Community Forums

BSP012 · 04-12-2019, 08:18 AM

Plugged it in to 30 amp trying to raise my front end of my fifth wheel and the Lippert controls show low voltage to my batteries. Isn’t it supposed to be using the shore power to raise the jacks?

HaRVey 74.5 · 04-12-2019, 08:58 AM

On my 2018 Palazzo, the Jacks do not work without the engine running and the alternator charging. The control panel will not even illuminate without the engine running and I will get the "low voltage" on both the jack control panel and the dash panel until the alternator kicks in.
Even though my chassis batteries are fully charged, there is a high amp draw from the Cummins intake air heater when it's cold out (under ~45°?) which causes the Low Battery Voltage reading until the alternator kicks in.
Never made sense to me that I could not operate the Jacks without the engine running...

**Spdracr39** · 04-12-2019, 09:01 AM

It doesn't use shore power so to speak but it does run off of 12v which should be boosted by the converter when plugged into shore power. Sounds to me like either a bad battery, bad connection, or your converter is not working. Let it remain plugged in for an hour or so and try again. If that works it is definitely a battery issue. If not it is still one of the above.

Bob_C · 04-12-2019, 09:01 AM

The landing gear are 12 volt.....If the battery (s) is low, it'll take a bit for the charger part of the converter to bring them up.....then, they should work fine...Got a meter?....check battery voltage...

BSP012 · 04-12-2019, 09:27 AM

Waited an hour things worked fine then looked at the batteries. corrosion on the top water levels are okay Interstate batteries-year-old should hold a better charge

Danlb · 04-12-2019, 09:47 AM

My Damon Daybreak has the Lippert system and even though it is tied into the 12V system it needs more voltage than that to operate. The control panel has the statement "For Proper Operation Engine Must Be Running" on it. I have added a volt meter on my dash to monitor the chassis battery and once I start the engine the voltage will read somewhere in the 14.4 to 14.7 volt range, indicating the alternator is supplying power to the battery. When I power the Lippert system and start the leveling process the voltage will drop into the low 13 volt range as the pump is supplying pressure to lift the coach. Occasionally the Low Voltage light may flash momentarily but still function. A fully charged battery at rest will be at 12.6 volts or so and not provide the voltage necessary for the pump to supply enough pressure for proper operation.

BSP012 · 04-12-2019, 09:51 AM

Thanks makes a lot of sense

harris155 · 04-12-2019, 04:05 PM

I like to operate the hydraulics at the highest voltage possible. Weather on shore power or engine running.
The pump motor has to develop a certain amount of HP to do the work.
The current is lower if the voltage is higher.
If the voltage is low, the current goes up and the pump motor seems to labor.

HaRVey 74.5 · 04-13-2019, 07:47 AM

I'll have to see if it will operate with the generator running instead if the engine. I would just like an alternative to operate the Jacks in case the engine dies when the Jacks are down. (and not manually, because the pump is hard to get to and it's a complicated process on mine)