Community Forums

OnJa · 03-21-2015, 04:54 AM

2 12V batteries, 1 blowed up in bat compartment causing acid to go on ceiling of compartment, remaining bat in good shape with 13.4V. Control panel, nothing works, no DC current anyplace. Shore power current good and using 110V lights.

Any clues as to where to start looking??

Cobra1 · 03-21-2015, 05:47 AM

Sometimes there is a circuit breaker in the battery compartment where the main red wire from the batteries connect to the wires that go to the coach. It looks like a little metal box about 1" long. It might have blown. Just a thought.

f14av8r · 03-21-2015, 05:47 AM

Check the big fuses connected to the big red wire coming from your battery bank. When the battery blew up it might have shorted and caused the fuses to blow.

nothermark · 03-21-2015, 06:13 AM

If I understand the problem one battery blew up and now there is no 12 VDC anywhere with the shore power plugged in. That would have me looking at the converter to see what was coming out of it and checking fuses and breakers there. If the battery blew because the converter electronics failed it could blow up another battery if you solve the other problems. The converter should feed the distribution panel so that might be the easiest place to stick a meter to see what is coming in and if there is a main fuse/breaker. If that check then follow back to the battery looking for fuses and/or a bad connection.

wa8yxm · 03-21-2015, 07:23 AM

Did you remove the exploded and rinse it down with soda water (Baking soda and water in a garden sprayer)

Then with clear water (Garden hose and sprayer

Then let dry

YOu may have removed an inportant wire and not re-connected it

And the above (Fuse/Breaker) also very high possibility.

Mike Canter · 03-21-2015, 11:40 AM

A couple of things here. First you don't need a converter to get 12 volts. The converter is hooked up to the battery to charge it and the 12 volt power from the MH comes from the battery. Normally on the back side of the main power switches there is a large fuse that looks like a strap across the switch terminal to the battery cable terminal. This is your first protection for current draw off the batteries. My recommendation is instead of guessing and trying different things is to go and buy a 12 volts test lamp from a auto store and start and the positive battery cable and go down the path testing to see where you lost the 12 volts.

bobcovey · 03-21-2015, 11:35 PM

Simple answers occasionally work, that's how I manage to stay on the road: try cycling the saleman's switch a couple of times. Whenever I use the battery disconnect switch I have to do that to restore 12v power to my coach. I think there is a relay that trips out when the battery voltage is interrupted and cycling the switch resets the relay. Given what I know about electricity, that is likely the wrong explaination, but it has worked for me on several occaisions.

Cheers,

OnJa · 03-22-2015, 05:14 AM

My MM MH came with an inverter/charger. My charger quit working, so I would use my bat/charger when ever on SP. Arrived at home and on SP, took out inverter/charger completely but leaving bat/charger hooked up thus having AC/DC current in coach. 1 wk went by and KABOOM. Bat blew. 2 days later no DC. Still have AC but no DC. Batteries are all good & replaced but still no DC.

OnJa · 03-22-2015, 05:16 AM

No, did not rince off, just wiped.

wa8yxm · 03-22-2015, 06:29 AM

A lot of times when you blow up a battery you also blow a fuse or breaker.

Some times you miss a wire re-connecting

Which is why I modified my rig so I have single wire connect to the batteries.

marcham · 03-22-2015, 08:23 AM

Is that a portable battery charger or was there a 12vdc converter in addition to the inverter /charger? Some converters require that a battery be connected at all times when in operation. Was it operating with no battery for a while? Did you at any point measure the DC voltage in order to troubleshoot the explosion? Specifics would be useful... Coach? Converter? Inverter /charger?

nothermark · 03-22-2015, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Canter

A couple of things here. First you don't need a converter to get 12 volts. The converter is hooked up to the battery to charge it and the 12 volt power from the MH comes from the battery. Normally on the back side of the main power switches there is a large fuse that looks like a strap across the switch terminal to the battery cable terminal. This is your first protection for current draw off the batteries. My recommendation is instead of guessing and trying different things is to go and buy a 12 volts test lamp from a auto store and start and the positive battery cable and go down the path testing to see where you lost the 12 volts.

When the battery is charging the converter is supplying both battery charge current and house power. You do not need the batteries if the converter is plugged in. OTOH a bad converter can be why the battery "blew up". Enough overcharging can do bad things. In his case blowing up the second battery.

nothermark · 03-22-2015, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnJa

My MM MH came with an inverter/charger. My charger quit working, so I would use my bat/charger when ever on SP. Arrived at home and on SP, took out inverter/charger completely but leaving bat/charger hooked up thus having AC/DC current in coach. 1 wk went by and KABOOM. Bat blew. 2 days later no DC. Still have AC but no DC. Batteries are all good & replaced but still no DC.

If you are using a normal garage maintenance type charger that is why your battery blew. If left on they will overcharge the batteries boiling them dry and then causing other problems. Those chargers are designed to fill up a flat battery at a reasonable speed then get taken off. Chargers for constant use like a MH are designed to drop the charging voltage as a way to limit current as the batteries reach full charge.

I would take out all the batteries and spray the area down as described. It's the only way to get the acid off. Leaving the batteries in leaves a chance of killing them with the soda and water mix.

You are asking for another blown battery if you keep running that way. I hate to spend money but I would replace/repair the inverter charger. Check with the vendor about repair cost/services.

As several folks have said, the next step is to start looking for where the power stops. I prefer a meter as it tells more than a test light. Given the low cost of a reasonable meter these days that is where I would put my money.

Mike Canter · 03-22-2015, 09:39 AM

Mothermark, the 12v power comes from the battery and the converter charges the battery. Yes in a round about way the converter is supplying DC power but not designed to but since it is hooked up to the battery it does.