RedHawk Battery Issues

[ric325v63]

I am a new RV owner. Bought new 2017 Jayco RedHawk 26XD in mid-January 2017. All seemed to work fine first few weeks including one weekend trip to a campground. I normally leave shore power connected to my garage AC to keep the coach battery charged. I also use a Battery Tender to keep the chassis battery charged while sitting.

A week ago I was going to exercise the generator and it would not start - starter solenoid clicking. I started the Ford engine and then was able to start the generator. I ran it for about 60 minutes with the A/C on for load. This points to coach battery not charged - but why? It was plugged into shore power previously. So, I thought the generator would also charge the coach battery. But I was confused to see only 12.5v on my VOM at the coach battery at all times, with shore power on or off and with the generator on. Later I tested the voltage with the Ford engine running. It was 13.8 at the Ford battery but was still 12.5 at the coach battery, why?

Now I seem to have nothing with just the coach battery. No lights, no power. The coach battery reads 12.5v on the VOM. The main power switch will not turn on with just the coach battery. The main power switch will turn on with shore power but not when shore power disconnected. Is there a problem with the main power switch or is it the battery? My next step would be to remove the battery and test it or temporarily replace it with a car battery.

I checked all the circuit breakers and fuses as well. I am also confused at not seeing the green charge wizard light at the power panel. Should it be on?

Please help? I do NOT want to go back to the Camping World service department - they suck.

Thank you.

Jon

[ric325v63]

Further testing today.......
I removed the coach battery completely. It was some low on water but not too bad. Then I connected a known good car battery from my car to the coach. Still no power in the coach. So, it seems that replacing the battery is not the answer even though it may be some low on charge.
I have made an appointment to take it in - groan.

[elcheapo]

This is what my Redhawk Manual states
The battery disconnect feature should be used to disconnect the motor home from
house battery power during periods of storage or during maintenance. The
solenoid must be engaged for the 12-volt house electrical system to operate.
Never depress the momentary battery disconnect switch for longer than 1 second.
Depressing and holding the switch down will disable the battery disconnect
solenoid. Should this occur the main ground cable for the house batteries must be
removed for 1 minute to re-enable the solenoid operation.

[pconroy]

Originally Posted by elcheapo

Depressing and holding the switch down will disable the battery disconnect
solenoid. Should this occur the main ground cable for the house batteries must be removed for 1 minute to re-enable the solenoid operation.

Great catch!!
I forgot about this part. This could be the culprit.

[ric325v63]

Originally Posted by elcheapo

This is what my Redhawk Manual states
The battery disconnect feature should be used to disconnect the motor home from
house battery power during periods of storage or during maintenance. The
solenoid must be engaged for the 12-volt house electrical system to operate.
Never depress the momentary battery disconnect switch for longer than 1 second.
Depressing and holding the switch down will disable the battery disconnect
solenoid. Should this occur the main ground cable for the house batteries must be
removed for 1 minute to re-enable the solenoid operation.

Yes, I saw that too and hoped it was the problem. I did try exactly that with no fix. Thanks for the suggestion.

[ric325v63]

Originally Posted by pconroy

Great catch!!
I forgot about this part. This could be the culprit.

I really hoped so too! But no luck. Going into the shop tomorrow - ugh.

[ric325v63]

With the failure of trying a good battery, I'm thinking there is something wrong with the solenoid that connects and disconnects the coach from the battery.

I will report back when I find out.

Thank you.

[hoppers4]

The battery disconnect solenoid is quite noisy. You should hear an obvious clunk when you press the momentary switch. On my Greyhawk the disconnect solenoid is right behind the battery. Slide the battery out and you should be able to see it.

[ric325v63]

Originally Posted by hoppers4

The battery disconnect solenoid is quite noisy. You should hear an obvious clunk when you press the momentary switch. On my Greyhawk the disconnect solenoid is right behind the battery. Slide the battery out and you should be able to see it.

I'm not really hearing anything like that when I push the main switch. It turns on and off the power to the coach when I am plugged into shore power but does nothing when no shore power. Could be that solenoid. I saw it behind the battery. It also had two small fuses on the primary side, one at 5 amps and 1 at 7.5 amps. I checked both of those small fuses - they were OK. Sure sounds like the battery disconnect solenoid. Kind of frustrating with RV only 2 months old.

[mgangler]

I realize that it's been a while but do you have an update? I'm having the same issue with my coach.

Thanks.

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by mgangler

I realize that it's been a while but do you have an update? I'm having the same issue with my coach.

Thanks.

What specific issue are you having?

[mgangler]

The same as the original poster-battery not charging, everything going dead, generator only starting off the engine.

[Weatherman1]

Originally Posted by ric325v63

With the failure of trying a good battery, I'm thinking there is something wrong with the solenoid that connects and disconnects the coach from the battery.

I will report back when I find out.

Thank you.

I am having the same issues and wondering what you found out
Thanks