|
|
07-19-2013, 07:26 PM
|
#21
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Adirondack Mountains NY
Posts: 1,101
|
Re: Dead Battery whoops
Typically, the aux 12 volts in a 7-pin connector is to charge the trailer battery when the tow vehicle engine is running. The aux 12 volts should be turned off whenever the engine is off.
It appears that you had two problems: the brakes were drawing current locked on 24/7 by being mis-wired to the aux 12 volts, and your aux 12 volts was not off with the engine stopped.
Think of batteries as electrical pressure chambers. If the voltage (pressure) of the trailer battery drops below the pressure of the vehicle batteries, the vehicle batteries will discharge in an attempt to charge the weak battery. If you are boondocking in a trailer hooked to the tow vehicle, and the aux 12 volts does not cut out, then you are running down ALL the batteries, and may get stranded. This is the same as leaving the house and starting batteries in a Skoolie or RV connected when parked (and not plugged in).
In my tow vehicle, I added a relay triggered by an ignition circuit that only puts power to the trailer battery connection when the key is in "run." A switch that you remember to turn on and turn off would also work.
__________________
Someone said "Making good decisions comes from experience, experience comes from bad decisions." I say there are three kinds of people: those who learn from their mistakes, those who learn from the mistakes of others, and those who never learn.
|
|
|
07-19-2013, 09:29 PM
|
#22
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,356
Year: 1993
Coachwork: bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins, Allison AT1545
Rated Cap: 2
|
Re: Dead Battery whoops
exactly.
i dont even need the aux trailer wire..... i was being fancy in my hitch and wanted to hook up all the wires.
i ran a four wire flat plug, a brake wire, and a dedicated wire (aux) just to run my battery down.
|
|
|
07-19-2013, 09:51 PM
|
#23
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: So Cal
Posts: 3,227
Year: 1935
Coachwork: Superior
Chassis: Chevy
Engine: 317 ci/tid / Isuzu
|
Re: Dead Battery whoops
|
|
|
07-20-2013, 10:21 AM
|
#24
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,356
Year: 1993
Coachwork: bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins, Allison AT1545
Rated Cap: 2
|
Re: Dead Battery whoops
well.... one of the batteries survived.
i'm gonna take the other down to the auto place for testing. it shows that its charging..... but a few minutes off the charger and the voltage drops down into the high 10's.
|
|
|
07-20-2013, 01:39 PM
|
#25
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cleburne TX
Posts: 692
Year: 2001
Chassis: International Amtran RE
Engine: DT466E/MD3060
Rated Cap: 78
|
Re: Dead Battery whoops
Its probably done if it drops off that fast. As said I would go get MAXX batteries and not have to worry about them... Don't want to say kind of a one time purchase but it is if you keep them in that 3 year window.
|
|
|
07-20-2013, 06:38 PM
|
#26
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
|
Re: Dead Battery whoops
Quote:
Originally Posted by turf
i ran a four wire flat plug, a brake wire, and a dedicated wire (aux) just to run my battery down.
|
We've all done stuff like that. It goes with the territory.
|
|
|
07-20-2013, 07:30 PM
|
#27
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Roswell, NM
Posts: 3,588
Year: 1986
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: 40 ft All American FE
Engine: 8.2LTA Fuel Pincher DD V8
Rated Cap: 89
|
Re: Dead Battery whoops
Quote:
Originally Posted by turf
... i ran a four wire flat plug, a brake wire, and a dedicated wire (aux) just to run my battery down.
|
Apparently you got that part right.
We just run a standard WalMart auto battery to crank our bus. It's also doing double duty right now to power the 12vDC water pump. We keep it hooked up to the Progressive smart battery charger. Been running like that for several months now. At least we don't have to worry about the battery going dead.
|
|
|
07-20-2013, 09:52 PM
|
#28
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Adirondack Mountains NY
Posts: 1,101
|
Re: Dead Battery whoops
Quote:
Originally Posted by turf
..... but a few minutes off the charger and the voltage drops down into the high 10's.
|
That is an indicator of a shorted cell. The battery is trash.
2.1 volts per cell x 6 good cells when charged and not connected = 12.6 to 12.7 volts
2.1 volts per cell x 5 good charged cells connected by one shorted cell = 10.5 volts
If you have a hygrometer to draw samples of the liquid out and compare the specific gravity readings, that is the true measure of the charge. You can compare the difference in charge between the cells. In a good battery, they will all be very close, but not necessarily identical. If you see one or more cells wildly different than the others, it's time for a new battery.
__________________
Someone said "Making good decisions comes from experience, experience comes from bad decisions." I say there are three kinds of people: those who learn from their mistakes, those who learn from the mistakes of others, and those who never learn.
|
|
|
07-20-2013, 11:57 PM
|
#29
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,356
Year: 1993
Coachwork: bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins, Allison AT1545
Rated Cap: 2
|
Re: Dead Battery whoops
hmmm, i wish i could.
its a semi sealed battery. maintenance free with the plastic cups for access under the sticker. im gonna see what the pro-rated replacement is first. 15 month old battery - 12 months free replacement, pro-rated up to 3 years.
then will price shop wally like Bapos suggests.
|
|
|
07-21-2013, 08:43 AM
|
#30
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Roswell, NM
Posts: 3,588
Year: 1986
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: 40 ft All American FE
Engine: 8.2LTA Fuel Pincher DD V8
Rated Cap: 89
|
Re: Dead Battery whoops
Quote:
Originally Posted by turf
hmmm, i wish i could.
its a semi sealed battery. maintenance free with the plastic cups for access under the sticker. im gonna see what the pro-rated replacement is first. 15 month old battery - 12 months free replacement, pro-rated up to 3 years.
then will price shop wally like Bapos suggests.
|
Better to replace now while in a position to shop prices than to have to buy from the closest (most expensive) place that happens to be open on the Sunday/holiday while traveling.
|
|
|
07-22-2013, 04:32 PM
|
#31
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,356
Year: 1993
Coachwork: bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins, Allison AT1545
Rated Cap: 2
|
Re: Dead Battery whoops
the battery tested bad at the auto supply place. the little electronic tester load tested it and
said it had a bad cell. they prorated the battery and replaced it for $30.
|
|
|
07-22-2013, 07:00 PM
|
#32
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cleburne TX
Posts: 692
Year: 2001
Chassis: International Amtran RE
Engine: DT466E/MD3060
Rated Cap: 78
|
Re: Dead Battery whoops
Glad you got taken care of. Ive seen ones a few months old go bad. But keep an eye on it (the warranty) and make sure it goes bad before it goes out of date....
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
Similar Threads
|
Thread |
Thread Starter |
Forum |
Replies |
Last Post |
Dead battery
|
Raw Slaw |
Conversion Tutorials and How-to's |
25 |
05-22-2016 09:27 PM |
DEAD BUS?
|
TheRainbowBoxer |
Alternative Fuels | Electric, Propane, Wood & Biofuels |
6 |
03-17-2012 02:26 PM |
dead battery DDEC 6V91
|
frank-id |
Detroit Diesel Drivetrain |
2 |
01-21-2012 06:37 AM |
Main Battery - Starting Battery Group 31? 8D?
|
Tone |
Conversion Tutorials and How-to's |
5 |
04-16-2009 05:02 PM |
Am I dead?
|
temp |
Forum Admin | Account Help | Suggestion Box |
1 |
06-20-2007 03:57 PM |
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|