Community Forums

MiamiRvNoob · 09-12-2016, 03:11 PM

Hello, we have recently purchased a 2001 Tiffin Allegro Bay 34 lb... it has been working perfectly up until recently where we have been getting electrical problems... in the sense of being plugged into the 50 amp plug in and using the house batteries...

whilst using the generator, all power is perfectly fine, light and both A/C units work 100% with no issues.

whilst engine swtich is turned on, all power is perfectly fine, light and both A/C units work 100% with no issues.

but when we plug the motor home into any power station at a rv camp, the power begins to die out gradually up until the lights are practically off, but the A/C units remain working almost to full power...

does anyone have any idea what may cause these problems? please get back to me as soon as possible, thank you!

chunker · 09-12-2016, 03:18 PM

Sounds like your battery charger isn't charging the house batteries when plugged into shore power. If you have a voltmeter, I'd suggest checking the house battery voltage when you first plug in and see if it's dropping. In the meantime you could plug connect regular battery charger to the house batteries when stopped to keep the lights on.

rvarner · 09-12-2016, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiamiRvNoob

Hello, we have recently purchased a 2001 Tiffin Allegro Bay 34 lb... it has been working perfectly up until recently where we have been getting electrical problems... in the sense of being plugged into the 50 amp plug in and using the house batteries...

whilst using the generator, all power is perfectly fine, light and both A/C units work 100% with no issues.

whilst engine swtich is turned on, all power is perfectly fine, light and both A/C units work 100% with no issues.

but when we plug the motor home into any power station at a rv camp, the power begins to die out gradually up until the lights are practically off, but the A/C units remain working almost to full power...

does anyone have any idea what may cause these problems? please get back to me as soon as possible, thank you!

Try giving your inverter/charger a whack and monitor the AC output. You may have a bad relay in there. Happened to me and I had the same symptoms. Good luck
Rich

OOOPS, I reread your post. My problem was with the AC so not the same. Sorry.

superk · 09-12-2016, 04:23 PM

When you say power dies off gradually, how long does it take? Are your wall plugs affected (IE, does your microwave or toaster still work?)

Can you start your engine as normal?

MiamiRvNoob · 09-12-2016, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superk

When you say power dies off gradually, how long does it take? Are your wall plugs affected (IE, does your microwave or toaster still work?)

Can you start your engine as normal?

It takes about 30 minutes for all the lights to die out gradually...the fridge actually loses quite a bit of power, no other appliance has been used whilst this has happened, just the lights dim down till they seem as if they are off... and yes the engine can be started with no problem during this.

MiamiRvNoob · 09-12-2016, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drwwicks

Sounds like your battery charger isn't charging the house batteries when plugged into shore power. If you have a voltmeter, I'd suggest checking the house battery voltage when you first plug in and see if it's dropping. In the meantime you could plug connect regular battery charger to the house batteries when stopped to keep the lights on.

thank you very much for your assistance, that is what we had in mind, but we are having trouble finding the house batteries on our R.V do you happen to know where allegro places their batteries usually?

MiamiRvNoob · 09-12-2016, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvarner

Try giving your inverter/charger a whack and monitor the AC output. You may have a bad relay in there. Happened to me and I had the same symptoms. Good luck
Rich

OOOPS, I reread your post. My problem was with the AC so not the same. Sorry.

thank you very much for the help... i will still give the relays a check to make sure it doesnt have to do with that...

eprman1 · 09-12-2016, 05:19 PM

Allegro batteries are usually under the entrance steps. You can see a latch on one step. Open it and walla.

Wayne M · 09-12-2016, 05:44 PM

When is the last time the fluid levels in the battery were checked?

Sounds like you have a bad battery somewhere in the circuit not holding a charge.

How old are the batteries?

bluepill · 09-12-2016, 05:54 PM

If you have one of these adaptors, it would be helpful to see if using it cures your problem (just as a diagnostic aid).

If you don't have one, but are at an RV park, possibly a neighbor will lend you one.

You plug the 50 amp shore power line to the adaptor, then plug that into a 30 amp outlet at the pedestal.

Do not run both A/C units at the same time with this set-up. You can, however, switch the thermostat fan controls from "AUTO" to "ON" to see if the fans for both work.

Because the adaptor forms a bridge between the 2 power legs in the 50 amp circuit, it can verify if you have a good connection thru the power cord to the various circuits in the coach.

nothermark · 09-12-2016, 05:56 PM

FWIW after you find the batteries check the voltage with the shore cord unplugged, no generator and engine off. Write it down. Plug in the shore cord. Measure and record the voltage again. It should go up to reflect the Converter or Inverter/converter is working. If it does not go up check for a breaker or fuse problem. If you are still having a problem post the voltages and what you have done and someone will give you a next step.

It sounds like a classic 12 VDC problem where you are charging with the engine alternator while driving but not driving enough to fully charge the batteries or old batteries. When you plug in converter is not charging the batteries or supplying 12 VDC to the system so the batteries run down.

bluepill · 09-12-2016, 06:34 PM

What is strange is that the converter/charger seems to be working with the generator supplying 120 volts.

Possibly a transfer switch problem. That's why I suggested the dog bone adaptor. It will bridge both legs of the service, in case one contact is bad in the transfer.

The mystery thickens.

nothermark · 09-12-2016, 06:45 PM

FWIW If the A/C's are both working then the 50 A feed is probably fine. That is assuming they split the the load with an A/C on each leg. That seems to be normal. I'd be checking the manual for the converter to see what internal fuses or breakers exist and the power panel on the MH to see if the AC line to the converter is tripped.

Stealth01 · 09-13-2016, 06:17 PM

Wayne M asked the appropriate question... Check the batteries it sounds like your DC power is failing. Our first used RV, a 1999 Safari Serengeti, we were spending our first night in it, all of the indirect mood lighting on and suddenly all of the (DC lights) started dying... We didn't know what was AC versus DC and eventually figured out that the dealership failed to maintain the battery servicing (water level) which led to the batteries eventually failing. Check the battery servicing... And if the electrolyte is below the cell plates, plan on new batteries!