Possible house battery problem February 16, 2010, 06:27:08 pm Yahoo Message Number: 110162I could use a few educated opinions.I have a 2005 23.5 FD with very few miles. I was having what I thought was a electric step problem. The step would not deploy and I thought it was a lack of lubrication problem. I lubed it and I could only get a squeal out if it. I finally got it to lower and raise after messing with it for quite awhile. I then tried raising it and lowering it several times over the course of the next hour and when I would cause it to move I got an alarm from the propane detector and the lights that were on would dim in sequence with the noise from the propane detector on and off squeal. I got out the manual thinking I needed to disconnect the line to the electric stairs to keep from shorting or burning out something. I measured the voltage on each of the two batteries and noticed that one was slightly under six volts and the other was almost seven volts while on the solar. I then turned the battery disconnect switch to isolate the batteries and tested the voltage again. The battery that previously showed just under six now showed just over four volts and the one showing almost seven now showed just over six volts.I assume I have a bad battery, What do you think?Could the bad battery be causing all my electric step problems?Is there a way I could test to see if the electric step is ok? What if I put a heavy duty battery charger on the batteries? Would that harm the controller or the solar. Would that prove anything?Sure could use some advice.Thanks, John P.S. In preview mode the post looks really strange. Hope it post properly.
Re: Possible house battery problem Reply #1 – February 16, 2010, 06:41:48 pm Yahoo Message Number: 110163"I assume I have a bad battery, What do you think? Could the bad battery be causing all my electric step problems? Is there a way I could test to see if the electric step is ok?"John Low voltage certainly could cause the step problem. It has a solid-state controller. While the batteries may be bad, you need to check the converter and solar charger to see if they are functioning properly before thinking about replacing the batteries. You can test the voltage theory by starting the engine and letting it run awhile until the battery voltage rises before trying the step again. You may also have a defective battery isolator, something else to check.Larry
Re: Possible house battery problem Reply #2 – February 16, 2010, 10:28:30 pm Yahoo Message Number: 110169Quote I could use a few educated opinions.I have a 2005 23.5 FD with very few miles. I was having what I thought was a electric step problem. The step would not deploy and I thought it was a lack of lubrication problem. I lubed it and I could only get a squeal out if it. I finally got it to lower and raise after messing with it for quite awhile. I then tried raising it and lowering it several times over the course of the next hour and when I would cause it to move I got an alarm from the propane detector and the lights that were on would dim in sequence with the noise from the propane detector on and off squeal. I got out the manual thinking I needed to disconnect the line to the electric stairs to keep from shorting or burning out something. It sounds to me like there might be electrical contact trouble, maybe at the step motor.Do the rest of the electric appliances work ok? I don't know from electric steps, but I'd look for corrosion in the cabling. Easy to fix if you're lucky.John
Re: Possible house battery problem Reply #3 – February 16, 2010, 10:42:47 pm Yahoo Message Number: 110170Could be just the low bat - This past weekend, we plugged into a KOA, and being a very experienced camper, I failed to check to see if the breakers were on at the electric hookup panel. After a long afternoon of using a ton of elecricity, towqrd evening we started to get the loud beeping from the propane detector. I couldn't figure it out right away - had to go to a dinner engagement, but as I left our Ruby Red - I could set the sound going by turniung the center light switch on and off - it was fascinating. After we returned, I checked the batter level, and it was down to a 7+. Then went out to check the breakers, and lo and behold, both breakers were off. By the way, the lights in the kitchen area were not coming completely on until we had our electricity back on. The battery has been just fine since, as well, of course, the rest of the appliances.Amazing what one can overlook even after years of camping.BarryRuby Red - 06mb[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Possible house battery problem Reply #4 – February 17, 2010, 03:27:46 am Yahoo Message Number: 110173From: kpochodowicz Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 4:25 PM To: lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com Subject: [LD] Possible house battery problemI assume I have a bad battery, What do you think?Could the bad battery be causing all my electric step problems?Is Thanks, JohnJohn, I believe you are probably correct. Looks like one of your batteries may have a bad (shorted) cell. It is likely both batteries will need to be replaced. You can confirm this by checking the specific gravity of the battery cells, but that 4 volt reading is very telling as, as you are doubtless aware, lead acid batteries are >2 volts per cell. The low voltage could certainly be causing the problems you were observing with the step etc. As others have suggested, it would be wise to check your charging system/s to be sure they did not contribute to your battery's demise. Also, with flooded cell batteries, it is recommended to do an equalizing charge periodically.all the best,bumper[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Possible house battery problem Reply #5 – February 17, 2010, 11:49:53 am Yahoo Message Number: 110184John, From reading a follow up post of yours, it looks like you have found a problem with your coach batteries. Do you have another vehicle (car/truck) you can temporarily pull a 12v battery from? You could disconnect your negative coach battery cable (if you have more than one cable hooked up to the coach's negative battery terminal, use an appropriate sized bolt and nut to connect all of the negative cable lugs together just as they were when connected to the negative battery terminal). [You must have the negative cable(s) disconnected from the suspected 6v batteries to keep the 6v batteries fully isolated while you do the steps below.] Then set your car/truck 12V battery close to the coach battery box and connect up a set of jumper cables: Positive car/truck terminal to positive coach battery terminal (you could have disconnected this cable off the coach batteries if you wanted to, but if you disconnected the negative cable(s) it isn't necessary). Negative car/truck terminal to negative coach battery cable(s) that you disconnected from the negative terminal of the coach battery pack. This will give you a temporary working (single) 12V coach battery that you can use to verify:a. Your step's operation.b. Your Converter/charger's output (it will attempt to charge the temp 12V battery just like it did with your two 6V battery pack.Best of Luck,George Culp Saucier, MS==============================================
Re: Possible house battery problem Reply #6 – February 17, 2010, 11:53:22 am Yahoo Message Number: 110185"Looks like one of your batteries may have a bad (shorted) cell. It is likely both batteries will need to be replaced."Yup, that sounds to me like the most likely cause and cure.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Possible house battery problem Reply #7 – February 17, 2010, 01:03:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 110187QuoteI measured the voltage on each of the two batteries and noticed that one was slightly under six volts and the other was almost seven volts while on the solar. I then turned the battery disconnect switch to isolate the batteries and tested the voltage again. The battery that previously showed just under six now showed just over four volts and the one showing almost seven now showed just over six volts. Yes, since the batteries are in series, any external issue affecting one should affect the other identically. Your voltage readings confirm bad battery. Replace both. Once this is done, carefully check operation of all components of the charging systems to make certain there are no issues that would have accelerated the battery failure.Steve
Possible house battery problem Reply #8 – February 18, 2010, 02:39:04 pm Yahoo Message Number: 110233This is a second related post.I appreciate the comments I received on my problem.I am going to replace the batteries. Does anyone have a suggestion on where I might go in the San Diego area for purchase and installation of replacement Trojans?John 23.5 2005 FD
Re: Possible house battery problem Reply #9 – February 18, 2010, 02:53:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 110234wrote: Does anyone have a suggestion on where I might go in the San Diego area for purchase and installation of replacement Trojans? --- You might try this: http://www.trojanbattery.com/tools/dealers.aspx Joan
Re: Possible house battery problem Reply #10 – February 18, 2010, 03:21:10 pm Yahoo Message Number: 110236Quote "I am going to replace the batteries. Does anyone have a suggestion on where I might go ...for purchase and installation of replacement Trojans?John 23.5 2005 FD John While not in the SD area, the Mothership had them on sale for $130 when I was there in January. I'd presume the supply is limited, as the factory is now installing AGMs.Steve S. Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Re: Possible house battery problem Reply #11 – February 18, 2010, 03:50:40 pm Yahoo Message Number: 110238I appreciate the input regarding the likely battery problem.Since they are 5 years old, I will replace them. According to the Lazy Daze manual I shouldn't replace them with AGM batteries because they won't work right with the controller charging method. I live in Chula Vista Ca (South of San Diego) and would like to not have to drive to the factory for replacement batteries. I found a place that has lower capacity interstate 6 volt batteries but not Trojans. Any suggestions on where I might be able to get Trojans purchased and installed near San Diego for a reasonable price (under $350)?John 2005 23.5 FD
Re: Possible house battery problem Reply #12 – February 18, 2010, 08:24:57 pm Yahoo Message Number: 110256From: kpochodowicz Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 2:20 PM To: lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com Subject: [LD] Re: Possible house battery problemI appreciate the input regarding the likely battery problem.Since they are 5 years old, I will replace them. According to the Lazy Daze manual I shouldn't replace them with AGM batteries because they won't work right with the controller charging method. I live in Chula Vista Ca (South of San Diego) and would like to not have to drive to the factory for replacement batteries. I found a place that has lower capacity interstate 6 volt batteries but not Trojans. Any suggestions on where I might be able to get Trojans purchased and installed near San Diego for a reasonable price (under $350)?John 2005 23.5 FDCheck with Costco, they carry 6 V golf cart batteries. Several on the list have used them. Maybe not quite as good as the Trojans, maybe, but I don't think we've heard any complaints yet and they are cheaper.bumper[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Possible house battery problem Reply #13 – February 18, 2010, 10:31:00 pm Yahoo Message Number: 110258What does THAT mean?best, paul"Thriving not surviving" ‹(•¿•)› - "All of us have cancer cells in our bodies. But not all of us will develop cancer." from ANTI CANCER - A NEW WAY OF LIFE, by David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD - See our website at www. LazyDazers.com
Re: Possible house battery problem Reply #14 – February 19, 2010, 01:15:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 110265Hi John, I just added 2 new AGM batteries to my Mid-Bath last month while
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