Battery Charging Issue

[budhorning]

Originally Posted by tfryman

Not true, as long as the CHARGER's voltage is higher than the BATTERY's voltage, current will flow from the source (charger) to the load (battery) raising the state of charge of the battery.

Here is the issue
1. when I disconnect every thing from the pos. post i get a reading on the left side of the right breaker 13.4
2. when i test the black cable to neg. I get 13.4
3. The green taped cable is a ground
4. when i connect the black to neg. my 12 v. system works, the inverter is reading.

I am really confused about that black cable. It will on reach the neg post or lower pos post.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by tfryman

Not true, as long as the CHARGER's voltage is higher than the BATTERY's voltage, current will flow from the source (charger) to the load (battery) raising the state of charge of the battery.

Sure, if he has an 11 volt charger.

That's not the case with the OP. His charger, if functioning, needs to output more then 13 volts to recharge his, now discharged, batteries.

This is not a new issue, he has been working on a solution for a number of days, leaving his batteries sitting in a discharged state.

[budhorning]

That black cable seems to be the key. I am at a loss
The volt meter shows 11.6 every where except the wall mounted batt meter. n it shows 5.8. It's like it is reading only one batt.

[Charlie 5320]

Originally Posted by budhorning

That black cable seems to be the key. I am at a loss
The volt meter shows 11.6 every where except the wall mounted batt meter. n it shows 5.8. It's like it is reading only one batt.

See and do post #6, disconnect everything and start over. If you measure voltage from the black wire to ground on the frame, the black wire can't be a ground wire. Remove all wires except the series wire to tie the batteries together. Measure the voltage to see what the batteries have in them. Don't just assume it is ground because it is black.

[aether_one]

Originally Posted by Charlie 5320

See and do post #6, disconnect everything and start over. If you measure voltage from the black wire to ground on the frame, the black wire can't be a ground wire. Remove all wires except the series wire to tie the batteries together. Measure the voltage to see what the batteries have in them. Don't just assume it is ground because it is black.

Yes it can. It may not connect the battery to the frame ground, but if it is the negative lead to the inverter and the inverter is switched on, with the black lead lifted from the negative post but the positive lead of the inverter connected to the positive post a voltmeter will read battery voltage from the lifted black read to ground (the frame).

[aether_one]

Originally Posted by budhorning

Here is the issue
1. when I disconnect every thing from the pos. post i get a reading on the left side of the right breaker 13.4
2. when i test the black cable to neg. I get 13.4
3. The green taped cable is a ground
4. when i connect the black to neg. my 12 v. system works, the inverter is reading.

I am really confused about that black cable. It will on reach the neg post or lower pos post.

If you are sure the green taped cable is your "Ground" lead (in other words, the other end of the cable is bolted directly to the frame) then the black cable must be the negative lead of your inverter.
I assume your inverter is not also your converter?
I assume your small gauge wires go to your solar charger?
Where does the right side of your right breaker go? To the "Positive" side of the battery?

You have 3 cables connected to your "Positive" terminal. Generally, one goes to a breaker that directly feeds the hydraulic pump for levels/slides, one goes to the 200A fuse to the positive supply for the inverter and one goes to the coaches DC load buss which is where your positive lead of you converter is connected. The fact that you have 13.4 volts "left side of the right breaker 13.4" tells me the right breaker supplies the DC buss and the converter is working. What voltage do you get on the other side of that right breaker? With and without the cable connected to the battery.

Have you pushed the red button on that breaker to trip it and then reset it with the flag? It is possible for that breaker to have gone bad.

[budhorning]

Originally Posted by tfryman

If you are sure the green taped cable is your "Ground" lead (in other words, the other end of the cable is bolted directly to the frame) then the black cable must be the negative lead of your inverter.
I assume your inverter is not also your converter?
I assume your small gauge wires go to your solar charger?
Where does the right side of your right breaker go? To the "Positive" side of the battery?

You have 3 cables connected to your "Positive" terminal. Generally, one goes to a breaker that directly feeds the hydraulic pump for levels/slides, one goes to the 200A fuse to the positive supply for the inverter and one goes to the coaches DC load buss which is where your positive lead of you converter is connected. The fact that you have 13.4 volts "left side of the right breaker 13.4" tells me the right breaker supplies the DC buss and the converter is working. What voltage do you get on the other side of that right breaker? With and without the cable connected to the battery.

Have you pushed the red button on that breaker to trip it and then reset it with the flag? It is possible for that breaker to have gone bad.

No change in voltage on right breaker with or without the cable. Constant reading of 10.8 on all breakers with black cable on neg. post. Withe the exception of the chassis, it reads 4.65. inverter monitor shows 10.8.

[aether_one]

Originally Posted by budhorning

No change in voltage on right breaker with or without the cable. Constant reading of 10.8 on all breakers with black cable on neg. post. Withe the exception of the chassis, it reads 4.65. inverter monitor shows 10.8.

Where did the 10.8 come from? You said 13.4 previously. You can't troubleshoot chassis and house battery circuits at the same time.

Nobody is going to be able to help you if you don't:

1 - Answer their questions
2 - Stay consistent with your troubleshooting measurements

[budhorning]

Originally Posted by tfryman

Where did the 10.8 come from? You said 13.4 previously. You can't troubleshoot chassis and house battery circuits at the same time.

Nobody is going to be able to help you if you don't:

1 - Answer their questions
2 - Stay consistent with your troubleshooting measurements

1. I answer the questions with the most current info.
2. I am "not' trouble shooting the chassis system. Those were the readings on the batt monitor, along with the coach system.
3. The 10.8 is the current reading with volt meter as it is now. Readings change ya know as the battery drains.

[dennis45]

Originally Posted by tfryman

Where did the 10.8 come from? You said 13.4 previously. You can't troubleshoot chassis and house battery circuits at the same time.

Nobody is going to be able to help you if you don't:

1 - Answer their questions
2 - Stay consistent with your troubleshooting measurements

I gave up on buddy a while back and just been following along. Someone suggested he search out technical expertise. I tend to agree.

[nothermark]

Originally Posted by budhorning

Here is the issue
1. when I disconnect every thing from the pos. post i get a reading on the left side of the right breaker 13.4
2. when i test the black cable to neg. I get 13.4
3. The green taped cable is a ground
4. when i connect the black to neg. my 12 v. system works, the inverter is reading.

I am really confused about that black cable. It will on reach the neg post or lower pos post.

Leave that cable off until you get the rest of the system working.

If you can visually trace it to see where it goes.

[aether_one]

Originally Posted by budhorning

1. I answer the questions with the most current info.
2. I am "not' trouble shooting the chassis system. Those were the readings on the batt monitor, along with the coach system.
3. The 10.8 is the current reading with volt meter as it is now. Readings change ya know as the battery drains.

Then where did the 13.4 come from? And current is not a voltage reading.
You listed 10.8 as both chassis and "inverter" readings in your first post.

In post #17 you said "The volt meter shows 11.6 every where except the wall mounted batt meter"

Ignore any meter reading except those on your handheld voltmeter (I assume you are using one?)

Don't change more than one thing at a time.

Tell us exactly where you are taking measurements and the status of shore power and cable connections when you take those measurement. "Everywhere" doesn't help.

We're trying to help you but we do not have the ability to look over your shoulder when you are checking things, so give us all the information you can in specific terms.

Now backup to post #15. I have reposted my questions in RED and numbered them.

Here is the issue
1. when I disconnect every thing from the pos. post i get a reading on the left side of the right breaker 13.4
1 - Is this to "Ground" (The cable connected to the chassis) or to the negative side of the battery, or both?
2 - Is Shore Power connected?
3 - Where does the right side of your right breaker go? To the "Positive" side of the battery?
The fact that you have 13.4 volts "left side of the right breaker 13.4" tells me the right breaker supplies the DC buss and the converter is working if shore power is plugged in .
4 - What voltage do you get on the other side of that right breaker? With and without the cable connected to the battery.

2. when i test the black cable to neg. I get 13.4
3. The green taped cable is a ground
4. when i connect the black to neg. my 12 v. system works, the inverter is reading.

5 - Have you pushed the red button on that breaker to trip it and then reset it with the flag?
6 - I assume your small gauge wires go to your solar charger?
7 - I assume your inverter is not also your converter?

[budhorning]

Originally Posted by tfryman

Then where did the 13.4 come from? And current is not a voltage reading.
You listed 10.8 as both chassis and "inverter" readings in your first post.

In post #17 you said "The volt meter shows 11.6 every where except the wall mounted batt meter"

Ignore any meter reading except those on your handheld voltmeter (I assume you are using one?)

Don't change more than one thing at a time.

Tell us exactly where you are taking measurements and the status of shore power and cable connections when you take those measurement. "Everywhere" doesn't help.

We're trying to help you but we do not have the ability to look over your shoulder when you are checking things, so give us all the information you can in specific terms.

Now backup to post #15. I have reposted my questions in RED and numbered them.



5 - Have you pushed the red button on that breaker to trip it and then reset it with the flag?
6 - I assume your small gauge wires go to your solar charger?
7 - I assume your inverter is not also your converter?

Sorry for the confusion. When I said current I meant voltage. I apparently am fogging the issue w/too much info. Here are the answers to your specific questions.

1. I test to "ground" AND to neg. post.

2. Shore power is connected

3. Right side of right breaker goes to pos. post.

4. right breaker out put, left side : 10.4, right side : 10.4. readings are the same with or without black cable connection on neg. post.

5. Both breakers have been tripped and reset.

6. yes, smaller wires are for the solar panels.

7. Inverter and converter are separate.

Battery reading at this time is 10.6. This is with the voltmeter. I will no longer refer to the battery monitor or the inverter monitor mounted inside the coach.

Sorry for the confusion.

[aether_one]

Originally Posted by budhorning

Sorry for the confusion. When I said current I meant voltage. I apparently am fogging the issue w/too much info. Here are the answers to your specific questions.

1. I test to "ground" AND to neg. post.

2. Shore power is connected

3. Right side of right breaker goes to pos. post.

4. right breaker out put, left side : 10.4, right side : 10.4. readings are the same with or without black cable connection on neg. post.

5. Both breakers have been tripped and reset.

6. yes, smaller wires are for the solar panels.

7. Inverter and converter are separate.

Battery reading at this time is 10.6. This is with the voltmeter. I will no longer refer to the battery monitor or the inverter monitor mounted inside the coach.

Sorry for the confusion.

So both sides of the right breaker are reading battery voltage of 10.4 volts to ground with the ground cable connected to the negative post and the right breaker right cable connected to the positive post with shore power connected?

The 13.4 volts was measured open circuit (no leads connected to the positive post) but when a load is place on the converter the voltage drops to dead battery voltage. This tells me your converter is unable to supply charging current.

Just to verify what you have said; when you said "when i connect the black to neg. my 12 v. system works, the inverter is reading." are you saying your lights and all 12 volt systems are working, or are you only saying you got a voltage reading on the inverter?

Lets also try one more test. With everything as is now, run the coach for 15 minutes and with it running tell me what the voltage readings are on both sides of the right breaker to ground (negative post).