Electrical system failure

[Citrus breeze]

Today, my unit suddenly indicated through the Xantrex solar unit that the batteries were dead!  New batteries as of last year!  Circuit breakers checked out fine.  Why is the system apparently draining the batteries?

 

[Steph and Dud B]

More info please. Type of batteries? What voltage do you see when you press the Battery button on the SeeLevel monitor? Are you plugged into shore power or running off batteries? Do your interior lights work? Do you have a multimeter?

[topgun2]

1 hour ago, Steph and Dud B said:

More info please. Type of batteries? What voltage do you see when you press the Battery button on the SeeLevel monitor? Are you plugged into shore power or running off batteries? Do your interior lights work? Do you have a multimeter?

Also - 

do you have solar panels?  Do you have a solar panel cut-off switch?

do you have an inverter?  Is it on or off?

do you have a fridge that runs off DC power (i.e. a three way fridge)?  If yes then what setting is the fridge on (a/c, d/c, or propane?

Bill

 

[Citrus breeze]

I have AGM batteries that test with my multi tester as having full power.  However, the Xantrex indicates “dead batteries”, even though the voltage reading on it says 11.7V.  It seems to indicate that the Xantrex is not reading the batteries correctly.

[Tom and Doreen]

What is the voltage measured directly on the battery terminals with a DVM? 

[Citrus breeze]

The voltage directly from the batteries with my multi tester is reading 12.7 V.  My Inverter is on. My 3 way refrigerator is not turned on and is therefore not drawing any power.  My maxi fan is running on a slow setting.  The solar Xantrex controller is showing that I have the 11.7V right now, and is indicating that solar is sending current into the unit.  They are new batteries.

You see, I’m preparing for our next camping trip this coming Thursday.  

Does any of this make sense?

Charlie

[Citrus breeze]

The readings are as follows:  

[Tom and Doreen]

I'm not sure how the 2021 trailers are configured for power, mine is a 2023, but if you have an Optifuse circuit breaker on the input side feeding the Xantrex the Optifuse may be dropping some of the voltage.  Mine was problematic, the symptom was a low indicated voltage at the Xantrex and when I would run high current devices such as the microwave the Xantrex would shut down. The solution for me was to replace the Optifuse with a marine switch.  

I would give Oliver a call and they can help to zero in on the issue.   

[John Dorrer]

First thing I see is your batteries are below 12.2. All it takes is one time to damage AGM's. They are unforgiving.

 

Street side, at the front next to the actual inverter should be the inverter breaker. If it is tripped you can't charge the batteries. It is also possible that it is bad, and/or the cables are loose. Must be off shore power, solar off, inverter breaker tripped and then batteries off before touching the breaker. I have a 2022 and have had to replace the breaker twice.

 

[Snackchaser]

3 hours ago, Citrus breeze said:

The voltage directly from the batteries with my multi tester is reading 12.7 V.  

Charlie, 

Based on your measured values, I’d first look at the battery cable to battery post connection(s):

1.  If the 12.7 volt measurement was taken directly from the battery posts, then the battery is not dead.

2.  The solar directly feeds the battery via the Zamp controller.  It does not pass through the inverter or the main battery breaker.  So the 11.7 voltage read from the Zamp controller is more likely a voltage drop through the battery post connection(s), not the main breaker.

3. The inverter also shows 11.7 volts, with no load, so it could also be reading a voltage drop through the battery post connection(s).

That’s a reasonable analysis, and battery post corrosion is a common problem with AGM batteries.  Sometimes the lead battery posts become oxidized.  Although they appear fine, oxidization is a poor conductor.

Having said all that, you possibly have a different setup or a poor main ground connection.  Some simple voltage tests at various connection points would quickly isolate the problem if cleaning the battery posts does not fix the issue.

Hope that helps.  Cheers, Geoff

 

[Citrus breeze]

Thanks John,

Here’s what my fuse looks like.  Are they easy to remove and install?

Charlie

[Citrus breeze]

Thanks Snack chaser!  I intend to clean the battery posts.  I’ll check those out.

 

Charlie