Help! Power on AC or DC to charge battery

[Happy Camper-HILO]

I was recently awarded my 2001 Hi-Lo Towlite in my divorce settlement. (which I'll be selling if anyone is interested) The problem is that my ex always did all the technical stuff. I need to know how to charge the battery in order to raise and lower it. Do I charge it on AC or DC? And do I raise/lower it on AC or DC?

 

[RCREYES]

I was recently awarded my 2001 Hi-Lo Towlite in my divorce settlement. (which I'll be selling if anyone is interested) The problem is that my ex always did all the technical stuff. I need to know how to charge the battery in order to raise and lower it. Do I charge it on AC or DC? And do I raise/lower it on AC or DC?

Best bet is to open the cover enough to get a pair of jumper cables on the battery and raise the top. Then, take battery out and put it on a charger. Your inverter will not charge it to where it really needs to be.

 

[Happy Camper-HILO]

Thanks for the advice. I'm pretty sure the batteries are good. I'm just wanting to know which current I charge on, and which one I raise/lower on. AC for one and DC for the other, but which goes with which?

 

[JackandJanet]

I've charged my battery enough to raise the top using house power, back before I learned my AM/FM/CD/DVD player was draining it. So, just plug it in and let it charge for 24 hours. I think it will raise then if the battery is OK. This charges the battery using AC power.

The top is raised by the battery (DC power). Nothing else will supply the needed Amperage. Make sure you have the Master switch in the correct position for top raising/lowering.

- Jack

 

[amountaincreeker]

Plug it in to the house overnight, it WILL charge the batteries. Then you can raise and lower as normal. I've never had to hook mine up to a charger, always just to a shore power source. And I have drained them completely dead on a couple trips.

 

[Happy Camper-HILO]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Turns out both batteries were bad. I've replaced them and now it's going up and down with no problems.

 

[sam-HILO]

Battery maintenance

Glad you got your problem solved. If your batteries are the type that require water to be topped off check them once a month or so. Use distilled water and just cover the plate in the battery.