Community Forums

va_capone · 05-14-2019, 07:28 AM

I have the MM600 power inverter as well as the second charger which I think is supposed to charge the chassis batteries in my 2007 Lapalma.
I believe that during the process of preparing the coach for sale to me the batteries were incorrectly connected as both chargers appear to connect to the coach batteries. I have had the coach about a month now and live in Newport News VA.
The coach batteries are charged and both chargers are producing 13+ volts but chassis batteries are reading just over 4 volts.
Any help solving this newest issue is greatly appreciated.

l1v3fr33ord1 · 05-14-2019, 08:14 AM

va capone-

I suspect the batteries are correctly connected.

The 600W inverter supplies AC for your TVs. It does not charge anything.

The other charger charges your house batteries. There is a solenoid that connects the house and chassis batteries, under certain conditions, to allow the alternator to charge the house batteries, and to allow the house battery charger to charge the chassis batteries. The solenoid is part of a cross-charging system. Either some path between the cross-charging system and the chassis batteries is broken, or part of the cross-charging system is not working as designed. Both are common problems.

You can figure this out for yourself. You need a voltmeter. Do you have one? Can you read wiring diagrams?

For something to try immediately, find the chassis battery disconnect switch and make sure it is turned on. Your coach's owner's manual (link here), pages 146-7, may help you find the chassis battery disconnect switch.

va_capone · 05-15-2019, 04:42 PM

Thank you for your reply, but your information is incorrect. The MM600 also incorporates a trickle charger that according to the spec. Sheet provides an output of 12.6 volts DC. After I made changes to the wiring and illuminated the circuit that ran from the pos. Term through a switch a breaker and a fuse and then back to the same pos. Terminal, and relocated the positive wire from the second charger from the solar panel control box to the chassis side of the boost Solenoid and left it in that position overnight today The coach starts with no problem and the coach batteries also have a charge of 13.6 everything is lovely in Virginia now

YC1 · 05-19-2019, 06:01 AM

Welcome to the forum.

It sounds like you have it sorted but may be disguising or bypassing a problem.

In any case, that low voltage could have crippled your starting batteries. They just may not last as long as you like.

Take a look at this post for some excellent information.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f115/corr...on-443786.html

I don't know how your La Palma came from the factory but failure of the "BIRD" system components is a common problem covered on this forum 100's of times. Getting to know exactly how yours works can save a lot of frustration.

va_capone · 05-20-2019, 03:10 AM

I have only had the coach about a month and am learning new stuff on an almost daily basis. I suspect the second battery charger is what someone else came up with as a solution when the stock system failed. But I can’t figure out why anyone would wire it the way it was. But it is working now although as time passes I will likely revisit it down the road.