House battery voltage when connected to shore power

[BobPetit]

Could someone tell me what my house battery voltage, at the battery pegs, should be while connected to shore power? I recently drained my batteries dead but it happened while connected to shore power. I expected to read something over 12 volts while shore power was connected so that the batteries would be charging. I read nothing other than the low battery voltage. Where and what recharges the house batteries. I have a 2018 Thor Windsport 35M

[lwmcguir]

Not sure if you have an inverter or converter
It should be on and master switch has to be on
Check your solenoid that connects the battery banks next

[DavidEM]

The battery's resting voltage should be about 12.6. But when you turn on the converter (well I guess you shouldn't need to turn it on, just connect up shore power) it should jump to 13.5 or greater at the terminals. If it is not, either the fuse for the converter has blown, shore power really isn't on, there is a bad connection somewhere or your converter is bad.

David

[Bob Denman]

While on shore power: my monitor starts out at 13.6 volts, and eventually drops back to 13.2.
Once I unhook: the actual battery voltage starts out at about 13.0, and then starts it's drop...

[BobPetit]

I think I have both converter and inverter. Under the bed I find the converter. Next the entry there is a control panel for an inverter. Says Eaton. I have no idea where they hide this inverter. It will not turn on either. I thought is wouldn't turn on because the batteries are dead. Any ideas?

[DavidEM]

Converters are usually part of the main power panel- the one with breakers for AC and fuses for DC. Find the converter, check its fuse and if ok check its output terminals. If you see 13+ voltage at its output, trace the wires to the battery and look for a bad connection.

David

[BobPetit]

Thanks everyone for the help. I think I found why the batteries won't charge. The relay between the converter and the batteries gets its switch power from the battery side of the relay. That would explain why the batteries didn't charge. If the batteries where below 12 volts, the relay switch won't close and allow current from the inverter to charge the batteries. Seems very odd to me. Does anyone else have a relay that gets its switch power from the battery side?

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by BobPetit

Thanks everyone for the help. I think I found why the batteries won't charge. The relay between the converter and the batteries gets its switch power from the battery side of the relay. That would explain why the batteries didn't charge. If the batteries where below 12 volts, the relay switch won't close and allow current from the inverter to charge the batteries. Seems very odd to me. Does anyone else have a relay that gets its switch power from the battery side?Attachment 25876

Everybody does.

[DavidEM]

Is that the so called salesman's switch and its associated relay/solenoid.

David

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by DavidEM

Is that the so called salesman's switch and its associated relay/solenoid.

David

Yep.