Weekend electrical problems

[jsprad]

I have a 2005 International 25SS. Over the weekend some intersting electrical things happened. On Friday night, I noticed the electricity would drop about every 15 to 20 seconds, go to battery power and come back up after about 3 or 4 seconds. I checked the system and found nothing. I checked fuses, switches, etc and all looked good. I turned off the power for the night and went to bed. On Saturday morning, it was the same thing. With daylight, I looked a little closer, checking batteries, converter, etc., still finding nothing. I did notice the water level in one of the batteries was low and corrected that. I turned off the power Saturday night and just decided to get it to someone this week. This morning, I turned on the power to get a few things done and noticed the power was running smoothly, with no drops. I looked at the battery status and noticed the light was completely off and the batteries completely dead. It appears to me that once, for whatever reason, the batteries were out of the equation, everything went back to normal. Has anyone seen this or experienced this before? I still plan to take it to my dealer this week. Thanks.

[Wayne&Sam]

"Weekend Electrical Problems"

Just wait until Monday. Then only camp Monday through Friday.

Sorry, that's all I can come up with. I'm sure someone else will be more helpful.

[HowieE]

Do you have 1 or 2 batteries. If only one just install a new battery. Sounds like that battery was shorting the plates in one of the cells and changing the load on the converter.

If you have 2 batteries change them both. It is not a good idea to run unbalanced batteries.

[jsprad]

HowieE, thanks. I do have two batteries. I had been noticing some "little" electrical aggrevations lately, mainly with the electric jack. After the weekend I really felt like it had to be something related to the batteries. When they were out of the system, everything seemed to be normal. I'm not sure when it happened overnight, but I guess that really doesn't matter. Thanks again.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, my 2005 Safari is just over four years old and my batteries went south a year ago. Buy two new batteries first, and if you still have problems, then think about a dealer.

[jsprad]

Just to follow up. My Dometic refrig. needed the recall upfit so I took it in to the dealer. He told me the batteries were absolutely shot and would not hold any charge. He could not even get a reading on the voltometer. He said the converter was trying to recharge them and that was causing the power to come in and out. After taking the batteries completely offline, everything worked fine...all lighting, jack, etc. I have yet to go pick it up, but thought I would at least post what I was told.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, jsprad. Thanks for the update. Let us know how everything works out when you get your trailer back home.

[jsprad]

Well got it back today. I haven't had the opportunity to check anything but the jack, but compared to how that was, I thought the jack was going to throw the tongue up off the pavement. It hasn't worked quite like that in a while. I guess the batteries had been slowly dying for a little while. Seems like the batteries were the problem.