Community Forums

nanc1860clif · 12-15-2017, 08:50 AM

Have a 2006 Dolphin. Recently went to start MH and had to use the booster to start. Have unit connected to 20amp plug and gauges show house batteries charging at 14.1 but chassie at 12.1. When you start MH gauges show both charging at 14.1. The chassie battery is 2.5 yrs old. Just wondering if anyone has experience or know what might be drawing down the battery or if it's time to replace.

Thanks for any help.

HJLowell · 12-15-2017, 09:11 AM

Your observations tell you that the alternator is charging both of your battery banks.

You should get three to 5 years of usage out of well maintained good quality batteries.

For a few $$$s you can buy good quality battery testing equipment.

You may not be getting a charge to your chassis batteries from your 20 amp plug in.?

Inverter, charger system

JJH3rd · 12-15-2017, 09:29 AM

If the MH is on shore power and you see 12.1 v from the starting battery when being charged by the Xantrex inverter/charger I would suspect that the battery has a bad cell. I know it is a pain to do but it is worth the larger number of future headaches to get it checked and replaced.

Many of the electronic devices, including the refrigerator use the 12v from the batteries so a waek battery will cause 'mysterious' problems in many of your MH's devices.

twinboat · 12-15-2017, 09:46 AM

It has nothing to do with the inverter.

If your boost switch works, then you have a good isolation solenoid. That means that your MH does not have the capabilities to maintain your chassis battery when on shore power.

The electronics of the chassis ( radio, engine computer ...) always draw a tiny bit of power out of your battery. Over time it gets run down.

You need a Tric L Start or Amp L Start device connected to your batteries and all will be well. Your chassis batter will last for many years.

Unplanned Tourist · 12-15-2017, 10:05 AM

What Twinboat said. I have a combination charger/maintainer hooked up to the chassis battery. It's plugged into an outlet that is powered up any time I am hooked up to shore power. 15, 20, 30 or 50 amps, it will keep the chassis battery happy.
Happy Glamping.

Charlie 5320 · 12-16-2017, 06:48 AM

Your 06 Dolphin SHOULD charge the chassis battery when plugged in. Don't rely on the gauges, use a meter to check the voltage on each set of batteries. Check the house batteries after it has been unplugged for a few minutes. There is a comparitor circuit on the BCC that actually does the switching, but it has to see over 13 volts on the house batteries BEFORE it will charge the chassis battery. If one of your house batteries is under par it may not ever charge the chassis battery.

Your boost start worked so the isolation solenoid has to be working right. It could be like mine and have a bad capacitor on the BCC in the comparitor circuit, if that's the case it will never charge the chassis battery. But my boost part of the BCC wouldn't work either. I tried to find the main board on the BCC, but couldn't find one, not going to spend over $500.00 for the complete BCC. If you find it is the BCC, there is a couple ways to go about this. 1 is to install a trickle start, 2 is install a battery tender on the chassis battery. I chose the latter, and wired it permanently to the chassis side of the BCC, and plugged it into the receptical in the electrical compartment.

nanc1860clif · 12-17-2017, 12:40 PM

Update to our problem: We took the battery in had it tested it was at 27%. They charged the battery for two hours and it held a charge. Going to get a trickle charger until we have chance to check BCC fuses and capacitor. I really appreciate the help from all of you.

chboone · 12-17-2017, 11:26 PM

If you don't have the documentation/troubleshooting guide for the BCC call RV Customs Products and ask for it. They will email it to you. They are normally quick emailing it, hard to say how long it will take this time of year.

RV Custom Products
14000 Anson Ave, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
(562) 921-8353