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Old 07-17-2013, 09:14 PM   #1
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Charging Problems

I have a 99 Allegro Bus. The converter takes 120v in and consistently tests 13.7v DC out. I have an echo charger in the battery compartment and it has a flashing green light - not a steady one. The coach batteries last about 5-7 days and then die, even when connected to shore power. When driving, all batteries charge fine. Ideas???
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Old 07-18-2013, 01:10 AM   #2
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Load test the coach batteries. Could have one with a high resistance to charge; that shuts down your echo charger; and when driving the alternator output is linked to the chassis batteries and charging the coach batteries is a side circuit, the alt. rate of charge may be enough to overcome the high resistance.
Do you have a manual for the charger ; to see if the flashing light is normal?
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Old 07-18-2013, 05:52 AM   #3
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It would be really helpful if you told us what the year, make, and model of your coach is. Whether or not it is diesel, etc.

I'm not sure what an "echo" charger is other than a trickle charger for the chassis batteries. What you describe points to your inverter or converter not charging the house batteries. There are multiple reasons from tripped breakers, blown fuses, bad connections, etc. More details would be helpful.
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Old 07-18-2013, 06:05 AM   #4
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A multimeter/VOM will diagnose most electrical problems involving 12V systems. What is the charger producing measured at the battery(s) and with no load on the batteries what is their voltage and with them disconnected for a couple of hours (best to remove a terminal). Deep Cycle Battery FAQ has a good charging writeup.
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Old 07-18-2013, 07:18 AM   #5
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Are you measuring 13.7V at the batteries ? If not, Are you turning off the salesman switch and disconnecting the batteries. If you have 13.7V at the batteries and they go dead, it almost must be a bad battery.
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Old 07-18-2013, 09:53 AM   #6
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The Allegro Bus is a diesel pusher. All four batteries are new (within the last eight months). The Xantrex Digital Echo Charge Battery Charger requires a solid green light to indicate normal operation. When driving, all batteries charge normally and the coach batteries will operate for about a week under normal dry camping conditions. They will also charge when running the generator. Only when connected to shore power do the coach batteries NOT charge.

When the input voltage is 13.0/25.5 volts DC or higher, echo-charge
automatically switches ON. The LED glows a steady green. When the
input voltage is lower than 13.0/25.5 volts, the echo-charge automatically
switches OFF, and the LED blinks green. The output voltage of echo charge
is limited to 14.4/28.8 volts. When it reaches 14.4/28.8 volts, the
charge current will decrease, maintaining a float condition. Since I have a blinking green light I assume the charger is NOT receiving sufficient input voltage, but my converter is putting out 13.7 vdc. The manual says: LED is
flashing green
1) House battery voltage below 13.0 volts DC
or above 17 volts DC.
2) The difference between the house battery
and the starter battery is greater than 10 volts
DC.


SO.... I assume that the actual charging system in the MH itself is working correctly since all batteries come to a full charge while driving. Deduction says to trace the connection between the converter and the Xantrex.....
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