New Guy needs help with battery and charger

[drakcol 6]

Hello, I just took pocession of a great Teardrop that was hand made. I'm either the 3rd or 4th owner, so I can't get in touch with the builder to ask this question. The Teardrop has a battery that runs the interior lights and overhead fan. It also has a power hook up to run the outlets in the galley. In the galley is a battery charger that lights up when I hook up to external power. I had assumed that while hooked up the charger would be charging up the battery but that doesn't seem to be the case. My kids slept in it the other night and the battery died on us. Can anyone think of a "simple mistake" I might be overlooking??? I have no experience with electrical plans or fuze boxes. I plan to take the battery out and having it charged up before we take it out again. Any advice or hints would be very helpful. Thanks

[bobhenry]

Put a 12 volt light across the posts on the battery maybe one of those clip on emergency lights. If it is dim without the charger being plugged into 120 ac as I would expect then plug in the charger if the light brightens the charger is functioning correctly if it does not brighten then it may be the connection from the charger. If the charger seems to be functioning let it do its job for 24 hours. Next day remove the battery and take it to one of the auto parts stores. Most will load check a battery free of charge. If the trailer has set for a long period of time the battery may be sulfated and is essentially dead. Yes it will hold a small charge for a short time but it has been ignored too long. You should know what is next

[planovet]

If you have a volt meter, put it on the poles (with the charger disconnected) and see what it reads. If it's 11.7 or below your battery is probably gone. Like Bob alluded to, you are probably going to need a new battery.

[Dale M.]

I would also do simple wiring check to see if there is continuity from charger to battery....... It also could be a blown inline fuse between charger and battery, or as others have suggested, battery is past its prime.......

Dale

[Miriam C.]

I would also do simple wiring check to see if there is continuity from charger to battery....... It also could be a blown inline fuse between charger and battery, or as others have suggested, battery is past its prime.......

Dale

And by all means see if there is a shut off switch of some sort! The battery charger might not be hooked up right.

[drakcol 6]

These are all great ideas. I tend to think that the battery is dead. The person I bought it from made the comment that he "never bothered to recharge the battery". I think he had planned to use it more than he actually did and that it just sat for months at a time. It is a "deep cell marine battery", how much should I expect to pay for a new one? Again, I'm a total neophyte in this!

[bobhenry]

Depends on the battery group size a group 27 will run from 60 to 90 bucks depending on where you buy it. I opened the hood of my car and bought one to match so if the car one dies an unexpected death this winter I have a backup.

Just my dumb logic.

I am sure someone on here will have you buying 2 6000 lb trojan 6 volt batteries for a gazillion dollars and wireing them in series so you can camp weeks at a time.

[bobhenry]

I just know you are gonna ask.................

[madjack]

...follow the wires and make sure the battery is actually hooked up to the charger...there could be a master battery switch(usually a big red key) or a blown fuse...if the trailer was plugged in and the battery charger on, you should not of had problems with the lights...even with a dead battery...a new battery of the type should cost 70 bux...give or take 20 depending on where bought and amp hour size of battery...be sure to get a "deep cycle battery" and not one meant for starting/cranking or a hybrid of the two types(it'll say so on the battery)............
madjack

p.s. by the way Vlad, we need pics .....................MJ

[mikeschn]

I just know you are gonna ask.................

How would I wire that if I wanted to run 6v appliances?

Mike...

[Ageless]

In paralell, connect + to +; - to -, gives 6V and 2X the amperage

[48Rob]

I am sure someone on here will have you buying 2 6000 lb trojan 6 volt batteries for a gazillion dollars and wireing them in series so you can camp weeks at a time.

Hmmm, not a bad thought

If you don't use much power, a flashlight will serve well, but if you're a power hog like me, a couple heavy duty high capacity batteries are pretty nice to enjoy an extended camping trip with...

You didn't mention what type of charger came with the trailer, but you'll be money ahead to buy and use a "smart" multi stage charger if all you have now is a basic model.

The basic jobs will overcharge and ruin an expensive battery in a hurry.

I bought and installed a smart charger for around $80.00 and am on year 5 with my gazillion dollar Trojan batteries. ($180 for the pair at todays prices).


Rob

[BrwBier]

Just another thought, my smart charger does not start charging untill I select the type of battery. So every time the power goes on I have to press a button to select my type of battery. Maybe this is the problem. What charger is it?
Brwbier

[Steve_Cox]

Just another thought, my smart charger does not start charging untill I select the type of battery. So every time the power goes on I have to press a button to select my type of battery. Maybe this is the problem. What charger is it?
Brwbier

My thoughts as well, even if the battery was DOA the charger should have run the 12 volt load when the power light on the charger was on. I have a walmart 3 stage charger and it has to be initialized every time I power it up.

[48Rob]

I have a walmart 3 stage charger and it has to be initialized every time I power it up.

That sure could be the posters problem, good catch!

Do you guys really have to "turn it on" everytime you want to charge the battery(s)?

I bought the Deltran 5 Amp model.
I connected it permanantly, and each time the trailer is hooked up to shore power, it kicks in as needed, no switches or buttons.

http://www.batterymart.com/p-battery-te ... rger.html#

$78.00

<img src="http://www.batterymart.com/images/products/full/DEL-022-0157-1-new.jpg">