Chasis Battery Dead While Connected to Shore Power

[adlerx]

I was under the impression that my chasis battery would be charging when plugged into shore power. It went dead after a couple of days in the driveway while plugged in though. The coach batteries are fine and re-charged completly during this same time.
Am I missing something or could I have another problem?
BTW, the aux start worked fine and after driving the coach about 20 miles, the chasis batt did charge and hold enough to start the next day. After two days though it was near dead again and would not start the motor.
Any special percautions before putting it on a charger?
Isn't it supposed to charge when hooked to shore power?
The coach is a 99 Lapalma 34s with f53 gas.
Appreciate any suggestions. I went to the auto store to get some battery testing gear but was totally unclear on what to get but I want to get whatever I'll need n a regullar basis to assure my batteries are properly maintained. Thanks, adX

[deandec]

Many MH do not charge the chassis battery from shore power or generator power.

If yours does not, purchase a $50 Trik-L-Start and mount it in your rig.


To check your batteries and a whole host of other electrical items, buy a digital voltmeter or multimeter.

Set the mutimeter to 12vdc and put the positive probe on the positive battery terminal and negative probe on the negative terminal and you will read your battery's voltage status.

A fully charged battery will be about 12.6vdc. A 50% charged battery will be about 12.1vdc.

With the coach plugged to shorepower, do the above test to see if the charging voltage is above 12.6v at the starting batteries. If so, the starting batteries do charge from shorepower and you have a battery or connection problem.

Also do check to see that the cells of your starting battery are filled to the proper level with distilled water.

The 12volt Side of Life (Part 1)

[Wanabee FTer]

One more thing,
I checked my batteries a few days ago and the voltage was fine at 12.6
After fully charging the batteries overnight I checked each cell with a hydrometer and found one cell almost dead. Replaced battery and all is fine now.
Of course this will not work with sealed AGM batteries.

[adlerx]

Thanks alot, I did but a good multi-meter and will check all the voltages today and will get the Trik-L-Start if necessary.

[deandec]

Ooooops. You cannot set your digital multimeter to 12vdc. My error.

I really meant, set it to measure DC voltage.

[GaryKD]

That's okay Dean. We know what you meant. Digital or analog, one must set the meter to the correct voltage and scale.

[Bill2]

After only two days of sitting the batteries should not be dead. Either you have a loose wire going to the batteries so they don't charge or your batteries are shot. When sitting without a charger on them, they should stay charged at least a month I would think, at least mine will.
Bill

[BudtheDiplomat]

Adx;

While the Owners manual may state that you have a BIRD ( a bi-directional device which charges both the House and Chassis batteries when plugged to shore power or running the Gen Set), most coaches do not have this. Mine does not.

Shore power and generator power usually only charges the House batteries.

I installed an Echo-Charger, which allows the Chassis to be charged at the same time. Others install a Trik-L-Charger. Both work the same. The Echo-Charger prevents the Chassis batteries from overcharging.

They are pretty easy to install, and install in the Battery compartment.

Robin_M has a terrific post (actually many terrific posts) in the Sticky section at the top of the Monaco Owners forum. Look up his upgrades to learn how to do this. That's what I did.

Bud