Battery Not Charging

The first question I would ask is: Did it ever work? Was there ever a time when you knew it was charging? That would indicate whether something has changed or it never was right. Your test with the voltmeter seems to confirm the TV is not charging the battery, although I would have expected a slightly lower reading with the TV not running. Assuming you are not connected to shore power and the TT has been sitting for a half hour or so the TT battery should be 12-12.5 volts. When the TV is running and charging the voltage should be 13.5 or higher. It might take a digital voltmeter to see these differences. If you know it was charging sometime in the past I'd check the 7-pin connector on the TV when disconnected from the TT to verify 13.5+ on the charge line when running. If good, make sure the connectors themselves are clean and undamaged. Also check that the on-board power converter charges the battery when plugged in by running the same voltmeter checks on the battery with the TV disconnected.

Look up the wiring diagram for the Bargeman connection online, then verify that the pin that supplies 12 volts shows 12 volts.  On some vehicles that is only true when the TV is on.  Then make sure the wire that runs to the Bargeman connection is at least 10 gauge wire, not 12 or 14.

Great diagrams and they should herlp many on the forum.  In years past when I had much larger travel trailers, I would often check various items with the trailer unhitched and a 12 volt battery with short wires attached to the battery terminals.  With the battery ground attached to the Bargman connector, I would check the various lighting circuits by attaching the positive battery wire to the appropriate pin on the connector. Very easy check and simplifies finding burned out bulbs.  I have also used the auxiliary socket to power back-up lights on trailers. This requires running another wire from the TV and the back of the trailer, both terminating in the Bargman connectors.

Thanks again for posting the diagrams.

Bob

I've been reading this topic, and wondered about my battery.  I took it out of the Pod this winter, put it on a charger I bought -all the little green lights were showing OK ... Thinking all is well.  Put it back in the Pod early June. I run on the TV or on shore power so battery is not a big deal except for break-away brakes if needed.  

techntrek is probably correct.  However, I have sometimes salvaged marine batteries that have been very low on water.  Fill the cells with distilled water and put the battery on a charger.  It may come back to life although it may not have the capacity it once had.  It is probably ruined, but it is worth a try.

Also, if you charge the battery, use a float type charger such as the Battery Tender or Battery Minder.  These will turn off automatically once the battery is fully charged, but will turn back on if your battery becomes somewhat discharged.  We use these on our 12 volt shrimp lights after a night of shrimping and never have to worry about over-charging or forgetting to turn off the charger. A trickle charger can and will over-charge a battery if left unattended.

One last thought.  If you checked the battery voltage while connected to shore power, the 15 volt reading is more than likely the output being received from the trailer charging system.  To find the battery voltage, isolate the battery first, then check its voltage.  That voltage will give you an indication if one or more cells are dead.

As techntrek said, you more than likely will need a new battery.

Bob