Hydraulic Leveling Control Panel, etc.

[JayT_B]

About two weeks ago, I turned on the the gray and black water tank heaters. the blue switches lit up. Last week I went to raise the front landing gear just a bit. The panel would not turn on. Today I noticed our factory installed Jaboni Solar charge control panel also will not power on. The blue tank heater switches are no longer illuminated. This is the first time we have ever used the tank heaters. Is it possible the tank heaters could have malfunctioned and somehow taken out the power to the hydraulic panel for the jacks as well as the solar charge control panel?

[Arkware]

sounds to me that your batteries may have been drained.
check the battery voltage.

[JayT_B]

Thank you for responding. I am guessing the battery failure is still possible even while plugged in to shore power for the last five months? We recently sold our house and moved into the Montana full time.


Thanks.

[AZ Traveler]

Jace,

What is the voltage on your battery bank?

[RMcNeal]

Originally Posted by JayT_B

Thank you for responding. I am guessing the battery failure is still possible even while plugged in to shore power for the last five months? We recently sold our house and moved into the Montana full time.


Thanks.

Battery failure is possible if your converter is not charging the batteries.
I'd start by checking battery voltage, then trace power from the converter to the batteries with shore power applied to make sure it is charging.

[Daryles]

Does any other 12v appliance work?
Ceiling LED lights are 12v.
The fuse for the Level-up control panel and tank heaters is a red inline fuse above the hydraulic motor in the corner. Check it. If good make sure it is pushed in all the way. Push hard.

[JayT_B]

Measured the voltage of the batteries and they batteries have given up. Oddly enough, my neighbor reminded me last night he had mentioned to us just about four or five months ago he thought the batteries were on their way out. I had completely forgotten about him saying anything. I'll get those replaced and continue checking other items several of you have mentioned.


@Daryles - I was under the impression that the 12v appliances would still work when plugged in to shore power as you are getting the DC power from the converter regardless if the batteries are good or not?

[Foldbak]

If the batteries are dead the converter is still trying to charge them. The converter may be over worked and unable to supply power to the lights. You could have a shorted cell in one of the batteries effecting the converter. Chances are replace the and problem solved. Slides and hydraulics require charged batteries.

[JayT_B]

Thank you Tony. DC appliances have been working since I realized the hydraulic panel, etc were no longer operational. I am under the same inclination that replacing the batteries are going to solve some issues.

[Daryles]

Jay, you are correct, if your converter is working you will have 12v lights, and furnace etc. which is a good thing (converter works).
However the hydraulic system pump may not. It requires high amps (>80A) to run.
You can take the old batteries to any auto parts store and they will test them.

You would think the Level-up control panel would at least light up. Did you check that fuse above the hydraulic motor in the corner?

[JayT_B]

Daryl, We have a skirt installed, enclosing the front where the hitch is, storage during the winter. I had put everything back in its place until I get replacement batteries. Not easy wrangling an 800lb smoker in and out of that area. I will check the fuse once I have the batteries and back in that compartment. 35 degrees out now and raining. Piss poor timing, but isn't it always.

[Daryles]

Yeah, that fused backed out on us while camping in January. Blue tank heater lights didn't work and the Level-up control panel did not light up either.
Someone here told me where the fuse was. Checked it, good, pushed it back down hard.
Everything was working again including the Level-up control panel.

[rohrmann]

I didn't see it mentioned, but you also must make sure your battery disconnect switch is on, and that is when the red handle can not be pulled out from the switch. If the switch is off, your converter can not get power to the batteries.

[JayT_B]

Thanks to all who helped out. The two new batteries did the trick and so far everything is working as it should. Old battery voltage readings, 3.6v and 2.65.

[RMcNeal]

That's really low! Were they 6 volt batteries?
The last ones I had that were dead in my truck and the wife's SUV were at 8 and 9 volts.

[JayT_B]

They were the 12v Centennial DC24MF. I could not believe it either when I had originally checked the voltage.

[carlmich1]

Originally Posted by JayT_B

About two weeks ago, I turned on the the gray and black water tank heaters. the blue switches lit up. Last week I went to raise the front landing gear just a bit. The panel would not turn on. Today I noticed our factory installed Jaboni Solar charge control panel also will not power on. The blue tank heater switches are no longer illuminated. This is the first time we have ever used the tank heaters. Is it possible the tank heaters could have malfunctioned and somehow taken out the power to the hydraulic panel for the jacks as well as the solar charge control panel?

There is a breaker for the jacks. Look in the front of the 5th wheel where the hydralic oil is. I am just guessing