Community Forums

FLYING BUTCH · 09-18-2013, 04:32 PM

Just traded for a 07 Beaver Marquis. Replaced all house batteries (probably not bad but 6 years old). For the life of me I can not get the system to charge the house batteries. On my Alladin system, when I plug the 50 amp coach cord into a 30 converter the alladin shows power to both legs but no charge to the batteries. If I use the splitter I had for our 04 Marquis on the 50 amp cord the system shows power to one leg but no charge to the batteries. If I switch the splitter plug in to the other side I show power to the other leg but again no charge to the batteries. If I start the coach or start the generator the alladin shows very high charge (as batteries are running down). Just don't understand why I can't get the batteries to charge off outside electricty. Even tried different power outlet same results.
Very much appreciate any ideas guys. This just shouldn't be that difficult?? Other coach no problem. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

YC1 · 09-18-2013, 05:56 PM

Turn the large know back on? Look for the wire that dropped out of sight?

Grab a meter and measure the voltage at the cut off switches in the battery compartment. (making assumptions here). You should see the converter voltage on the switches.( assuming some things here).

If you do not see the charge voltage turn the battery switches off and unplug the RV. Plug it back in and turn the switches on. Then look on the face of the converter/inverter/charger to see if there are any indicator lights on. There is a well hidden switch on the front of the charger that got me once.

If you do not see any resolution here put your voltmeter on the output of the converter to see if it is alive.

nodine · 09-19-2013, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYING BUTCH

Just traded for a 07 Beaver Marquis. Replaced all house batteries (probably not bad but 6 years old). For the life of me I can not get the system to charge the house batteries. On my Alladin system, when I plug the 50 amp coach cord into a 30 converter the alladin shows power to both legs but no charge to the batteries. If I use the splitter I had for our 04 Marquis on the 50 amp cord the system shows power to one leg but no charge to the batteries. If I switch the splitter plug in to the other side I show power to the other leg but again no charge to the batteries. If I start the coach or start the generator the alladin shows very high charge (as batteries are running down). Just don't understand why I can't get the batteries to charge off outside electricty. Even tried different power outlet same results.
Very much appreciate any ideas guys. This just shouldn't be that difficult?? Other coach no problem. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

The fact that is charges from the generator or the alternator says your inverter/charger is not charging the batteries. As YC1 points out you should be able to measure about 14 volts between the positive and negative posts of the house batteries if the charge is working. Our coach has the Magnum Inverter with the built in charger/converter and the remote display. The display should show bulk charging at around 14 volts. It could be that you have purchased a coach with a defective inverter/charger.

Bob

FLYING BUTCH · 09-19-2013, 05:46 AM

I can't even find the darn inverter?? Our old coach it was right in a compartment. This one has a compartment and several trouble lights for problems with it. None of the light indicators are on. When I have it plugged into 50 amps the inverter does show charging and when batteries are charged it goes to float. Just can't get anything on the 30 amp side????

clyon51 · 09-19-2013, 06:24 AM

When power works fine on genny, but not on shore, that points me to the transfer switch. Of course this is after checking for proper shore power.

I suspect one leg is not kicking in, so half your 120v circuits are not being powered, or with very low voltage. Easy enough to check. Since you threw a 30a adapter in the mix, it could be a bad adapter not powering both legs properly.

bruceisla · 09-19-2013, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nodine

The fact that is charges from the generator or the alternator says your inverter/charger is not charging the batteries. As YC1 points out you should be able to measure about 14 volts between the positive and negative posts of the house batteries if the charge is working. Our coach has the Magnum Inverter with the built in charger/converter and the remote display. The display should show bulk charging at around 14 volts. It could be that you have purchased a coach with a defective inverter/charger.

Bob

Not so sure about that ... my genset powers the Inverter/Charger which then charges the House bats. My genset cannot directly charge the bats.

Leaning toward a transfer switch problem.

It sounds like the Inverter is seeing 120vac from the genset but not from shore power.

Dr4Film · 09-19-2013, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYING BUTCH

I can't even find the darn inverter?? Our old coach it was right in a compartment. This one has a compartment and several trouble lights for problems with it. None of the light indicators are on. When I have it plugged into 50 amps the inverter does show charging and when batteries are charged it goes to float. Just can't get anything on the 30 amp side????

So what you have stated so far is that when your coach is plugged into 50 amp shore power the batteries are being charged correctly. When the engine is running, the batteries are being charged correctly. When your generator is running your batteries are being charged correctly. HOWEVER, when you are using a 30 to 50 amp dog-bone and plugged into 30 amp shore power your batteries are NOT being charged correctly.

That tells me your 30 to 50 amp dog-bone is defective. When that happens you you may have power on one leg or the other but not on both legs at the same time which is what you need for it to work correctly.

Buy a new 30 to 50 amp dog-bone and test it with a meter before leaving the store.

Your transfer switch is fine!

Dr4Film ----- Richard

nodine · 09-19-2013, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceisla

Not so sure about that ... my genset powers the Inverter/Charger which then charges the House bats. My genset cannot directly charge the bats.

Leaning toward a transfer switch problem.

It sounds like the Inverter is seeing 120vac from the genset but not from shore power.

You are correct, my bad. I was not thinking straight.

Bob

bruceisla · 09-19-2013, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nodine

You are correct, my bad. I was not thinking straight.

Bob

Ha! ... Whenever I am thinking straight someone yells "EXCEPTION!!"

FLYING BUTCH · 09-20-2013, 05:58 AM

You all are correct in understanding that everything charges fine EXCEPT when I am trying to charge using 30 amps. I have a splitter and a new 50-30 adaptor. No reading at all on the remote inverter panel as far as power. Don't think both adaptors could be bad? Talking with Magnum tech and trying to figure it out??

YC1 · 09-20-2013, 09:08 AM

Two symptoms that seem to be major clues.

1. Charger does not work on 30 amps.

2. The panel does not light up showing 30 amps and the load shedding lights.

The panel is driven from the converter.

To sort things out a bit measure the line inputs to the converter. If you have voltage on both line 1 and 2 that would indicate the converter has an issue.

Check out the attachment and click on the yellow notes so they pop up.