Here are a few checks you should do first, if you have a multimeter and are comfortable with electricity:
Start by checking the fluid level in the batteries and topping off with distilled water if necessary. Then check the battery connections, both at the battery and at any connections between the battery and the converter. Make sure the ground connection to the frame is tight.
Turn off the converter and measure the battery voltage. What you'll measure will depend on the battery condition and the load, but should be between 10.5 and 12 volts. Turn on the converter and recheck the voltage. It should jump to 14.2 to 14.6 volts if the converter is working correctly.
If the converter is a multistage unit, it should drop to 13.6 to 13.8 volts when the batteries are fully charged and the converter is in the float stage. If you have an IOTA converter, make sure it has the IQ4 adapter that makes it a multistage unit. If it's another brand, make sure it is also multistage. It is the best long term protection for the batteries.
If you're up to it, I'd even check the connections at the breaker panel and the converter itself. It's not unusual to find they were never properly tightened, or have vibrated loose.
If everything checks out, then I'd have the batteries load tested. It doesn't sound to me like the batteries, though, good one minute then bad the next.
Bob
|