

The FLA (flooded lead acid) battery has water inside, and eventually, the water will evaporate. Some deep cycle lead acid batteries require regular servicing while others are enclosed or contained and do not.
Rv power converter problems how to#
Troubleshooting: How to Maintain Battery Fill Wells The reading should be approximately 13.2 volts DC or higher when plugged into shore power.


Set the multimeter to volts DC and touch one lead on the negative post and the other lead on the positive post of the battery. You can check it at the battery monitor panel or by using a multimeter. This confirms that your converter is operative. When plugged into shore power, the voltage reading should increase by at least half of a volt. Your 12-volt DC battery is 12.7 volts or higher when fully charged.

Troubleshooting: How to Test Your RV’s Power Converter If you’re unable to keep it plugged into shore power, put it on a charger when not in use. Photo: Brenda Puckett If I activate the battery disconnect switch, will that prevent my RV battery from discharging?Įven with the battery disconnect switch activated, the coach battery will self-discharge approximately 1 volt per month. If you forget to turn off all the 12-volt lights when you put the rig into storage, it won’t take long to drain the battery. Did you know that the LP detector is hardwired directly to the 12-volt DC coach battery? There are also other parasitic loads, like your TV’s antenna booster, some electronic devices, and circuit boards, that can drain the battery charge. When your RV is in storage, you want to pay attention to battery care. Related What to Do When You Plug Into Shore Power and Nothing Happens Troubleshooting: Battery Continues to Drain When Your RV Is in Storage If the converter is the only reason the 12-volt systems are operative, it’s probably time for new coach batteries. If the batteries have lost their ability to hold a charge, the converter will use the 120-volt alternating current (AC) power coming in from the shore pedestal and step it down to 12-volt DC to then operate all of the 12-volt systems in the RV. In addition to charging the 12-volt DC coach batteries when the RV is plugged into shore power, it can also assist the batteries in operating certain 12-volt systems that might have more power, like a large slide room. Your RV converter charger has several functions. If the coach batteries are older, they’re probably not receiving much, if any, charge and the converter is doing all of the work. The short answer-there’s a good chance the coach battery is dead and the converter charger is the only thing operating the 12-volt systems. Related RV Maintenance Made Easy: How to Upkeep Your RV’s 12-Volt Battery System Troubleshooting: Lights Only Work When Plugged into Shore Power Here are a few important tips to keep in mind when troubleshooting and caring for your RV’s deep cycle 12-volt DC batteries. The 12-volt system is the command center that tells all other power sources what to do. Your 12-volt battery system works in tandem with all of the other power sources by way of thermostats, control panels, and circuit boards on appliances to power appliances like your heater, furnace, and refrigerator. While some RVers associate their 12-volt direct current (DC) coach battery with simple components like overhead lights, the water pump, and vent fans, it’s one of the most important power sources in the RV.
