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Raining Star · 10-13-2013, 06:41 PM

After sitting for two months I connected my 1999 Winnebago Chieftain (Ford) to shore power for a couple of days. When I disconnected from shore power I have no house power at all. Batteries check good, vehicle battery is good and starts vehicle.
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I've obviously checked the AUX battery switch a dozen times, and I've reset all the circuit breakers. Still dead. Reconnected to shore power and everything is fine. Any ideas what to try next?

davedoc · 10-13-2013, 07:28 PM

Loose battery terminals?

Raining Star · 10-13-2013, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davedoc

Loose battery terminals?

Checked them when I checked the voltage on the batteries. They are clean and tight.
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We were suppose to be on the road at first light. This may really screw up our vacation. Looks like the tech in the morning if they are willing to see us without an appointment. If not, this could be a vacation killer.

TQ60 · 10-13-2013, 08:17 PM

Get a voltmeter and start measuring voltage.

Start at battery and work towards converter.

Check grounds as well.

lthrnk · 10-13-2013, 08:28 PM

Check the converter for power in and out. There should be a reset on it. Did anyone hit the 12 volt switch inside the MH?

Wayne MD · 10-13-2013, 11:46 PM

Check for fuses on converter box. All in good order? I once lost all inside lights and plug ins after unhooking shore power. My book shows that somewhere in converter box it will reset after some hours if this problem occurs. It did, next a.m. lights came on when I hit the switch. Didn't do anything, just waited it out. I'm still baffled why this condition happened. It was the only time in 5 years it did occur.

Dunner · 10-14-2013, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raining Star

Checked them when I checked the voltage on the batteries. They are clean and tight.
-
We were suppose to be on the road at first light. This may really screw up our vacation. Looks like the tech in the morning if they are willing to see us without an appointment. If not, this could be a vacation killer.

As others have said; follow the voltage. The connections may look clean and tight, but may not be passing current.

Friend had a boat that would not start. Voltmeter showed 12+ volts, but the terminals were so corroded on the inside that they showed the voltage, but would not pass enough current to energize the start solenoid. Take them off and clean them shinny bright with one of those buck - $2.98 cleaning tools from your local auto parts store.

When you have the battery terminals off, loosen and tighten or reseat all the connectors to eliminate corrosion.

davedoc · 10-14-2013, 04:54 AM

I second Dunner's comment.

94-Newmar · 10-14-2013, 05:27 AM

If you cycle the house disconnect switch on and off can you hear it clicking? If not, locate it and see your version has small blade type fuses in them at one or both ends. Pictured below is an Intellitec version..... yours may or may not be the same.

Capn_Dave · 10-14-2013, 06:03 AM

Raining Star,

When the shore power is disconnected the converter is out of the picture. What is left is 12 volts getting from the batteries to the distribution panel. Looking at the schematic for your R/V there is one relay that power goes through and then to the panel.
Check this wiring diagram for help . Wiring Diagrams this way there is no question about how things go together,

Fair winds

Dave

TQ60 · 10-14-2013, 09:32 AM

DO NOT just start cleaning things!

Measure first, have a helper trun on things while you measure voltage.

Measure across connections.

For battery, one lead on post, the other in the wire via a pin inserted into the wire.

When you mrasure a voltage drop then you KNOW it is bad, then clean or repair the connection and then the drop is gone via same measurement you have a CONFIRMED repair.

Done this for 30 + years, troubleshooting requires slow and careful steps to quickly find and repair the problem.

Random cleaning often makes problem go away, but usually adds much time as things that do not need work are done.

Once issue is fixed then other things can be cleaned as preventitive maintenance, no issue there, but when looking for issues always best to "sneak up on it".

Raining Star · 10-14-2013, 01:36 PM

Well problem solved and I almost feel embarrassed. There is an entire circuit breaker panel behind a stair riser that is not mentioned in the owners manual or their online resources. Took the tech about five minutes tracing wires to find it. Reset the breaker, halfway to our destination. Enjoying lunch in Payson, Az.