Not charging

[Billyjeter]

Our 25 foot 2018 International batteries are not charging with ground hook ups or on the road. Any ideas what could cause this?

[Keys Dave]

Your going to tell us a lot more about your equipment and situation. Do you have solar, a DC to DC charger, what about your converter. The first thing to check is the breaker.

[Billyjeter]

Where does the breaker wire connect to the battery? It looks like we have an issue there. We are not using solar.

[BGClassic]

If you mean "shore power" when you say ground hookups, then the charging path is from the converter. The converter takes 120VAC shore power and converts to DC, and charges the battery. There should be an AC circuit breaker for the converter, in your load center. Check that first.

While on the road, unless you have a DC-DC converter/charger, you're not putting much charge into the battery from the tow vehicle, via the 7-pin.

[Bigventure]

Check the battery for a fuse at the postive terminal.

[Daquenzer]

When you are on shore power do you have the switch to “in use?” If not the converter will not charge the batteries.

If it is and not charging then as stated above check circuit breaker.

Hopefully not a bad converter.

How old are the batteries?

Here is what AI states on Google:
Airstream batteries not charging on shore power can stem from a few common issues, including faulty connections, blown fuses, or a malfunctioning converter. It's also possible the batteries themselves are the problem, or the converter is not properly regulating the charge.

By the way, I bought a portable jumper for $200 just in case the batteries go down so that I can’t use the power jack. Something you may want to invest in.

Let us know when you get it fixed. Always interested in what the solutions are…

[richard5933]

Have they ever charged correctly? Is this a new trailer to you? I see that your information states you're 'still looking' so I'm guessing you might have just acquired this trailer.

Some more information about your setup and maybe a few pictures (of the batteries, converter, etc) might help us help you.

So many possibilities that it's really hard to make recommendations just yet.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by Daquenzer

When you are on shore power do you have the switch to “in use?” If not the converter will not charge the batteries.

If it is and not charging then as stated above check circuit breaker.

Hopefully not a bad converter.

How old are the batteries?

Here is what AI states on Google:
Airstream batteries not charging on shore power can stem from a few common issues, including faulty connections, blown fuses, or a malfunctioning converter. It's also possible the batteries themselves are the problem, or the converter is not properly regulating the charge.

By the way, I bought a portable jumper for $200 just in case the batteries go down so that I can’t use the power jack. Something you may want to invest in.

Let us know when you get it fixed. Always interested in what the solutions are…

I've found that AI rarely helps provide anything other than overly broad and general answers for things like this.

[PaulBristol]

Originally Posted by richard5933

I've found that AI rarely helps provide anything other than overly broad and general answers for things like this.

In this case, the AI seems to have covered the issue. More troubleshooting is required to narrow it down.

Entry door switch "ON"
Is there a disconnect switch near the batteries? Is it "ON"?
Converter/charger circuit breaker "ON". Switch it "OFF" then back "ON" to be sure.
Voltmeter:
Check voltage on battery terminals before connecting to shore power.
Check voltage again after plugging in. Voltage should rise slowly to 13.6 or more.
Loose or corroded connections between battery and converter/charger.
Battery fuse blown
Post make and model of converter/charger or inverter/charger for better advice.

Lots of other possibilities.

[Andy543]

Originally Posted by Billyjeter

Our 25 foot 2018 International batteries are not charging with ground hook ups or on the road. Any ideas what could cause this?

Your converter may not be working. Converters can get fried if the campground electrical grid is not working properly. The converter converts 110 AC to DC needed for battery charging. First check the circuit breaker to the converter. If that's OK then check the converter output for 12 VDC. First you'll have to find the converter. On my FC28 it's hidden behind the circuit breaker panel below the refrigerator. You'll have to remove the panel to get at the converter. Disconnect the heavy leads to the batteries and check for 12 VDC. If there's nothing there, check your converter manual to see if there's a fuse or anything else you can do. If the converter is bad you can get another one on Amazon for around $100, or you can pick one up at Camping World if there's one nearby.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by PaulBristol

In this case, the AI seems to have covered the issue. More troubleshooting is required to narrow it down.

....

It covered it only in the sense of listing all possible causes without any specifics.

To properly diagnose something like this requires a bit of back and forth to gather enough information, not just throwing out a list of possible causes. That's what I was attempting to do with the few questions I started with.

[Daquenzer]

Originally Posted by richard5933

It covered it only in the sense of listing all possible causes without any specifics.

To properly diagnose something like this requires a bit of back and forth to gather enough information, not just throwing out a list of possible causes. That's what I was attempting to do with the few questions I started with.

Well the possible causes are what someone needs to know. You start then with the simplest and move up. That's how all diagnostics are done. After all we aren't there on the site dealing with the problem. We have no idea what the OP has done or not done. What else are you going to do, but list the possible causes and go from there?

Also this forum isn't like a chat session where we talk to the OP back and forth. We don't know if he's even following this. He may have solved the issue by now. All our advice at this point may be a complete waste of time.

I have also found on this forum that many like to get down deep into the weeds with all kinds of complex answers. Generally most problems are resolved fairly simply. I was a maintenance worker for a number of years while in graduate school. When we had a call for a problem we always started with the simplest solutions. 90% of the time the simple solutions worked, and very rarely was it anything complex.

I don't know how many times I was called by tenants that said their oven wasn't working. I went into the apartment and flipped the breaker. Problem solved. I can only remember 1 time I had to change the oven filament.

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by richard5933

It covered it only in the sense of listing all possible causes without any specifics.

To properly diagnose something like this requires a bit of back and forth to gather enough information, not just throwing out a list of possible causes. That's what I was attempting to do with the few questions I started with.

While that's true, several people have given some "back" and are still waiting for some "forth to gather enough information" so it's possible to do anything other then "just throwing out a list of possible causes."

[Billyjeter]

I think this has to be my trouble, what does this wire too? Hell I can’t figure out how to attach a photo from my phone!

[Billyjeter]

I have been on the road and unable to answer any of the comments. We have had this airstream since new in 2018, My issue is the batteries are stone dead and will not charge on a full day drive or an overnight stay on shore power. I see a wire that has a switch on the end that appears to have have come undone from somewhere. I have taken a picture of the battery box but cannot figure out how to load it on this reply. The batteries are normal batteries that needed changing. I don't want to do that until I figure out why it isn't charging.

[Keys Dave]

As much as I love this forum posting pictures seems to be more difficult than it needs to be.
Google how to post here, I had to. Once you know how give us some pictures of the problem areas and I am sure people will respond quickly with great help.

[PaulBristol]

Originally Posted by Billyjeter

I have been on the road and unable to answer any of the comments. We have had this airstream since new in 2018, My issue is the batteries are stone dead and will not charge on a full day drive or an overnight stay on shore power. I see a wire that has a switch on the end that appears to have have come undone from somewhere. I have taken a picture of the battery box but cannot figure out how to load it on this reply. The batteries are normal batteries that needed changing. I don't want to do that until I figure out why it isn't charging.

I recommend you get a portable charger and charge up your lead acid batteries. Lead acid batteries do not do well when they spend long periods discharged. A week is okay, more than a month would not be good.

[Daquenzer]

Originally Posted by Billyjeter

I think this has to be my trouble, what does this wire too? Hell I can’t figure out how to attach a photo from my phone!

Unattached or loose wire….that would be a problem. No wires in the box should be loose.

I feel your frustration. I know what it’s like. Hopefully you can get a picture uploaded soon.

Here’s a suggestion if you can’t upload the picture to this site. Call an Airstream dealer; maybe where you bought your unit. Send their maintenance people a picture. Maybe they can help you out. Or even take your unit to a local RV dealer, tell them your problem, and see if there is a quick fix.

And I agree withe above post about getting a charger and get those batteries charged. By the way….if those batteries are old you may now need new batteries if they have been discharged a long time.

[LNBright]

Originally Posted by Billyjeter

I think this has to be my trouble, what does this wire too? Hell I can’t figure out how to attach a photo from my phone!

When you start a reply, scroll down under the text box, and there's a "Manage Attachments" button under "Attach Files". That opens up a window where you can attach photos to....

[Billyjeter]

Yeah, that is above my pay grade. It should be simple, it is almost anywhere else I try. This ask for a URL number.