Battery Upgrade and Charging - Page 2 - Dutchmen Owners
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Dutchmen Owners > Dutchmen Technical | Towing, Maintenance and Repairs > Electrical, Batteries, Charging and Electronics
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 03-20-2018, 09:38 AM   #21
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
Use a volt meter to check the battery voltage. The little push button ones are notoriously inaccurate.

Here is a manual for your Magnetek.

Aaron
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Magenetek 6300 Manual.pdf (2.34 MB, 66 views)
__________________

__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2018, 12:31 PM   #22
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Northern
Posts: 173
Indiana
Quote:
Originally Posted by wahoonc View Post
Use a volt meter to check the battery voltage. The little push button ones are notoriously inaccurate.

Here is a manual for your Magnetek.

Aaron
Thanks for the manual. I will review it.

I was looking at the State of Charge chart that was posted. I have a battery voltage meter that plugs into a 12v outlet (I use it in my van). Would plugging it into the 12v outlet by the TV work to monitor the battery voltage be sufficient?

I am assuming you are saying that the Battery monitor that is integrated on the panel that also monitors tank levels is rather inaccurate?
__________________

Jayro88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2018, 12:35 PM   #23
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayro88 View Post
Thanks for the manual. I will review it.

I was looking at the State of Charge chart that was posted. I have a battery voltage meter that plugs into a 12v outlet (I use it in my van). Would plugging it into the 12v outlet by the TV work to monitor the battery voltage be sufficient?

I am assuming you are saying that the Battery monitor that is integrated on the panel that also monitors tank levels is rather inaccurate?
That is what I use, it is much more accurate than the little lights.

Aaron [emoji41]

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2018, 05:10 PM   #24
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,050
Florida
I'm surprised that you are getting good DC voltage out of a unit that old. Those diodes are notorious for failing. I'd start looking around for a unit that will replace the inverter.
franktafl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2018, 06:06 PM   #25
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Northern
Posts: 173
Indiana
Quote:
Originally Posted by wahoonc View Post
Use a volt meter to check the battery voltage. The little push button ones are notoriously inaccurate.



Here is a manual for your Magnetek.



Aaron


I read through the manual you attached. I am going to keep an eye on the voltage and try plugging it in to shore power for a while. The manual says that units with a “OptionC” have an upgraded charging system. Says it senses the battery voltage and adjusts the charging amps accordingly. Basically it has 3 profiles. A high amp charge, a low amp charge and a maintenance. I am sure it doesn’t work as well as a modern unit, but I will be interested to see how it functions. Mine showed a C option.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Jayro88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2018, 06:07 PM   #26
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Northern
Posts: 173
Indiana
Quote:
Originally Posted by franktafl View Post
I'm surprised that you are getting good DC voltage out of a unit that old. Those diodes are notorious for failing. I'd start looking around for a unit that will replace the inverter.


I will be using my voltage gauge over the weekend to see how it goes. I will report back.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Jayro88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2018, 09:03 PM   #27
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayro88 View Post
I read through the manual you attached. I am going to keep an eye on the voltage and try plugging it in to shore power for a while. The manual says that units with a “OptionC” have an upgraded charging system. Says it senses the battery voltage and adjusts the charging amps accordingly. Basically it has 3 profiles. A high amp charge, a low amp charge and a maintenance. I am sure it doesn’t work as well as a modern unit, but I will be interested to see how it functions. Mine showed a C option.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Interesting... doesn't hurt to try it, just keep a close eye on it and disconnect if if doesn't do what it is supposed to do.

Aaron
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2018, 12:42 AM   #28
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Northern
Posts: 173
Indiana
Well, we made it to the campground and got setup.
I plugged my volt meter into the 12v outlet by the TV and got nothing. I will have to test it when I get home to make sure it’s hot.

I unhooked the negative connection on my house batteries and all the 12v stuff still worked as designed, so I am just leaving it like that while we r plugged in.

So I was messing with the awning. I got it all pulled out, but I ran across another question (imagine that....). It is a long awning with arms at each end, and then 1 in the middle. My question is “How the middle arm work?”. It would appear that it connects from the top part of the trailer to the top of the awning once it is unrolled to provide extra support for the canvas. Is this correct? If so, how does it unhook? Gonna mess with it tomorrow some since it is already dark.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Jayro88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2018, 12:45 AM   #29
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Northern
Posts: 173
Indiana
Pics of the middle bar/support





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Jayro88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2018, 12:54 AM   #30
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
You made it out there... that is half the battle!

Yes there are center rafters, what brand and model of awning to you have? Typically there will be a sticker on the back of one of the arms or possibly the roller tube. If all else fails get us a picture of the arm assembly.

Aaron
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2018, 12:57 AM   #31
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Northern
Posts: 173
Indiana
Quote:
Originally Posted by wahoonc View Post
You made it out there... that is half the battle!



Yes there are center rafters, what brand and model of awning to you have? Typically there will be a sticker on the back of one of the arms or possibly the roller tube. If all else fails get us a picture of the arm assembly.



Aaron


I will get a better pic in the morning when it’s light out


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Jayro88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2018, 10:03 AM   #32
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayro88 View Post
I will get a better pic in the morning when it’s light out


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Okay

The last unit I had with a center arm, it was stored on the trailer similar to yours, you opened the awning and kept it down low, attached the arm to the roller tube with big thumb screws, the other end clipped to a bracket on the body of the trailer. You left the center arm loose until you had the awning up, then adjusted the arm mechanism to tighten it up.

Aaron
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2018, 02:54 PM   #33
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Northern
Posts: 173
Indiana
Here are the pics.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Jayro88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2018, 05:49 PM   #34
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
Looks like the top stays in place and the bottom attaches to the roller tube after you extend it, then you use the handle to tension it. What is the brand? Looks like it may be an A&E. Also what does the fitting on the roller tube look like where it would go?

Aaron
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2018, 01:06 AM   #35
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Northern
Posts: 173
Indiana
Quote:
Originally Posted by wahoonc View Post
Looks like the top stays in place and the bottom attaches to the roller tube after you extend it, then you use the handle to tension it. What is the brand? Looks like it may be an A&E. Also what does the fitting on the roller tube look like where it would go?

Aaron


Not sure on the brand. You are correct about the way to deploy it. Got it all setup along with the campfire and multicolored LEDs.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Jayro88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2018, 01:08 AM   #36
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayro88 View Post
Not sure on the brand. You are correct about the way to deploy it. Got it all setup along with the campfire and multicolored LEDs.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Excellent! Don't forget to lower one end if rain is forecast, otherwise you will find out how much a new one costs!

Aaron [emoji41]

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2018, 11:20 AM   #37
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Northern
Posts: 173
Indiana
Quote:
Originally Posted by wahoonc View Post
Excellent! Don't forget to lower one end if rain is forecast, otherwise you will find out how much a new one costs!

Aaron [emoji41]

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk


You are talking about making sure it is angled in some way so the water would run off instead of pooping on the awning,correct?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Jayro88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2018, 11:23 AM   #38
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
Yes sir! I actually put an angle down on the whole awning, then lower one end even more to make sure there is no ponding water.

Aaron [emoji41]

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

__________________

__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Dutchmen RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT. The time now is 09:43 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2020 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.
×