Battery discharging

[jeepit]

Camping over the weekend W/O shore power and I had an older battery die completely on me. I had purchased it in 2008.
So I put my newer Optima in and went to a campground and hooked up 30 Amp power. Reading from a dummy gauge inside the camper the battery has gone from good to fair. It should be charging but the gauge in the camper is not showing that. All other electrical; lights, refrigerator, outlets are all working.
Is the converter only working partially?

 

[Tractorat]

Are you talking about one of those gauges that plug into a cigarette lighter ? Or something built in ?

 

[jeepit]

Are you talking about one of those gauges that plug into a cigarette lighter ? Or something built in ?

No it is a set of gauges are on the wall and built in.

 

[Tractorat]

If it were me, I'd get a hold of a volt meter to see just what is at the battery terminal and go from there.

 

[KATOOM]

More than likely the RV battery converter is not working. The ones they come with are usually garbage and should be replaced with a quality one. WFCO is the common factory brand too. I finally swapped out for a Progressive Dynamics with the Charge Wizard. Remains plugged in 100% of the time there's shore power and the converter will completely maintain the batteries. Even boost charges automatically to stop stratification & sulfation. Very cool device.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

^^^ I agree with this guy. OE inverters are the cheap of the cheap. I didn't replace the inverter in our first 2007 TH, but when we upgraded in 2009 to a bigger TH, the inverter was the first thing to go.

 

[jeepit]

Found a blown fuse in converter. Replaced and it is working now.
I have a Progressive Dynamics PD9200 power converter in the Lance.....it does have the Charge Wizard in it.

 

[Tractorat]

Thats what I have, the progressive dynamics with wizard. My camper trailer is a 1988 and I mostly just use it for hunting and fishing, so I mostly dry camp. But it had been making a buzzing noise when charging for at least the last couple of years. It still charged fine, and as I said, I mostly dry camp so it didnt bother me. But I go on a couple of long road trips every year, and the noise at night bugged me. (if the a/c was on I counldnt hear it ). So I finally just replaced it. But other than the noise, the OE worked well. It charged the batteries fine and kept them charged. I always leave the trailer plugged in at home, sometimes for months and never a problem. Not bad for a 27 year old converter.