Southwind battery question

[doublehooked]

I have 37C Southwind. I leave it plugged into AC. I turn off the Main battery switch. Today I turned main switch on to start it and battery was dead. I got it started and ran it for 30 mins. Panel shows Aux at 14.27 Main at 11.86. Should I just leave the main switch on all the time?
Where is the convertor/charger located?
I thought all batterys would stay charged?

Thanks
Gary

[wa8yxm]

First, if you turn off the battery switch.. That often turns off any hope of the converter charging (NOT always, but usually)

Second, not all coaches charge the chassis battery when plugged in.. Mine does, but not all do.. There is a device or two, Trick-L-Start and Echo-Charger that add this function.. Depending on how you hook them up disconnecting the battery may still disable that feature though.

WIthout several tests I do not know about your rig so here are the tests.

With the chassis battery LESS than full charge, connect a voltmeter directly to the battery (Digital please)

now cycle the battery disconnect... Does the voltage go up or down when connected.. If it goes up odds are the house system is charging WHEN CONECTED ONLY.. If not, then not.

Next with the battery in the higher voltage position cycle the house converter/charger (Unplug, and plug back in) did the voltage go DOWN when you unplugged? If so the house charges the chassis

If nothing makes any difference, then the house does not charge

[The General]

Gary,

Your batteries are all charged by the converter when plugged into house a/c or generator a/c.
Your chasis battery is also charged by the engine alternator.
I would first check the fluid level in the battery cells.
If there is a cell that the plates are not totally covered with fluid then the battery may be bad. Fill all to lower part of filler hole with distilled H2O.
Plug into a/c with your two battery switches on and let charge for a day.
Then unplug a/c and wait an hour for the surface charge to deplete and test the cells with a battery hydrometer and then with a volt meter to see if it is holding a charge. On 6 volt bats. should be over 6.3 volts and 12volt bats. should be over 12.5.


Steve

[doublehooked]

Today I found out that I have something on the circuit board in the battery control center that is not allowing the solenoid to pick up and charge the engine battery when needed. It does work on aux start.
New board cost $160.00
So I'm going to try the Trik-L-Start for $49.00 it should charge batterys as needed.
As far as I know this should work.
Thanks for the help.
Gary