Charging System Problems

[pwb01]

This weekend after the unit was pluged in for a week, my batteries (2) were only partially charged and died the 2nd day. When I got home, the distribution panel (WFCO) seems to be putting out over 12 volts at the battery but the fan is not on. I need a better VOM to read if it's 13.2 or 14.4 and will get one tomorrow. Does it over heat and shut down maybe? Is there a fuse for the fan I'm missing?

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

[JohnB]

Hi Paul

Most many newer convertors and I'm "pretty sure" the WFCO has variable speed fans in it as well. They only come on when the heat load in the convertor calls for it and only at a speed needed to cool the unit. I'll have to look up the WFCO unit to be sure.

Point is no fans running may not have anything to do with your battery problem.

Yes you need a better volt meter. With the convertor on:

13.25 volts area is the normal float voltage to keep the battery topped off. Charger should drop to this area once the battery reaches full charge.

13.65 range means it is actually slow charging.

14.4 means it is boost mode and fast charging. Or in some higher end convertors means it is in desulfate mode if your has one.

Now back to the battery issues.

Have you checked the liquid level and is it over all the cells?

How old are the batteries?

Do you know if they where actually at full charge when you went camping?

May be the batteries where never fully charged to begin with due to a fault in the charge line or charger

Or you have a large system drain and somehow drained the batteries down quicker then normal.

A volt meter at the battery will help tell what is charging or what is not when the convertor is on. And if it was at full charge to begin with. once you know the voltage it will help point where to go looking next.

Hope this helps

John

[pwb01]

Thanks John,
I'm charging the batteries now from a battery charger and then I'll have them tested. I don't know that they were fully charged, only assumed so (!!!) since I had the power on. I did have a spare that lasted 2 days by itself so I don't think I have a draining condition.

In a couple of days I'll test the batteries and have an accurate voltage reading.

[pwb01]

Okay, lesson learned. Both of my batteries were very low on water and last night, both tested with a bad cell probably from charging with low water. That's why the charge only lasted a short time. I had them checked in two different places to be sure.

They're only two years old. Check the water often!

Thanks John

[JohnB]

Glad you found something.

Every day we learn somethong new. It's and endless process. And then as time goes by, well...... we re- learn some things we forgot