location. My cousin had an issue similar to that on his car and I troubleshot it for him. Turned out to be a junk battery. And yes it was a week old. I tried charging it and it wouldn't hold. So just because it is new don't assume it is good.
Electricity ain't my forte, now the human body, that's a different story. When testing with my meter. Where am I touching near the battery and What setting on the multimeter?  I'm assuming no Shore power so I don't kill myself but am I testing on ohms?  On the wires that attach to pos neg on battery like bypassing the battery?  What the heck am I doing here.


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NCbowjunkie

You should here the fan on the heat sinks for the inverter running when you are connected to 115 volts AC

WNCTracker

I hear nothing.  Just see the red and green light. That's it.


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Happy

Yes ohms is what you are checking. Would unhook the positive cable on your batt and check from were the positive attaches to the batt to were it comes into your fuse panel. Usually the power also splits off to your starter.  May need jumper wires to pull it off.  A low number such as .1 -.5 is good high numbers are bad. If you have an good mechanic you know he could check it out pretty quickly. All this would do is tell you that your fuse isn't bow and your cable is good.

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Happy

It can get complicated pretty quickly due to the amount if relays and and what not. 90%
Of the time it turns out being something simple though.

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BottomLand54

I'm terrible I say I will give you 400.00 for the RV because it can't be fixed.


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NCbowjunkie

You must have a good battery for the slides to work. The inverter can not supply the amps needed to run the slides, even if you have a battery connected and it is dead. First I would check the battery voltage at the battery post it self,  should be 12 DC . Next check on the terminals at the battery, should be 12 volt also , I have seen the terminals corrode and the voltage is not getting to the main panel at the inverter

NCbowjunkie

Good idea to go ahead and clean the battery terminals

WNCTracker

Quote from: NCbowjunkie on January 28, 2018, 02:42:40 PM
Good idea to go ahead and clean the battery terminals
The battery is 3 weeks old. It slowly died but worked fine initially.


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NCbowjunkie

Ok, now that shows something has been draining the battery. Best way to check is make sure all battery operated items are off.  You can do this by pulling all the DC fuses(automotive type). Make sure the battery has a good charge . Leave the positive cable connected on the battery , disconnect the negative battery cable and connect a 12 volt DC test light (get one at any auto part sore) to the cable with the clamp from the test light . Then stick the probe of the test lamp to the negative terminal on the battery. If the light comes on you have something draining the battery, if the light is off then install the fuses 1 at a time if the light comes on while doing this the fuse that made it come on will be the circuit that is drawing the battery.