No DC power unless converter plugged in

[jspringator]

I have no DC power unless the coach is plugged in and the converter is operating.  I thought the battery was down, so I flipped the breaker on the converter and charged the battery with a portable 3 stage smart charger.  I just bought the coach, and in conjunction with the charge, I added almost a gallon of distilled water to two 6 volt batteries.  I got the battery charged where it is maintaining 13.1 volts.  Still no DC power.


Could the battery have flipped a fuse or thermal overload fuse?  The aux battery switch appears to click the solenoid.  Is there a fuse for the solenoid? 

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

Is the battery disconnect switch turned on?
If yes then you need to check the output side of the battery disconnect solenoid with a voltmeter to see if there is voltage
From there it goes to the 55 amp breaker in Entrance Step Box

2002 Sightseer D27C Wiring Diagrams

Refer to pdf page 2 of Body, 12 Volt Wiring Diagram for House battery connections.

[jspringator]

Fixed it.  The motorhome is still at the mechanics, so I drove over there this afternoon.


The batteries are under the steps.  The first compartment to the right of the steps has the circuit breakers.  The circuit breaker to the battery solenoid was sticking out.  Pushed it in and everything works.


I was afraid to toggle the disconnect switch. 


What could cause this to set?  I did have to add a gallon of water to the 2 6 volt batteries.  Checked their level, and after sitting almost a month, 4 out of 5.

[Bnova]

Most likely a shorted wire from the switch to the solenoid or a flakey switch.

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

My first guess is you accidentally hit the breaker when filling/recharging the batteries and simply did not notice it.  If the problem returns, then either the 55 amp breaker is weak or you have a major short.

[jspringator]

I'm thinking it might be better to use the circuit breaker as a DC on/off switch.


Would this cause any problems?  I'm installing a 3 stage charger so I really shouldn't have to switch it off like the manual recommends with the old style charger.  But I will need to switch everything off to install the new charger.

[jspringator]

My first guess is you accidentally hit the breaker when filling/recharging the batteries and simply did not notice it. 

It's in a different compartment covered by a removable steel cover.

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

Something to think about:
Not sure how far you have gone with this however I think you have one of the Parallax 6345 power centers (or 7300 series) that has the converter section in the lower section.  Your best solution is to replace the converter section with a PD4600 3 stage converter/charger sold through Best Converter.

Best thing  to do is set the disconnect switch off and/or turn both the 55 and 30 amp breaker next to it OFF.  The 2 breakers are ganged together.

[jspringator]

That is exactly what I have!  I really like the automatic equalization phase.   My batteries were so low on water I'm sure I'm going to need it.

[bluebird]

Those single stage converter chargers are good for boiling the batteries dry. I ripped the one out of my old Challenger and replaced it with a 9260 with a built in charge wizard. I didn't have to add much water after I switched. Plus the lights didn't flicker anymore. This Daybreak I bought will probably have the same thing in it, I'll have to upgrade it too.

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

I have the PD4600's brother the PD6245.  Works great.  Chugs along at 13.1VDC float day in and day out. Battery water level stays where it is supposed to.  I have a simple LED voltmeter plugged into a cigar plug that points out the window so I can glance at the voltage level walking from car to the house.

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

This Daybreak I bought will probably have the same thing in it, I'll have to upgrade it too.

Daybreak may have an inverter/charger which are typically 3 stage chargers.  By 2006 it looks like the Daybreak used a PD 9280 with a Charge Wizard.

[Bnova]

I have the PD4600's brother the PD6245.  Works great.  Chugs along at 13.1VDC float day in and day out. Battery water level stays where it is supposed to.  I have a simple LED voltmeter plugged into a cigar plug that points out the window so I can glance at the voltage level walking from car to the house.

Dave, is the cigar outlet wired directly to the coach battery?  Or is the cigar part of the dc distribution system?

[bluebird]

Daybreak may have an inverter/charger which are typically 3 stage chargers. 

Hope you're right Dave. I haven't picked it up yet. Friday after Thanksgiving. Then I'll find out what I have. I got a very good price on this coach. I sold my Challenger earlier this year, that was a mistake. I've owned a motor home of some kind for the last 20 years. Just wasn't right without one.

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

Dave, is the cigar outlet wired directly to the coach battery?

My original dashboard outlet is automotive battery.  All other outlets on mine are coach via the Coach DC fuse panel

[Bnova]

Okay, I thought your LED voltmeter was somehow reading coach battery voltage.

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

Yes coach battery.  Thinking about jumpering the auto battery over so it is also maintained.

[Bnova]

Okay, then I guess I am confused, my 12vdc outlets are powered off of the converter when I am plugged into shore power.  And the battery is disconnected from the coach and put onto the charger.

Is this different from how yours operates?

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

Yes it is different because I replaced my old switch over style Power Center to a modern system
My coach battery is no longer disconnected when I am on shore power

[Bnova]

Sorry to keep pestering you about this, but it piques my interest.

So when your battery is being charged, it is still connected to the main distribution system and the charger is going and the converter is assisting as well?

So the converter is now basically a charging system.  Not unlike the chassis 12vdc system when the engine is running.

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

Yes, in modern RVs, the coach electrical system is set up the same as an single distribution automotive system where the converter is connected to it like the alternator on the automotive side.  While most of today's converter/charger and inverter/charger manufactures have migrated to 3 stage charging technology as described "here", some, like Parallax, still base most of their products on the old linear style system.  While they are still connected like the 3 stage products, they keep their so called float voltage down to 13.7VDC however I feel that is far to close to the battery water boiling point of 13.8VDC.  I much prefer the 3 stage 13.1VDC float level and my experience says it is a reliable with almost no water loss since I installed my new system in 2011.

[Bnova]

Cool, so all of your 110 comes from the inverter whether you're connected to the Gen or Shore Power. 

And none of the shore power or gen 110 flows through to the 110 outlets, they only connect to the converter?

Interesting

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

No.  Notice the manual Inverter / Off / Generator (or shore Power) select switch.  I only have a 1500W inverter which is to small for the AC.  I can run my apartment fridge and TV off the Inverter overnight.  I also have converted to LED lights.
Even so, some of todays high end rigs are all electric which run off an inverter when boondocking.  Lots of 6VDC battery pairs on them things

[Bnova]

Oh sure, yeah I see it now, that it does flow through the switch when in the gen position, shore or gen.  Thanks for that info, it is interesting.