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PirateCamper · 09-15-2013, 05:10 PM

Sorry I've not been in here in a while. The RV has been fine. The air compressor system has been great. Not one single thing to complain about, until today. Last time we used it was July 3 rd & 4th for a Charity Pirate event at a children's cancer camp. We used the generator and everything was fine. A few weeks prior to that we got to use it for the first time off a power pole. Everything worked great. Two weeks ago, I moved it into the center of the yard to expose the roof to direct sunlight to add a few coats of roof sealant to repair a leak discovered in July and was since covered with a tarp. Started right up. Backed it into place. Put two coats on. Weather permitted to put third coat on this Saturday. We have a big Pirate event this week. International Talk like a Pirate day and a 4 day camp out. Battery wont start the engine. Left the charger on it. Just the "rattle" in the dash, no starter reaction. Brought over my Cherokee to jump it. Turned the key twice and got rattle both times and then nothing. Horn won't blow lights wont work. System dead as a hammer. 11 volts on the battery. Found out the house batteries are dead. Water was low. Each battery measured around 2 volts. Topped them off. Plugged the extension cord into the house and let it power center charge over night. Left charger on chassis battery all night. This morning the chassis battery would only give me the rattle. Measured 11 volts. House batteries are still around 2 volts when checked together and separate. These are the expensive 6V golf cart batteries I got last year. So, went to Firestone and they replaced the Chassis battery under warranty. Brought it home and hooked it up. 12.6 volts after hooked up. All I get is a rattle under the dash. After 3 or 4 tries, it kills the system. No lights, no horn no nothing. Flipping off the chassis switch has no effect. Disconnect the ground to the battery has no effect. After a few minutes, it will work again. Horn works, lights work. Aux fans on the radiator come on. (they are hard wired and come on when the key is turned to ACC or start)

Try to start it a few times and it all goes dead.

I plan to get the house batteries changed out next week.

Will the dead house batteries effect starting the engine?

The Generator will not start. I guess its wired to the house batteries.
I checked all the fuses in the main panel in the hall. OK
I checked all the fuses in the dash. OK
I checked all the fuses in the switches on the chassis near the batteries that are connected to the kill switches inside the entry door.

I'm at a loss for a reason.

Thanks in advance for any help!

wa8yxm · 09-15-2013, 05:45 PM

Hands on I'm good with this. Check all conenctions particularry the grounds on the chassis battery.

Sounds like your house bateries may be toast.. Try Sam's club for replacements. They shoudl not be that expensive, about 60-70 a pop. the cheapest 230 amp hours you will ever buy.