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Old 08-04-2008, 03:17 PM   #1
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I just installed my 3rd set of batteries in my 05 Journey. They charged up and went in to the float mode, that was two wks ago, yesterday I hit the road ( 200 miles) plugged up last night and I could hear the charger cycling and charging all night???? Should those batteries need that charge?? I got up and turned down the amps to 0 about 2am and then turned the charger back on at 7am and it was charging 65 amps . This just does not seem right to me, maybe thats way I have gone through 3 sets of batteries?? Its done this before but I just thought the batteries need charging but these batteries should not because they are new?? Any thoughts. Thanks
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Old 08-04-2008, 03:17 PM   #2
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I just installed my 3rd set of batteries in my 05 Journey. They charged up and went in to the float mode, that was two wks ago, yesterday I hit the road ( 200 miles) plugged up last night and I could hear the charger cycling and charging all night???? Should those batteries need that charge?? I got up and turned down the amps to 0 about 2am and then turned the charger back on at 7am and it was charging 65 amps . This just does not seem right to me, maybe thats way I have gone through 3 sets of batteries?? Its done this before but I just thought the batteries need charging but these batteries should not because they are new?? Any thoughts. Thanks
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Old 08-04-2008, 07:12 PM   #3
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You should NOT be constant charging with 65 amps!! Sounds like a bad or antiquated charger.. You need one that has intelligent control.. Why is the charger even hooked up if you just drove 200 miles??.. That alone will totally charge your batteries.
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Old 08-05-2008, 04:13 AM   #4
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If it is a Dimensions charger, maybe it was in its conditioning/equalization cycle. If that's not it, then you might have a bad cell in the bank or the charger has a problem.
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Old 08-05-2008, 08:39 AM   #5
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Hello asheville (NC?),

A couple of things to check; first is the battery tie contactor. This is that Trombetta contactor that has been discussed in other threads. After a 200 mile drive, the batteries should be fully charged from the engine via this contactor. Check it by running the engine at a fast idle, say 1000 RPM, and using the ˜One Place' meter see that the engine and house batteries read about the same voltage. If the engine reads something like 13.9 and the house reads something like 12.7 then the contactor either didn't energize or the contacts are pitted and need to be cleaned (see other threads). If you see ~14.1 and ~13.9 or ~13.8 and ~13.7 then it's working as designed. It's a good idea to check this on occasion just to make sure it's working and the contacts haven't opened up.

Next, when you say that the Dimensions was cycling, do you mean that it was switching back a forth between high charge Amps. and zero Amps? If it was hot in the compartment and the batteries had not been charged from the engine, it may have been cycling because of heat. If temperature was not to blame and charge state was not a problem then I would suspect the charger itself.

If you have access to a reasonably good digital voltmeter, check the chargers output right at the batteries. Try to take the readings when the Dimensions is cycling. If the charge voltage is over 14 volts with the temperature as warm as it's been, then it's probably the Dimensions that is at fault. This would be too high for say 95 degrees. If the battery voltage is below 12.8 volts when not charging, then I would suspect that one of the new batteries may have a shorted cell. If that is the case, try to isolate the batteries one at a time to determine which one may be bad. (Should I say to be careful?)

If you find a bad battery, try to replace it with one that is identical and has the same manufacture date as the other two. Then do the checks again from the top. If everything starts to work normally, then your in business. If not, then your best clue will be battery voltage at the batteries. Unfortunately the ˜One Place' does not read directly at the batteries but after fuses and a lot of wiring so it will give different readings, always low, depending on what loads are on in the coach.

Let us know what you find and try to mention what the high and low outside temperatures are running where you are.
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Old 08-05-2008, 03:05 PM   #6
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Yes, it is a dimensions charger and maybe it was in the conditioning mode? It was a 95 deg day and maybe I should have let it do its thing, but I could not sleep hearing it run. When it started charging at 65amps when I turned it on next morn it quickly dropped to 30 amps, the batteries when not hot nor did they seem to boil like the previous times. The good news is I was sitting at the dealership to get a bushing replaced on my slide and yes they will check it out and I hope to report their findings, IF they know what they are doing??Thanks for the help
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Old 08-12-2008, 10:13 AM   #7
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UPDATE: As I suspected, dealership could not find a problem with MH battery charger system. I guess those 3 sets of batteries in 3 yrs was my imagination? Oh well, time will tell.
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