No batt charging?

[Bruce and Jenna]

Now don't be shocked by this question.

Today I started drycamping. Currently at Q, on my way south to Imperil Dam LTVA.

I hooked up my Honda2000 generator for elect. I have 120v in my trailer, except for one BR outlet that was working yesterday. But my 12v meter reads anywhere from 11.9v to 12.5 with the generator running, even tho I was connected to 50 amp service yesterday. Up to 12.5 with all lights off, but phantom 120v loads still plugged in.

I have flipped the 120 breaker for the converter, as well as the BR. 12v devices like the refrig and the overhead lights are working, and I deployed my slides prior to starting up the generator.

Seems to me that the 12v meter would read high with the generator on...about 13v. Or am I wrong about this? Been 9 months since I used this setup, so maybe I forget some.

Thanks.

[Bruce and Jenna]

Now don't be shocked by this question.

Today I started drycamping. Currently at Q, on my way south to Imperil Dam LTVA.

I hooked up my Honda2000 generator for elect. I have 120v in my trailer, except for one BR outlet that was working yesterday. But my 12v meter reads anywhere from 11.9v to 12.5 with the generator running, even tho I was connected to 50 amp service yesterday. Up to 12.5 with all lights off, but phantom 120v loads still plugged in.

I have flipped the 120 breaker for the converter, as well as the BR. 12v devices like the refrig and the overhead lights are working, and I deployed my slides prior to starting up the generator.

Seems to me that the 12v meter would read high with the generator on...about 13v. Or am I wrong about this? Been 9 months since I used this setup, so maybe I forget some.

Thanks.

[Rick Long]

You said you have one bedroom outlet not working also... That would lead me to think you simply have a GFI outlet that popped... and your converter is on that circuit, so your 12v items are running off the batteries. Check all GFI outlets and reset them by pushing the test and then the reset. You should have 3 or 4 GFI receptacles, so don't over look any.

[Bruce and Jenna]

Good idea Rick. But I have a GFI breaker and a breaker for the converter. I did reset the GFI breaker, but NG.

I found a second outlet not working, in the bath closet for the washer/dryer. Reset the wash/dry breaker, but no difference.

I just disconnected the generator and saw no change on the meter. Am I right then that either the converter or the meter is not working properly?

But what about those nonworking AC outlets?

[Workshop]

Bruce, I would agree that it looks like you are running off the batteries at anything less than +13 volts while running off the generator. The least the Progressive converter will do is 13.1v while in the storage mode. You should be reading something about 13.7v.

Did the outlet in the bedroom come back online after you flipped the breakers?

On my Excel, a 2001, it was wired with ALL the GFI's on a GFI breaker on the panel and there isn't a reset on the outlet itself. Would assume Excel did this on yours. IF I can remember right, you had a converter problem before and had it repaired at PI? I would check the outlet the converter is checked into and ensure it has power.

There is two 30 amp fuses on the converter for battery polarity protection, if all else fails check them.

Just flipped back to the Forum to see if anything else has been posted. It would be my guess if the washer/dryer outlet isn't working....and there is still another outlet in the bedroom without power that these outlets are on the 'red leg' of the power cord and maybe not getting power from the generator plug. On my unit there is a black leg that powers most everything and the red leg that did the washer dryer and a rear outlet in the Living room.

It might be that your not getting power to both legs with the power cord setup, only a guess not being there.

[Bruce and Jenna]

Thank you Chris. You are exactly right. You remember more about my coach than I do.

That dedicated outlet under the converter ain't working again. So I ran an extension cord to another outlet for now.

I had Peterson check the converter and outlet last June. But it was working at that time. Makes me wonder about the circuit that feeds that outlet.

So I just flipped the Converter breaker. The 12v meter didn't show any change from 14.1v. Shouldn't the converter stop charging the batteries?

[Workshop]

I would think that if you flipped the converter breaker and the converter continued to charge at 14.1v that it is on a different circuit than the converter circuit.

As everything worked the day before when plugged into shore power at a campgound....and everthing isn't working when operating off the generator....thinkin its a power cord 'feed' problem that isn't wired correctly or intermittent. I say that because the washer/dryer outlets and at 'least' a bedroom outlet isn't working off the generator, only feeding the black leg of the panel. Are you feeding the 5er through the 50amp cord and a 'dog bone' adapter?

The way to know is when you leave and connect back to 'normal' power and see what works. If all the outlets are good...might have to leave the converter plugged into the outlet your using now to ensure that you have the converter operating when using the generator.

[Curtis Brown]

Bruce,

Without knowing more about how you are hooked to your generator it is hard to be sure. But here are some ideas.

Firstly, I presume you have a 50 amp unit and are using a 30 amp to 50 amp dogbone. I also presume you have a dogbone to connect between the generator's 30 amp output plug and the 30 amp to 50 amp dogbone.

On many if not all Excels the converter is on the same power leg as the washer/dryer outlet and the bedroom air conditioner outlet. Call that leg 2.

All other 120 volt outlets are on the other power leg. Call that leg 1.

My guess is that the 30 amp to 50 amp dogbone you are using is not powering leg 2.

To test the dogbone, next time you are on shore power, try powering from the shorepower 30 amp plug and see if the same situation occurs. If it does you have a badly wired dogbone. In other words, the 30 amp to 60 amp dogbone should provide 120 volt power to both of the input lines of the 50 amp cord. If not it is either faulty or not wired correctly.

Good Luck
Curt

[RustyJC]

I've had a 30-to-50 dogbone go bad. Check both hot buses in the power distribution (breaker) panel to neutral and see if one isn't dead.

Rusty

[Still Working "NOT"]

Bruce,

You can test your dogbone with the ohm meter of your multi-meter. Look for a short between both hot legs of the 50amp end and the hot leg of the 30amp. I also assume that you are using another dogbone 30amp to 20amp. Check this also. I really think the problem is an open on one side of the dogbone in the 30amp to 50amp dogbone.

You can also check this while running the generator and having everything plug into the generator and use the voltage meter on the 50amp end of the dogbone. If you 110 volts on both hot legs of the 50amp dogbone and it still does not work when plug into the fifth wheel, I would buy another dogbone as you probaly have a high open in your dogbone which you will not be able to fix. The high open will show voltage but will not allow current to flow through.

[rockintom]

Still,
I think your on to something here on Brucie's issue. Gotta agree with ya.

BTW...your talking about "high open" reminds me of my drinking habits....I get high and my mouth get to be open too much! Commonly referred to by some as "verbal spewage"!


Uppps, there I go again....

[Bruce and Jenna]

Well you guys set me on the right path. The answer was even simpler than the dog bone. (Down Clancy!)

I confirmed your suspicion of no power on leg2. As I looked at the b-o-n-e, I noticed that one of the leads on the 50amp plug was bent in. It wasn't making contact with the female contact on the b-o-n-e. Bent it back straight and it is working fine!

Thanks for all your help. Simple solution for once.

[rockintom]

Bent bone prong....my life story! That's all I'm saying. Bruce, do you EVER look at the obvious???

[Bruce and Jenna]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by rockintom:
Bent bone prong....my life story! That's all I'm saying. Bruce, do you EVER look at the obvious??? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Obviously not.

Biggest thing I need to learn is the layout of the electrical system. In a normal house, I wouldn't think of legs (except of turkey legs ) when diagnosing, let alone converters and inverters. Just looked at the many circuits and devices thereon. It was a simpler time then.

And don't get me started about septic.