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echo charger - dead battery

Yahoo Message Number: 61799
My r.v. won't start. The battery boost doesn't help. I have to jump it to get it started. My echo charger has no lights. I've replaced the two inline fuses which didn't help. I'm not clear on how it works. Does the echo charger get it's power from the inverter/charger so even if the starting battery is dead the echo charger should have a green or red light? Or does it get it's power from the starting battery?

Should I replace the starting batteries or the echo charger first?

Thanks.

Pati Mah

2005 Allure #31287

Re: echo charger - dead battery

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61800
Have your starter batteries tested at a good battery shop. If they are original, they are probably at the end of there life, but test first, both voltage and hydrometer on each cell. They may need a good charge before testing will be accurate, but if you have dead or very weak cells, they will show up. If your batteries test O.K, then look at the Echo charger system very close. What you did not say is how long has the coach been setting, good information to share.

Leonard

97' Magna 5418

Re: echo charger - dead battery

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61821

The echo charger gets it's voltage/power from the coach batteries. Once they are over about 13 to 13.5 volts (I believe) the echo will then start to charge the chassis batteries. If the charger is working correctly, the voltage difference between the two sets of batteries should only be about 1/2 volt. ddtuttle

aka Billy Byte (trusty hound)
2000 Allure #30443

Re: echo charger - dead battery

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61827
hi pati, my battery boost failed on my coach and i had to replace it. the solenoid type switch had corroded contacts and would not start the engine since it could not make a connection from the house battery. as for the echo charger, i don't know what brand you have but my xantrex simply uses the house battery to charge the chassis battery. the coach battery gets charged from the inverter, it then passes on its charge to the chassis battery. my green light stays on while charging and goes off when there is no charge to the house battery. check your connections on the echo charger from the positive house to the positive chassis and make sure the negative ground is connected properly. after you get the engine running, check the battery voltage with a digital multimeter to see if its holding a charge. also check the house batteries for their correct voltage. if they are dead, they won't be able to charge the chassis batteries. hope this helps, as i just went thru a similar situation last week! mike cianci

SOB (99HR navigator)

Re: echo charger - dead battery UPDATE

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 62067
I replaced my two starting batteries and all seems to be well. The echo charger has a green light now but not all the time. I guess it's not lit up all the time, only when it needs to do some work. And I guess when the batteries are shot that it doesn't bother trying to help. :)
I replied privately to each of you that tried to help to thank you. If you didn't get my reply thanks again.

Quote
My r.v. won't start. The battery boost doesn't help. I have to jump it to get it started. My echo charger has no lights.

Pati Mah

2005 Allure #31287

Re: echo charger - dead battery UPDATE

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 62084
Here's what the Echo Charger book says about the green lights. The "input voltage" they are refering to is the house battery which needs to be at 13 volts before the Eco Charger kicks in. But, it sounds to me there should always be a green light, either blinking or steady:

When the input voltage is 13.0/25.5 volts DC or higher, echo-charge automatically switches ON. The LED glows a steady green. When the input voltage is lower than 13.0/25.5 volts, the echo-charge automatically switches OFF, and the LED blinks green. The output voltage of echocharge is limited to 14.4/28.8 volts. When it reaches 14.4/28.8 volts, the charge current will decrease, maintaining a float condition. The starter battery will be fully charged without overcharging.
No load current drain on the house bank is less than 50 milli-amps.
If the input voltage is above 14.4 volts (or 28.8), output will be limited to a maximum of 14.4/28.8 volts.

Larry, 03 Allure, 30856