>We went out for the monthly start of our GMC and found the following:
>
>1. We are plugged in to the AC house current.
>2. All batteries are located under hood.
>3. All batteries went dead. (this we welcomed in a sort, as we had new ones
> ready, as they were getting old.
>4. We left the aux bat switch on.
>5. Couldn't even start the generator.
>
>Questions:
>
>1. Why all batteries gone dead at once.
>2. Is the system a negative ground or positive ground system.
>3. What steps do I take to find out why the batteries went dead batteries.
>
>
IHMO: Theories:
A. even if you are on shore power(IE: plugged in to AC
IS the charger circuit turned on ?
IF the charger is on, are the connections in good condition. and
NO Corrosion and Tight.
IS the charger fuctioning properly ? IE: 13:6 volts DC +-
How old are the dead batteries? Its been my experence and from
what I have read from the manfactures, that 3 years is about the
norm for auto batteries, anything beyond 3 years is luck, dispite
the "5 year" life claims. on average, most buyers don,t keep thier
autos more than 3 years.
Are the cells boiled dry OR below plate level. once the plates are
exposed to air, the plates suffer. low electrolyte levels mean lower
capacity as well.
B. IF the battery boost switch is left on, the original sol. draws
.75 amp of current while on. IF the charger circuit is not working
properly, the batteries are all in circuit to the sol and are being
discharged to-gether.
C. the GMC MH battery circuit is NEG ground.
D. as to how to troubleshoot, start with all connections, clean, tight
then check charger voltages, charging volts vary with type of charger
13.6 volts is nom. but anything over 12.8 volts should be acceptable
depending on charger type and conditon of batteries.
(Just walked out to our coach with a digital voltmeter and checked .
house battery with charger on is 13.75 volts.
engine battery not on charger is 12.8, But I had just run the engine
an hour before, so it s going to read higher than if it was sitting cold)
Battery boost sol. current .75amp.
John & Brenda Szalay
Louisville Ky
73 GMC
>
>1. We are plugged in to the AC house current.
>2. All batteries are located under hood.
>3. All batteries went dead. (this we welcomed in a sort, as we had new ones
> ready, as they were getting old.
>4. We left the aux bat switch on.
>5. Couldn't even start the generator.
>
>Questions:
>
>1. Why all batteries gone dead at once.
>2. Is the system a negative ground or positive ground system.
>3. What steps do I take to find out why the batteries went dead batteries.
>
>
IHMO: Theories:
A. even if you are on shore power(IE: plugged in to AC
IS the charger circuit turned on ?
IF the charger is on, are the connections in good condition. and
NO Corrosion and Tight.
IS the charger fuctioning properly ? IE: 13:6 volts DC +-
How old are the dead batteries? Its been my experence and from
what I have read from the manfactures, that 3 years is about the
norm for auto batteries, anything beyond 3 years is luck, dispite
the "5 year" life claims. on average, most buyers don,t keep thier
autos more than 3 years.
Are the cells boiled dry OR below plate level. once the plates are
exposed to air, the plates suffer. low electrolyte levels mean lower
capacity as well.
B. IF the battery boost switch is left on, the original sol. draws
.75 amp of current while on. IF the charger circuit is not working
properly, the batteries are all in circuit to the sol and are being
discharged to-gether.
C. the GMC MH battery circuit is NEG ground.
D. as to how to troubleshoot, start with all connections, clean, tight
then check charger voltages, charging volts vary with type of charger
13.6 volts is nom. but anything over 12.8 volts should be acceptable
depending on charger type and conditon of batteries.
(Just walked out to our coach with a digital voltmeter and checked .
house battery with charger on is 13.75 volts.
engine battery not on charger is 12.8, But I had just run the engine
an hour before, so it s going to read higher than if it was sitting cold)
Battery boost sol. current .75amp.
John & Brenda Szalay
Louisville Ky
73 GMC
