House bat not charging on shore power

[Gatesway]

We just arrived in MT from AK and are staying at my niece's house - plugged in to shore power with a 50' extension cord over night. The house batteries are now super low and did not seem to charge over night. Is this a problem with the charger (converter) or is there possibly not enough power coming from her house? The house batteries are being charged just fine when we travel. The transfer switch hums when plugged into shore power.

I hate to run the coach to charge the batteries (we are in a neighborhood) - or the gen set for that matter.

I'm super new at this, so if you don't mind, please be basic if you reply! I'm grateful for anyone's help on this...seems I'm in a bind.

John

[Gatesway]

Oh, we have an '02 KSDP3669 and the converter is an IOTA DLS-55. The water pump is super sluggish and we are getting AC (light is on on the microwave). WHen I press the "read volts" switch up front, it shows 10.3

I have installed a new 1,000 inverter that is working great - now that we are plugged into shore power (the unit is hard wired). We don't have a "surge protector" installed. The automatic transfer switch is a Lyght.

Again, thanks!

[Bjsrv]

If you have AC power it's not the transfer switch. Most likely you've lost your converter. Put a meter on the converter to check the output after you first make sure the fuses on the converter are good.
You can use an automotive battery charger on the batteries temporarily that will quietly keep your batteries charged until you solve the problem.

[Bjsrv]

Also make sure the inverter is turned off until you solve the problem

[Gatesway]

OK, both 30a fuses were blown. Replaced with new ones and the converter seems to be charging the batteries. I'll check the output of the converter when I get my voltmeter from inside the house (they are still in bed). What should the converter output volt be?

And yes, thanks, I've unplugged the inverter.

The culprit (I think)? The end on my extension cord is possibly the fault. I'll get a new end and install it today.

THanks for the help...

[Gatesway]

Both fuses blew after replacement. Makes no sense to me. What could cause the fuses to blow?

[Bjsrv]

Converter output should be 13.7v. I would look at the 12v side of the system for a problem as long as you have 120v AC. Usually those fuses blow because of some kind of short.

[Bjsrv]

Did you make sure there is water in the batteries?

[Bjsrv]

Is the inverter a new installation? Recheck it.

[garym114]

The IOTA Battery Charger/Power Supply is protected against reverse polarity on the DC output. If a battery or the unit is hooked up incorrectly, the fuses will blow.
Has the converter worked on AC from shore power or generator previously?
When you are traveling they are being charged from the engine alternator.
You could charge the house batteries using a regular auto battery charger plugged into AC.

Flashing lights on converter, meaning
http://www.iotaengineering.com/pplib/dlsmanl.pdf

["007"]

Here is information on your B.I.R.D. System for battery charging.
I would check all your battery connections on them and chassis frame plus the screw connections in transfer switch for tight connections, traveling over bumpy roads will loosen things up.
Here is information on Surge Protectors they will save you from expensive appliance replacements.

[FlyingDiver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gatesway Both fuses blew after replacement. Makes no sense to me. What could cause the fuses to blow?

Which fuses are blowing? Be VERY specific. Where are they located?

It occurs to me that you could be talking about fuses in the house (not RV), so maybe you're connecting to a 240v 30amp dryer circuit, and your RV is trying to pull more than 30amps from that circuit.

joe

["007"]

With what Joe has just said if you are trying to hook up your coach any where near a washer dryer cuircuit, stay away from it and find a 120V outlet someplace else.
If you use dryer outlet you can wipe out all your appliances in your coach and you say you have no surge protector, bad news.

[FlyingDiver]

Well, it could be a dryer, AC, or some other 240v outlet. Some of those might be wired properly, if they're a 4 prong outlet with neutral and ground, but you need to be VERY careful.