Quote:
Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers
Just wanted to give you an update!
We picked up the MH yesterday from the dealer. They said the battery tested good! I guess the 70 mile drive to the dealer somehow got it going again.
My battery charger is the kind that will not put out any charge voltage unless it sees a battery on the leads. It would not see that one when it was fully discharged!
We found there is a switch that allows the radio and associated electronics to operate from chassis OR house batteries. It was set to chassis. They may have left the radio on and ran the battery down!
We are going to keep a trickle charger on the chassis battery when she is not using the MH. Hopefully that will solve the problem!
Thanks to all of you for your comments!
Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!
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Most modern charges work as you described, if they don't see a certain voltage they will not go into the charge mode. The way to get around this is to take a second battery attach jumper cables between the two (in parallel with the dead unit-positive to positive, negative to negative). Then connect the charger to the pair. The charger sees the voltage from the second battery and begins the charging process. Most manufactures recommend not charging AGMs above 10amps so as to not over heat the battery.
All batteries self discharge. If the battery were discharge for a long period of time it could be damaged and only holding a surface charge, enough to start the vehicle but if a light or some other drain were left on over night the vehicle may not start, it is the same symptom as a bad cell.
Best to test this theory in the driveway before heading out on a trip.
Once the battery's voltage falls below around 1.75 volts per cell, permanent damage begins to take place in a process known as hard sulfation. Essentially, the plates become coated with dense lead sulfate crystals, reducing the battery's capacity.
Info on the Chassis battery disconnect, if you use it, wait 10 minutes after the engine has been shut off before disconnecting the cable. Also make sure the steps are retracted on a Navion/View they are operated from the Chassis battery. I have left my Navion after using the disconnect under the dash for six months without a charger or tender never having a problem.