Community Forums

Vette Racer · 08-27-2007, 07:02 PM

Well, guess what, my batteries are wasted again. NOT!

I just replaced my three 12v batteries last year and they really didn't seem to hold a charge but since I bought "stowaways" from Sams Club I figured, what the heck, they were probably bad anyways, at least one of them, but I couldn't find any of them that checked bad. Anyway, a year later I figured OK, I'll just bite the bullet and replace them so I pull them out and put them in the truck. Just for grins, I think I'll put a meter on them cause I know they are all discharged so I can see how bad they really are. Well, surprise! Surprise! They are all at 12.85 volts, Now, what the heck? I send one back to the trailer and hook it up, lights won't even come on, meter says discharged in the trailer, huh, guess what, to make a long story longer, batteries are fine, problem is::: drum roll please! The darn fuse and holder that is in the 12 volt line going to the batteries is melted and the fuse is corroded, DUH!

Anyway, to make a long story short, check your fuse holder and fuse if you find this problem or your batteries aren't holding up too well. You might need a new fuse holder and fuse.

Vette Racer · 08-27-2007, 07:02 PM

Well, guess what, my batteries are wasted again. NOT!

I just replaced my three 12v batteries last year and they really didn't seem to hold a charge but since I bought "stowaways" from Sams Club I figured, what the heck, they were probably bad anyways, at least one of them, but I couldn't find any of them that checked bad. Anyway, a year later I figured OK, I'll just bite the bullet and replace them so I pull them out and put them in the truck. Just for grins, I think I'll put a meter on them cause I know they are all discharged so I can see how bad they really are. Well, surprise! Surprise! They are all at 12.85 volts, Now, what the heck? I send one back to the trailer and hook it up, lights won't even come on, meter says discharged in the trailer, huh, guess what, to make a long story longer, batteries are fine, problem is::: drum roll please! The darn fuse and holder that is in the 12 volt line going to the batteries is melted and the fuse is corroded, DUH!

Anyway, to make a long story short, check your fuse holder and fuse if you find this problem or your batteries aren't holding up too well. You might need a new fuse holder and fuse.

Don (W5IT) · 08-28-2007, 12:19 AM

And to think you call yourself a "Ham".

You just fell into the trap a lot of us do from time to time. Not chacking the whole system out first. It happens to all of us at times.....

Now I'll bet you will have everyone going to check thiers now. But again that is what posting the solution to a porblem is for. Remind us to show us stuff you learn the hard way so it won't happen to us.

Now, did you put some "Penatrox" on the connections to prevent them from corroding again????

Vette Racer · 08-28-2007, 05:33 AM

Actually, I just cut the fuse holder out and tied it back together.

No, actually I haven't went to the store yet to get a replacement.

Thought that first sentence would get your blood pumping there Don!

TXiceman · 08-28-2007, 06:28 PM

Tom, the right way to jump that is with a piece of bailing wire and wrap it in some friction tape or duct tape.

Ken

Vette Racer · 08-29-2007, 01:20 PM

Well no one, Auto or RV, had a inline fuse and holder like was in there so I bought a resettable circuit breaker and am going to install that in place of it. At least its all sealed up and if it kicks for any reason it will reset, or I can always jump around it if need be.