electrical problem- batteries not charging when on shore power

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electrical problem- batteries not charging when on shore power

November 03, 2022, 11:53:26 am

Hi all-
I've done some investigating, but I have amobile tech on his way over and am looking fo any advice.
My 2003 26.5 MB is not charging the batteries while on shore power. I had a guy come out on Monday, diagnose the converter (clearly fried, one of the components was blackened), and came back yesterday to install it. All seemed ok with the installation, but after he left and the day progressed, I noticed that my battery was charging, but barely, and the volts hovered around11.6. I'm sure this was from the solar panels. By the end of the evening my battery was depleted, the interior lights, fridge, and hot water heater were no longer working . (same symptoms as before the converter was installed)
I know that there is a little battery reset box behind the drawer under the fridge, and I did reset it, no difference.
Is there a fuse between the batteries and the converter? I'm wondering if so, that it might be blown, but I don't know where it is.
I have replaced my batteries recently, and have two 12 volt AGM's. They've been in the rig for a few months and have been performing well; I don't think that they are the problem.
Any thoughts?
Thanks so much !
Laura

Re: electrical problem- batteries not charging when on shore power

Reply #1 – November 03, 2022, 12:17:53 pm

There are two converter fuses in the Power Center, on the twelve-volt side where the small fuses are located. There should be two 30-amp (or bigger) replaceable fuses.
When the converter is charging a low battery, it should start in the low 12-volt range and head upward into the 13-volt, finishing in the low 14-volt range. If in the 11-volt range, the converter isn't charging.

It might be a good time to buy and learn how to use a volt-ohm meter (VOM), it's needed to diagnose problems like this.
Since the tech is coming back, let us know what he finds or does to cure the problem.

Larry

Re: electrical problem- batteries not charging when on shore power

Reply #2 – November 03, 2022, 12:39:31 pm

A fried convertor may have also ruined your almost new batteries. There are a number of troubleshooting steps to complete before coming to this conclusion, but I wouldn't ignore the possibility.

11.6 wouldn't be a typical voltage for the converter or a properly functioning solar system. Healthy charged batteries will read around 12.5-12.9 with no load (charge or discharge). Charging voltages are in the mid-13's to low 14's range.

Rich

Re: electrical problem- batteries not charging when on shore power

Reply #3 – November 03, 2022, 01:48:18 pm

Hi Laura; One trouble shooting test you can do easily. Start the engine and let it idle for a few minutes. Read the solar monitor's digital voltage readout. It should be increasing from the 11.6 vdc you mentioned, and be rising as Larry mentioned. The engine alternator can pump a lot of power into the batteries in a short time. (at expensive rates for gasoline and engine wear though.)
Your 2003 may have a Magnetek 6345 converter, like my '99 came with, and has been surpassed by modern technology long ago. Your converter has a relay that disconnects your AGM battery bank to run the house 12vdc circuit direct from shore power. So your lights, water pump all are supplied from shore power. (Actually the red wire) The built in charger supplies a very small amount of current to the batteries. (A blue wire) On the order of 3-5 amps. Small to avoid 'cooking' the batteries if left on for weeks at a time, and there is no drain on the batteries because power demands are supplied by the shore power portion.
Are you on shore power at night when your lights and water pump are not working? Or was everything ok until you unplugged from shore power? RonB

And to others reading this: I replaced my converter power supply with a PD9655 (Li option that I use now) and kept the old power supply (6345) to charge my old 6v. deep cycle batteries I still use for other things not in the LD.
Larry, I think those two green 30A. fuses are only on the new style fuse board. Did your 2003 come with that newer fuse panel? I had to replace mine along with the PD converter. RB

Re: electrical problem- batteries not charging when on shore power

Reply #4 – November 03, 2022, 04:01:36 pm

Quote from: RonB - November 03, 2022, 01:48:18 pm

Larry, I think those two green 30A. fuses are only on the new style fuse board. Did your 2003 come with that newer fuse panel? I had to replace mine along with the PD converter. RB

Yes, our 2003 came with the two 30-amp fuses on the 12-volt fuse panel, it's still original.

Larry

Re: electrical problem- batteries not charging when on shore power

Reply #5 – November 03, 2022, 05:16:31 pm

Hi Larry, so Magnetek must have upgraded the fuse panel between 1999 and 2003. RonB

Re: electrical problem- batteries not charging when on shore power

Reply #6 – November 03, 2022, 06:27:10 pm

My 2003 TK had a Parallax converter; don’t recall the model.

Re: electrical problem- batteries not charging when on shore power

Reply #7 – November 04, 2022, 01:35:58 pm

Thanks for all the feedback- very helpful!
As it turns out, the new converter was faulty. The repair guy came back out today with another one and everything is back to working fine- batteries are charging at between 14.4 -13.9. Status panel back to operating properly.
Weird that the new converter was faulty, but I guess that's life these days.
Thanks again for all the input-
Laura

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