Posted 2016-07-16 5:40 PM (#167635) Subject: dead trailer battery question / power question
Member
Posts: 7
Location: IA
I have a 2010 twister with a living quarters. I purchased two new marine grade batteries from advanced auto two years ago and they are now not holding a charge. I charged them last night with a 30amp charger for 12hrs and by the time we go to the camp site they were dead. After some advise I was just going to purchase two new optima marine batteries. When I got home from camping I hooked the trailer to shore power and notice a trick of power as I touched the side of the trailer and confirmed this when I put a voltage tester between the ground and trailer. The meter read 34v. Is this normal to have a small amount power coming off the trailer or is there more than a dead batteries problem?
Posted 2016-07-16 6:37 PM (#167641 - in reply to #167635) Subject: RE: dead trailer battery question / power question
Member
Posts: 7
Location: IA
Thanks for replying, I looked on my charger and it was on the slow 12v charge for 12hrs. The frame is aluminum, that is where i put the tester positive probe and i stuck the negative into the wet ground.
Posted 2016-07-16 10:10 PM (#167642 - in reply to #167635) Subject: RE: dead trailer battery question / power question
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448 Location: Los Angeles, Ca.
12 volt systems should not be producing 34v. Your converter could be malfunctioning. Disconnect the batteries and check the output of the converter.....should be 13-14v dc. If the converter is producing too high a voltage, it could have fried your batteries. Also, you might have a short or something miswired...shouldn't have any voltage at trailer frame.
Posted 2016-07-17 10:59 AM (#167659 - in reply to #167635) Subject: RE: dead trailer battery question / power question
Member
Posts: 7
Location: IA
It is 34v AC. Mine two batteries are wired parallel. I have no tripped breakers or blown fuses. I am going to shut off breakers one by on to isolate where the 34v is hopeful coming from. As far as the batteries, my guess is one or both just went south unless you think there could be something else?
Posted 2016-07-17 11:04 AM (#167660 - in reply to #167635) Subject: RE: dead trailer battery question / power question
Member
Posts: 7
Location: IA
It is 34v AC. My two batteries are wired parallel. I have no tripped breakers or blown fuses. I am going to shut off breakers one by one to isolate where the 34v is hopeful coming from. As far as the batteries, my guess is one or both just went south unless you think there could be something else to check?
Posted 2016-07-17 1:00 PM (#167664 - in reply to #167635) Subject: RE: dead trailer battery question / power question
Regular
Posts: 88 Location: Washington
I don't know how to begin to help you but it sounds like a potentially very serious problem. Just a quick search found a little info from the RV world. It might be a good starting point for research. This may be worth consulting an electrician about. As you will read, what you are describing (if I'm getting it right) can be fatal under the right circumstances.
Posted 2016-07-17 2:31 PM (#167667 - in reply to #167635) Subject: RE: dead trailer battery question / power question
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448 Location: Los Angeles, Ca.
Two separate problems (apparently)
Be very careful with the ac voltage. Like you said, turn off all breakers and try to isolate the short. Voltage could be higher than 34vac. Try testing between trailer and ground with a grounded extension cord. Verify that receptacle the trailer is plugged into is properly wired.
After the ac problem is solved, check voltage at batteries with trailer plugged in....should be 13-14vdc. Clean terminals and connectors are a must.
Posted 2016-07-17 3:43 PM (#167676 - in reply to #167635) Subject: RE: dead trailer battery question / power question
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448 Location: Los Angeles, Ca.
You might also check the plug attached to the trailer....perhaps someone changed the plug and reversed the neutral-hot connections....leaving the hot leg effectively connected to the ground/trailer.
Posted 2016-07-17 4:27 PM (#167677 - in reply to #167660) Subject: RE: dead trailer battery question / power question
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by jason80 on 2016-07-17 2:04 PM
It is 34v AC. My two batteries are wired parallel. I have no tripped breakers or blown fuses. I am going to shut off breakers one by one to isolate where the 34v is hopeful coming from. As far as the batteries, my guess is one or both just went south unless you think there could be something else to check?
You have a problem...I recommend you have an electrician put eyes on this, because an AC power leak is dangerous...
Posted 2016-07-19 11:12 PM (#167730 - in reply to #167635) Subject: RE: dead trailer battery question / power question
Expert
Posts: 2958 Location: North Carolina
You definitely have a problem... Either the inlet is wired wrong or you have a short making your trailer electrically charged. Do not plug this trailer into a/c power until it is fixed. Your life or someone else's could be ended prematurely.
dead trailer battery question / power question
