Any experience on the 12 volt systems for the Delta 281 BH . The fridge is not working correctly, measured the battery its down to 8.9 volts, we have shore power on at home. All 110 volt plus air working fine. Lights flickering, dim etc. Put a separate charger on the battery trying to get it back up. Any ideas, this is 2025 rv, just bought it.
12 volt systems not working
- Thread starter RC Guy
- Start date
Hi - we have a 2025 Delta 321BH. The fridge has has an automatic shut off when it gets below a certain voltage, which would explain why your fridge isn’t working right at that voltage. Sometimes when I initially plug in the trailer, the breaker that powers the converter trips. The converter is what converts the 110 to DC to power DC when you are plugged in, plus charge the battery. Check that breaker to see if it is off. It is the top breaker on my trailer, but they are labeled well. I am a bit surprised that the solar panel didn’t help your charge though. Mine keeps the fridge running well when in direct sun on a sunny day. I bought a Victron smart shunt to put on my battery which helps me keep an eye on the charge. My Delta came with a Victron solar controller, so I can see both on the same app. I have used a car charger on the battery of my last trailer when my converter failed. It helped buy us a couple days without spoiled food when on a long trip until I could get the converter replaced. It worked OK for me to charge the battery for that emergency situation.
Check the breaker panel (with converter on it) to see if it is still on. From what you have said the converter is not charging the battery. BTW...once a battery gets to 8.9v you might have damaged its ability to fully charge back up again.
Thank you for the responses, I think this battery is toast also. I'm gonna check these breakers that were mentioned. I am attempting to charge this battery with a charger but noticing that even with the added assistance to charge this battery is still low. 8.6 volts at this time. The tank less hot water heater has also failed. I've got hardly any lights. Is there a way to trouble shoot the converter. I am wondering if this has failed or is it just that the battery has gotten so low that nothing can recover and there is no chance of recharging. I wonder if the charging system has failed.
Long Islander
Active member
If you have a lead acid battery, it might be toast. Lead acid batteries shouldn't be discharged beyond 50%. Draining them further than that damages them and they don't seem to recover well. For example if you have 100 AH battery it might be only capable of 80AH, which would mean that you've only got 40AH of useable power.
I would make sure that the converter is working properly. Find the breaker in the AC panel that feeds the converter and make sure it's flipped on. Just to be safe, flip the converter breaker "off" and then flip it "on" again. Once you're 100% certain that the breaker is "on", measure the voltage across the battery and see what you get. Charging voltage for a 12V battery can range from 13.8V to 14.4V during bulk charging, with a float voltage around 13.5V to 13.8V to maintain a full charge. If you don't read the higher voltages I would turn "off" your converter and then disconnect the battery. Once disconnected make sure the leads aren't shorted out or touching the frame. Then flip the converter breaker "on" again and read the voltage across the now disconnected battery leads. You should read at least 13 to 14 volts. If you don't read that, your converter has some sort of an issue. It could be burned out or have a loose wire.
Lastly, if it turns our you battery is toast I'd replace it with a Lithium battery. Your converter may be lithium capable if not it will still charge a lithium battery, just not to 100%. It may only charge it to 80%, but unlike lead acid cells, you can almost fully discharge lithium batteries without damaging it. I'd just buy a lithium battery with a BMS that has low temperature charge protection.
I hope this helps.
Bob
I would make sure that the converter is working properly. Find the breaker in the AC panel that feeds the converter and make sure it's flipped on. Just to be safe, flip the converter breaker "off" and then flip it "on" again. Once you're 100% certain that the breaker is "on", measure the voltage across the battery and see what you get. Charging voltage for a 12V battery can range from 13.8V to 14.4V during bulk charging, with a float voltage around 13.5V to 13.8V to maintain a full charge. If you don't read the higher voltages I would turn "off" your converter and then disconnect the battery. Once disconnected make sure the leads aren't shorted out or touching the frame. Then flip the converter breaker "on" again and read the voltage across the now disconnected battery leads. You should read at least 13 to 14 volts. If you don't read that, your converter has some sort of an issue. It could be burned out or have a loose wire.
Lastly, if it turns our you battery is toast I'd replace it with a Lithium battery. Your converter may be lithium capable if not it will still charge a lithium battery, just not to 100%. It may only charge it to 80%, but unlike lead acid cells, you can almost fully discharge lithium batteries without damaging it. I'd just buy a lithium battery with a BMS that has low temperature charge protection.
I hope this helps.
Bob
BryanValRox
Well-known member
So, not sure what size charger you are trying to use, but if not larger enough it won’t carry your DC load either.
If your experiencing low voltage, as a test you could use jumper cables from your tow vehicle to your trailer battery to see if things improve.
As others have suggested, check your converter breaker to ensure it isn’t tripped. The converter can be checked with a meter at the battery or a 12 volt buss bar. Just think of your converter as a battery charger. You should see something more than 12 volts if it is working.
Also check all of your connections starting at the battery to ensure that they are clean and tight .
It is possible that you battery has failed, have you checked its fluid level if a flooded lead acid type? It may not recover fully or at all, if the plates have become exposed to air due to low fluid level(water)