Status indicator not working

[soohma]

Two weeks ago I charged the house battery fully. I checked today and the status indicator was dark; it didn't show anything at all and I couldn't turn on any lights or start the generator. (That's the one that shows how full the tanks are, how charged the house battery is, etc.)

I've got it plugged in, but this has never happened before. We haven't been having very cold weather (PNW), so the house battery shouldn't have drained completely down. I just bought the battery last summer.

Any ideas what's happening?

 

[AK49er]

Almost sounds like the battery disconnect switch is off.

 

[soohma]

I haven't switched anything off. Where might that switch be located?

 

[markopolo-ClassB]

What RV do you have?

Often it is a momentary type switch. I'd start looking near the side door.

 

[AK49er]

When you charged the house battery did you disconnect the cables before putting the charger on the battery? If so, are the cables hooked back up the correct way? Just another thought to help you out.

 

[soohma]

I have a 1998 Dodge chassis Coach House.

I didn't disconnect the house battery cables for the winter, just the van battery cables. To charge the house battery, I just plug in an extension cord. The battery remains hooked up through the winter and I make sure it stays charged.

Not sure what a momentary switch is, but if it's near the door, I'll look.

After a full night's charging, no change, in other words, the status indicator still isn't working.

 

[markopolo-ClassB]

Check the fuses in the coach. One could have blown or is loose.

 

[mkguitar]

on many internet forums the complaint starts with "the battery is only XXX old" ( cars, motorcycles, RV's etc etc )

#1). is a switch in the incorrect position- a battery isolator or master switch? ( on my Pleasure Way, the switch needs to be on for the battery to charge from Shore power)

#2). duff battery/cables

The only way to know for sure that the battery is good is to take it out and charge it on the bench...then load test it- free at autozone.
( disconnect neg first no sparks that way. charge at near room temps in a well ventilated area ( hydrogen gas) overnight. 6 to 10 amp charger is about right)

while it is out check the condition of the cables.

once that is know to be good then we move on to other factors

a duff battery can damage a charging system so we want to start there.
temperature greatly affects state of charge
electrons will flow between the terminals on a battery across a dirty damp casing resulting in discharge. keep your batteries clean

mike

 

[AK49er]

Our Coach House is a couple of years newer, it is the wide body edition so it might make a difference. Our battery switch is located inside on the passenger side towards the back near the floor. If you sat on the couch on the passenger side your right foot would hit the on/off switch.

The only momentary switch we have for batteries is the one located near the headlight switch. It is for using the house batteries to jump start the chassis battery in case of chassis battery being dead.

mkguitar has some good advise to start with, I would start with his idea of taking the battery out of the rig and charging it on the bench. After charging and still no luck move onto his other good advise.

Good luck.

 

[soohma]

I think it may be a 'broken' GIF switch. I looked in the electrical compartment and the switch was off and wouldn't turn on. Also, the whole unit was wiggly. That's something I can't fix until I re-hook up my van battery, unfortunately.