Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 04-17-2018, 10:05 PM   #1
2 Rivet Member
 
2018 25' Flying Cloud
Hillsboro , Oregon
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 76
WF-9855 never goes to 13.2V

I have my trailer plugged into a home 15A plug and I have the battery disconnect switched to disconnected. A DMM across the battery terminals always reads 13.6V. The WFCO userd guide says that it should float at 13.2V. Is this going to be a problem for long term storage?

Thanks,

Jason
Roguegaston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 05:57 AM   #2
.-. -...
 
Adventure.AS's Avatar
 
2017 25' International
Niagara-on-the-Lake , ON Canada
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,836
If the Battery Disconnect is in store mode then the converter/charger is usually not putting any current into the batteries (at least in our 2017). Perhaps AS has changed the configuration.

When you measure across the battery terminals and if the converter/charger is not in the circuit then 13.6V shows fully charged batteries and not current from the charger.
__________________
Ray B.
Adventure.AS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 06:12 AM   #3
2 Rivet Member
 
Livingston , Texas
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adventure.AS View Post
When you measure across the battery terminals and if the converter/charger is not in the circuit then 13.6V shows fully charged batteries and not current from the charger.
To my understanding, if the charger is not in the mix a fully charged battery would read 12.6.
dzwiss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 06:34 AM   #4
.-. -...
 
Adventure.AS's Avatar
 
2017 25' International
Niagara-on-the-Lake , ON Canada
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,836
Quote:
Originally Posted by dzwiss View Post
To my understanding, if the charger is not in the mix a fully charged battery would read 12.6.
Yes, my mistake. Sorry for the confusion. The charger must be in the circuit then.
__________________
Ray B.
Adventure.AS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 09:46 AM   #5
Rivet Master
 
2017 30' Classic
Anna Maria , Florida
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,642
Quote:
Originally Posted by dzwiss View Post
To my understanding, if the charger is not in the mix a fully charged battery would read 12.6.

My batteries do. And 13.6 while the charger is engaged.
franklyfrank is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 09:56 AM   #6
4 Rivet Member
 
greenflag's Avatar
 
2016 30' International
Quartz Hill , California
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 356
I use "Battery Tender" on my batteries. It is an automatic battery maintainer. Plug it in and forget about it until you are ready to hit the road. My 2016 doesn't have the same power converter as the new models.
greenflag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 10:19 AM   #7
Rivet Master
 
Al and Missy's Avatar
 
2002 30' Classic S/O
Fleming Island , Florida
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,668
It may not go to float if there is any residual load on the batteries. Some items may not be switched off by the battery disconnect; the propane detector and sub-woofer are examples I have seen listed here.

Al
__________________
“You cannot reason someone out of a position they have not been reasoned into"
Al, K5TAN and Missy, N4RGO WBCCI 1322
2002 Classic 30 Slideout -S/OS #004
2013 Dodge 2500 Laramie 4x4 Megacab Cummins
Al and Missy is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 10:22 AM   #8
Rivet Master
 
Silvr_Bullet's Avatar

 
2017 16' Sport
N/A , N/A
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,789
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roguegaston View Post
I have my trailer plugged into a home 15A plug and I have the battery disconnect switched to disconnected. A DMM across the battery terminals always reads 13.6V. The WFCO userd guide says that it should float at 13.2V. Is this going to be a problem for long term storage?

Thanks,

Jason
A question? I also am plugged into 15 amp circuit, is it recommended to not leave the switch disconnect in ‘connect’, wouldn’t this always keep Battery topped off?
Silvr_Bullet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 10:26 AM   #9
2 Rivet Member
 
2018 25' Flying Cloud
Hillsboro , Oregon
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 76
I was hoping to remove any load by pressing the battery disconnect switch. The charger still charges the batteries with the switch off. I will let it run for another few days and check again. If it's still not dropping to float, I will start using a battery tender instead.

Thanks,

Jason
Roguegaston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 10:42 AM   #10
Rivet Master

 
2007 22' International CCD
Corona , California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roguegaston View Post
I was hoping to remove any load by pressing the battery disconnect switch. The charger still charges the batteries with the switch off. I will let it run for another few days and check again. If it's still not dropping to float, I will start using a battery tender instead.

Thanks,

Jason
OK, that is wired a little differently than most older ones, like my 2006. If I am in 'Store', the battery charger is NOT connected to the batteries. The fact that the converter is not dropping to the float voltage could mean that there are a few sneak loads not getting disconnected. Another possibility is a tired battery...

I'd consider a mechanical battery total disconnect switch to be darn sure, and use of a battery tender.
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
rmkrum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 11:03 AM   #11
1 Rivet Member
 
rlphillips00's Avatar
 
2016 23' International
Fort Davis , Texas
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 15
Don't Overcharge Those Batteries

After installing a replacement converter in my 2016 23FB Intl Serenity, I've learned from Parallax that the battery will not charge at 13.6VDC if it is in Store mode when connected to 120VAC. If you disconnect the converter from 120VAC, and don't take the battery out of Store mode, you should not be able to read any VDC at the wall readout. Now I keep the converter from burning out itself and the batteries from over charging by using a solar panel (Airstream Life), or turning on the converter for only an hour or so. If you think of your AS batteries like a car battery, you need to charge it only once in awhile to keep a battery bank good (12.6VDC). It's when you plan on boon docking that a constant charge to batteries is required if you're going to use that VDC energy.
rlphillips00 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 11:09 AM   #12
Rivet Master
 
gypsydad's Avatar
 
2017 28' Flying Cloud
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Georgetown (winter)Thayne (summer) , Texas & Wyoming
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,621
I agree with the mechanical battery disconnect switch. The separate extra battery tender option can work also, but not sure it's necessary if you have a 4 stage converter. We replaced our OEM converter/charger with the 4 stage converter which will properly charge/maintain your batteries when plugged in without overcharging. Also will help with "desulfation" which can build up in the battery cells and cause battery to fail.

We can leave plugged in to shore power all the time. We do disconnect the batteries with a mechanical "knife" disconnect switch after fully charged, to eliminate any chance of a draw on the batteries. This allows us to use the electronics in the AS if needed while in storage, but isolates the batteries. We will typically connect the knife switch a couple days before using the AS if it has not been used for a month or so, just to top off the batteries. For us this works well. There are a few choices out there; we chose the Boondocker. There is a lot of information on this topic on the Forum...
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	battery disconnect off.jpg
Views:	119
Size:	204.3 KB
ID:	308985  
__________________
Empty Nesters; Gypsies on the road!
2017 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2017 F250 King Ranch, 4X4, 6.7L, Blue-Ox WDH
Summer-Star Valley Ranch RV Resort (Thayne, WY); Winter-Sun City (Georgetown,TX)
gypsydad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 12:22 PM   #13
Rivet Master
 
SteveSueMac's Avatar

 
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W , New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
Sorry for the hijack but gypsydad - help me understand how your device works? It looks like the negatives are both still connected from the short jumper cable whether or not you engage the disconnect. But I'm no electrician. I've been wanting to add a manual disconnect like this - and yours looks like a neat fit for the battery box - I just don't understand it - go slow in your explanation. [emoji3]
SteveSueMac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 12:45 PM   #14
Moderator
 
DKB_SATX's Avatar

 
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Alamo Heights , Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,500
Images: 1
Blog Entries: 7
Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveSueMac View Post
Sorry for the hijack but gypsydad - help me understand how your device works? It looks like the negatives are both still connected from the short jumper cable whether or not you engage the disconnect. But I'm no electrician. I've been wanting to add a manual disconnect like this - and yours looks like a neat fit for the battery box - I just don't understand it - go slow in your explanation. [emoji3]
It looks to me like the batteries are still paralleled together, but the negative line from the batteries to the trailer is interrupted by the knife switch when it's open.
__________________
— David

Zero Gravitas — 2017 Flying Cloud 26U | WBCCI# 15566

He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. — Sir Winston Churchill
DKB_SATX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 03:54 PM   #15
2 Rivet Member
 
Livingston , Texas
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by gypsydad View Post
We replaced our OEM converter/charger with the 4 stage converter which will properly charge/maintain your batteries when plugged in without overcharging. Also will help with "desulfation" which can build up in the battery cells and cause battery to fail.
It is not a good idea to run a 4 stage charger with a "desulfation" mode if you are using AGM batteries unless you can deactivate the desulfation cycle.
dzwiss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 05:02 PM   #16
Rivet Master
 
SteveSueMac's Avatar

 
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W , New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
Quote:
Originally Posted by DKB_SATX View Post
It looks to me like the batteries are still paralleled together, but the negative line from the batteries to the trailer is interrupted by the knife switch when it's open.


I'm lost. Maybe time for a new thread. It seems the negative to the trailer is on the battery on the top of the picture (curbside based on the angle of the a-frame and location of lid). So even though the disconnect is open - isn't there still at least one battery connected to the trailer? Sorry I'm so dense - really not getting it....
SteveSueMac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 05:32 PM   #17
Rivet Master
 
TG Twinkie's Avatar
 
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill , Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
Images: 2
Blog Entries: 5
The part of the disconnect switch with the knife handle is not connected to the battery. Look close and you will see the battery post above the knife switch in the pic.
TG Twinkie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 06:11 PM   #18
Rivet Master
 
SteveSueMac's Avatar

 
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W , New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
Quote:
Originally Posted by TG Twinkie View Post
The part of the disconnect switch with the knife handle is not connected to the battery. Look close and you will see the battery post above the knife switch in the pic.


Ohhhhhhh! Got it! Optical delusion on my part - it LOOKS like the battery post but it's just hanging there not touching the post (which is on the other side of the battery entirely....).

Funny how a brain settles in on something and can't see anything else! Thanks for the help everyone!
SteveSueMac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 08:16 PM   #19
Rivet Master

 
2007 22' International CCD
Corona , California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
Apparently the insulator that connects the two haves of the knife switch is very inconspicuous in the photo. Had me going until I noticed the bare negatives (?) post on the far battery.
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
rmkrum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 08:23 PM   #20
Rivet Master
 
SteveSueMac's Avatar

 
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W , New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
I'm assuming it's something like this:

https://www.wirthco.com/20148.html

One side (the open one on the earlier picture) is on the post, the other is suspended over the battery case. A real eye trick!
SteveSueMac is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Furnace goes on, TV goes off whacksplat General Repair Forum 11 05-17-2009 07:33 AM
NT-16 Suburban furnace burner goes WHOOF!!! sfixx Furnaces, Heaters, Fireplaces & Air Conditioning 12 02-13-2005 04:29 PM
Bambi 19'CCD goes in production 7/29, I'm checking my list! Rhodie Our Community 11 07-28-2004 07:21 PM
Pinkflaming finally GOES!! pinkflamingoes On The Road... 28 07-06-2004 10:08 AM
Fred goes to Stone Mountain thenewkid64 Airstream Motorhome Forums 20 08-14-2003 04:46 AM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:27 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.