What can cause all 6 batteries to go down

[jayhawk1]

I have a 2005 Mountain Aire 4304. I replaced all four house batteries two months ago and the two chassis batteries seemed fine.
Over the weekend while dry camping all the batteries came close to going dead while running the generator.
After getting home and plugging in to 50 amp service it happened again.
Would this be my solar system going bad or maybe the invertor?
How could something affect all the batteries at once when they are not all hooked together?
This problem has just surfaced. We have used the motorhome several times after the new batteries were installed. Has anyone had this problem?

[Lug_Nut]

Sounds like you are not getting any charge from the charger. Does the voltage increase when the genset cuts in or it is first plugged in? Do you have a readout as to the amp flow from the charger to the battery bank?

Peter

[Perry White]

Make sure your battery charger is on and not in standby. I 've run into that.

[sdennislee]

Read the manual on the charger so you understand the led lights, on mine solid means charging and blinking is standby. Obviously off is off.

[jayhawk1]

I have found a bad chassis starting battery. Apparently the bad battery was taking all of the charge. I took the chassis batteries out and it appears the house batteries are charging up ok. This is a good lesson to replace all of the batteries at the same time.
I did not realize the house and chassis batteries were hooked together through the charger.

[sdennislee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayhawk1 I have found a bad chassis starting battery. Apparently the bad battery was taking all of the charge. I took the chassis batteries out and it appears the house batteries are charging up ok. This is a good lesson to replace all of the batteries at the same time. I did not realize the house and chassis batteries were hooked together through the charger.

If I thought about I might have figured that out eventually. Good tip to point out. I am going to verify that on my coach. Sure good make trouble shooting easier knowing that.

[Lug_Nut]

The chassis batteries are somewhat isolated through the B.I.R.D. and should not be able to affect the house bank that bad. You may also have a relay issue that may have either caused the issue or was a result of the problem.

Peter

[jayhawk1]

I was wondering about that. I plan on installing new chassis batteries this week.

[GaryKD]

Hi jayhawk1,
Your story is the same as mine. My coach batteries would not charge while going down the road. I focused on them and did all the diagnostics. The batteries checked out good. As a last step I did a stress test on the two chassis batteries. One tested bad. I replaced the two chassis batteries and all charging went back to normal.

[wa8yxm]

I don't know about yours but when I came out of Church Sunday my chassis batteries were a bit low, in fact I had to use the Emergency Start button to bring the house on line to start the coach.

Seems some idiot left the headlights on.

(yup, ME)

[ga traveler]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm I don't know about yours but when I came out of Church Sunday my chassis batteries were a bit low, in fact I had to use the Emergency Start button to bring the house on line to start the coach. Seems some idiot left the headlights on. (yup, ME)

I don't think that makes you an idiot. I think it makes you human. (just like the rest of us)

[jayhawk1]

No my lights were not left on. I am going to buy two new chassis batteries and see if that cures the problem.
I checked my house batteries today and they read 6.4 to 6.9 V ea. About 1/2 charge. My charger/invertor has a intermediate green light on it. My battery disconnect reads 13.3 volts, my battery condition reads good and my float charger reads 13.4 v and 1 amp. My power light is on the charge light is on and the inverter light is on.
I am plugged into 50amp service now though. The house batteries are so low the door locking system won't work and the electric seats won't move. I hope the two new chassis batteries will get everything working again.

[sdennislee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ga traveler I don't think that makes you an idiot. I think it makes you human. (just like the rest of us)

Agreed doubt that I ever left my lights on, at least not more than 4 or 5 times.

["007"]

jayhawk, if your plugged into 50 amp service line you may want to check your converter output. Check the ground cables to chassis frame the other half of your 12V circuits.
Plugged in you should have no problem with the movement of your seats or slides and locks.
These would be working off your house batteries.
If you do have a bad cell in a battery and change them out use a good 12V battery charger before putting them in.