bluegypsy
Everywhere
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- 2 weeks ago, thoroughly cleaned our house batteries. Sprayed all the lugs, posts, and nuts with “terminal protector spray” before re-connecting.
- 1 week ago, noticed that our KVH satellite dish was slow at moving around to pick up the DTV sats when we stop to set up
- Yesterday, the dish quit completely. Would make a couple of short movements, but not tracking or finding satellites.
Called KVH: Out of warranty, they want $100 just to troubleshoot over the phone
Called “a guy” we heard about: Could come out tomorrow or the next day, $50 minimum charge. He did mention that the dish needs an good strong 12 volts to move. We’re connected to shore power, Magnum charger/inverter display says 13.3 volts, fully charged. So that’s not the problem (or is it?)
- Last night, going to get a brew out of the fridge, and notice that it’s displaying “LOW DC” – Magnum’s display still says 13.3, fully charged. “What?” Check 12 volts at back of fridge with meter, reads 10.8 volts. Measured at the house batteries, 13.3 volts. Double “What?”
Go back inside, check the old “Main Batt/Aux Batt” meter on the wall above the Magnum display, it says the “Aux” is only 11 volts. Magnum still says 13 volts. Triple “What?”
- (throughout this, house lighting seemed OK, not overly dim, but....)
- Loosened, wiggled, and tightened the battery connections. Fridge switched on, Magnum display went to “Charging”, interior lights brightened slightly, “Aux” battery displayed 13 volts. This morning, satellite dish tracked and found satellites immediately.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The battery terminal protection spray is NOT CONDUCTIVE. If you spray it on the cables and the terminals, and then put them together, you’re adding a layer of insulation between your batteries and house. (I wish that had been on the label)
2. The Magnum charger/inverter reads what the battery has, not what the house is getting. The “Aux Batt” display (at least on my rig) gives you an idea of what the rig’s seeing, past the battery cables.
3. Before spending money, look at the easy stuff, even if you think you don’t need to.
Bluegypsy (that's the RV's name)
Map shows where we've lived and worked, travelling through doesn't count....
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sch911
Rochester Hills, MI
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Joined: 04/13/2003
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You'r supposed to spray it on the outside of the connections to prevent corrosion. It's not used between the conductors, but of course now you know that....
Chrysler/Dodge/Ram/Jeep Engineer
2003 Damon Challenger 348 Class A - F53 Triton V10
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Deetour
Washington
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Joined: 06/01/2011
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sch911 wrote:You'r supposed to spray it on the outside of the connections to prevent corrosion. It's not used between the conductors, but of course now you know that.... But elsewhere on this forum, recently another post recommended spraying LPS-3 and/or another product on the post BEFORE reattaching cables in order to seal leakage.
Which is it?
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RVGRINGO
Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico
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I got a chuckle out of that one!
Old science teacher.
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driveby
Vancouver BC Canada
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LOL first rule of troubleshooting:
What did you just mess with/change? That is the most likely culprit.
Then:
Is it plugged in?
Is it turned on?
fourth and just as important, known good connection?
KISS when troubleshooting works best 
Not to say I haven't ignored my own advice too many times to count by over thinking it.....
2008 Itasca Sunova 35J Class A
1997 TJ Sahara, hard and soft tops and AC
Held together via Roadmaster Falcon 2 tow bar and stopped by US Gear Unified Brake system.
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oldduffer
Rapid City, SD
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I may have read the same post about spraying the protectant stuff, i wondered at the time if it to be sprayed before or after the terminals went on.
is there anything you can put on the bare post before attaching the terminal? My best guess is no because anything between metal would reduce conductivity.
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bluegypsy
Everywhere
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oldduffer wrote:I may have read the same post about spraying the protectant stuff, i wondered at the time if it to be sprayed before or after the terminals went on.
is there anything you can put on the bare post before attaching the terminal? My best guess is no because anything between metal would reduce conductivity.
I once (many years ago) heard that Vaseline (or other greasy stuff) could work to protect terminals. Haven't tried it myself, and after my recent problem, ain't gonna until I've done lots of research (LOL)
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wildmanbaker
Kennewick, Washington
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Joined: 02/24/2005
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Thanks bluegypsy. Just when you think you are on track.....
Wildman 
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gfs1943
Whitney, Texas
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Bluegypsy, thanks for posting that. It always helps to learn something from someone else. Also, Driveby gave good info re: troubleshooting. "Back in the day", I always tried to get these principles across to those I was training. Sometimes the lesson stuck, sometimes it didn't.
As far as using something on the terminals, I still like to put a good coat of grease on my battery terminals to keep the corrosion down. But the grease goes on after the terminals are thoroughly cleaned and connected.
gfs1943
USAF, Retired (1962 - 1983)
'00 Itasca Horizon 36LD
Cat Diesel Power
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FIRE UP
Ramona, CA. USA
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Bluegypsy,
I too am always in the market for learning things on these beasts. To me, it's still fun, even tinkering with that kind of stuff. I've NEVER been one for spraying ANYTHING on my battery posts. I simply take care of my batteries. No matter where or what they're in.
I take a look every now and then, clean whatever needs to be cleaned, wash off what needs to be washed and put things away dry and clean with no goop what so ever on anything, the posts, connections, etc. If you do that about once every couple of weeks, you should never see any need for all that stuff. Just an opinion here. Nice catch.
Scott
Scott and Karla
San Diego Fire Department RETIRED
2004 Itasca Horizon, 36GD Slate Blue 330 CAT
2011 White Honda CRV EX-L,4WD w/NAV Toad
2008 Caliente Red LVL II GL 1800 Goldwing
KI60ND
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