DutchmenSport
Senior Member
Folks have responded with various suggestions, I always like to start simple and at the beginning ..... is your battery disconnect switch in the disconnect position?
If the battery disconnect switch (sometimes a big red key located in your convenience center or maybe near the battery depending on your model) can be removed, the battery is disconnected. If the key cannot be removed, the battery is connected.
It's kind of backwards, but it's a disconnect.... when when "disconnect" switch is "on" the battery is disconnected from the rest of the camper. When it's "off" the battery is connected.
When the battery is disconnected, the converter (run by AC electricity) will not charge the battery. Nor will any "power" from the battery provide any power to the camper either. It's cut off.
The reason you still have DC electricity when the battery is dead or disconnected is because the converter is also putting out DC electricity and AC electricity. But as stated above, some items (like jacks and slides) put a strong stress on the converter when it functions without the battery.
Now, why did the battery go dead if the cut off switch is in the disconnect position? That's because your battery is really not 100% disconnected from everything. Yes, it is disconnected from charging and running the normal electronics, but there is at least one item that is always running off the battery only and does not use your converter, and that is your CO detector that has it's own in-line fuse directly to the battery. This is a constant drain on the battery. So if the converter is not charging because you are in disconnect, the battery will not charge, but will continue to drain dead.
Before doing anything, make sure your battery disconnect is NOT in the disconnect position. That is where you should start. Please don't tear anything apart in your camper until you know for sure you are not in disconnect and/or your battery truly is bad.
If the battery disconnect switch (sometimes a big red key located in your convenience center or maybe near the battery depending on your model) can be removed, the battery is disconnected. If the key cannot be removed, the battery is connected.
It's kind of backwards, but it's a disconnect.... when when "disconnect" switch is "on" the battery is disconnected from the rest of the camper. When it's "off" the battery is connected.
When the battery is disconnected, the converter (run by AC electricity) will not charge the battery. Nor will any "power" from the battery provide any power to the camper either. It's cut off.
The reason you still have DC electricity when the battery is dead or disconnected is because the converter is also putting out DC electricity and AC electricity. But as stated above, some items (like jacks and slides) put a strong stress on the converter when it functions without the battery.
Now, why did the battery go dead if the cut off switch is in the disconnect position? That's because your battery is really not 100% disconnected from everything. Yes, it is disconnected from charging and running the normal electronics, but there is at least one item that is always running off the battery only and does not use your converter, and that is your CO detector that has it's own in-line fuse directly to the battery. This is a constant drain on the battery. So if the converter is not charging because you are in disconnect, the battery will not charge, but will continue to drain dead.
Before doing anything, make sure your battery disconnect is NOT in the disconnect position. That is where you should start. Please don't tear anything apart in your camper until you know for sure you are not in disconnect and/or your battery truly is bad.
