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11-15-2018, 01:26 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 81
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1st time hookup of Shore power = nuttin
Today I went out in the snow and plugged my Clarion into power in my house for the first time.
Nothing came to life. I do see an LED light on the power adapter.
I expected the converter to power up the 12v stuff, but it didn't. The house batteries are dead but I didn't think that would matter. The 12v does come on when the engine or generator runs.
I see no sign that the 100v outlets came to life.
I guess I need to try to trace out the 110v power flow. I will check the breaker panel.- once I find it.
Scuse me while I gargle on some razor blades.
__________________
--Mike Lake County, IL
1991 Clarion by Coachmen #143 (for sale)
2012 Phoenix Cruiser 2551
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11-15-2018, 01:32 PM
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#2
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Registered User
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,336
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It sounds like a failed transfer switch.
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11-15-2018, 01:34 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,309
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Or if it doesn’t have one the gen output cord is plugged into where the shore cord should be. The transfer is a manual process on some motor homes.
__________________
Tom
2016 Newmar Bay Star Sport 3004
2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport Willys
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11-15-2018, 01:36 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Foretravel Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Home is Where WE PARK IT...
Posts: 6,007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wildtoad
Or if it doesn’t have one the gen output cord is plugged into where the shore cord should be. The transfer is a manual process on some motor homes.
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This would be my bet...
__________________
Retired truckdriver,
'02 Foretravel... "This Shack will do"
being pushed by an '06 Scion xB
SKP's of Box Elder, South Dakota
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11-15-2018, 01:44 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 8,055
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It depends on how the house batteries are wired to the converter. On some units the converter is connected to the batteries and the disconnect relay turns the house on and off. On other units the converter is connected to the load size of the relay so an open storage relay shuts off the batteries but runs the 12 VDC when the unit is plugged in. It sounds like you have dead batteries so the relay won't pull in and the converter may be faulting because of excess current. I'd put a meter on the battery bank to check then use an external charger to get the house batteries up to 11 volts or so. At that point the relay will probably operate and the batteries charge. You might have to use a high current load in series with the battery charger to limit the charging current to start with or you will fault the charger. I use an old head lamp as it provides around 3 amps to start. You need a couple of amps but not so many you cook things or fault the charger. Probably 2-5 amps will do it.
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11-15-2018, 01:46 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 3,165
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some MH have 100% 120-volt inverted outlets. If your's does then the dead house batteryies will very well make a difference. No ticky no shirty?
__________________
2011 Keystone Sprinter 323 BHS. Port Charlotte Fl/Hinsdale MA. Retired Master Electrician. All Motor homes are RV's. All RV's are not Motor homes.
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11-15-2018, 01:57 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,317
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wildtoad
Or if it doesn’t have one the gen output cord is plugged into where the shore cord should be. The transfer is a manual process on some motor homes.
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The generator will not have a cord. If it did it would be the wrong end and be a shock hazard. The Shore cord plugs into the generator outlet.
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11-15-2018, 02:02 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,317
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cavie
some MH have 100% 120-volt inverted outlets. If your's does then the dead house batteryies will very well make a difference. No ticky no shirty?
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Really ? What manufacturer would do that ?
120 volts down to 12 volts and then up to 120 volts. That and you would need a 3600 watt inverter to cover a 30 amp RV or a 12,000 watt inverter for 50 amps.
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11-15-2018, 02:09 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,317
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Look around for a manual transfer switch from the generator power to the shore power.
So you have 120 volts while the generator is running ?
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11-15-2018, 02:41 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 81
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twinboat
Look around for a manual transfer switch from the generator power to the shore power.
So you have 120 volts while the generator is running?
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Yes. I ran the air conditioner on the generator.
__________________
--Mike Lake County, IL
1991 Clarion by Coachmen #143 (for sale)
2012 Phoenix Cruiser 2551
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11-15-2018, 02:47 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 81
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nothermark
It depends on how the house batteries are wired to the converter. On some units the converter is connected to the batteries and the disconnect relay turns the house on and off. On other units the converter is connected to the load size of the relay so an open storage relay shuts off the batteries but runs the 12 VDC when the unit is plugged in. It sounds like you have dead batteries so the relay won't pull in and the converter may be faulting because of excess current. I'd put a meter on the battery bank to check then use an external charger to get the house batteries up to 11 volts or so. At that point the relay will probably operate and the batteries charge. You might have to use a high current load in series with the battery charger to limit the charging current to start with or you will fault the charger. I use an old head lamp as it provides around 3 amps to start. You need a couple of amps but not so many you cook things or fault the charger. Probably 2-5 amps will do it.
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Thanks. I have two 6 volt house batteries in series. They're el-cheapo Duralast ten years old and dead, dead, dead. I intend to hold off buying new ones until Spring to avoid freezing new batteries over the winter. Besides Costco is telling me 6 volt batteries are "seasonal," so I hope they'll have them in the Spring.
I'll try jumping in a battery from a car to continue testing the systems.
I do have the Clarion owners manual but it leaves much to be desired. It doesn't even show how to convert the middle seats into a bed. I think I figured that out.
Thanks for the advice.
__________________
--Mike Lake County, IL
1991 Clarion by Coachmen #143 (for sale)
2012 Phoenix Cruiser 2551
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11-15-2018, 11:56 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SW Louisiana
Posts: 8,824
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There are a few transfer switches that require DC for switching, if your batteries are completely dead then they may not transfer to shore power.
__________________
2002 Safari Trek 2830 on P32 Chassis with 8.1L w/ 400 watts solar 420Ah LiFePo4
2017 Jeep Cherokee Overland & 2007 Toyota Yaris TOADs with Even Brake,
Demco Commander tow bar and Blue Ox / Roadmaster base plates
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11-16-2018, 08:03 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Payson, AZ
Posts: 1,270
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how about doing some tests to determine status? with a meter. is there power coming out of the house receptacle? if not resolve that first. then simply work your way towards the rv and check each power connection point. the post says that this was the first time using the house receptacle. what we don't know is if the rv has been plugged into other receptacles (such as a shore power pedestal) that worked. if it did and now you are using the house receptacle for the first time where do you think the problem is most probably at?
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11-20-2018, 05:38 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 81
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Just call me RV Calamity Mike.
I was leaving a Wisconsin Costco and saw a display of RV batteries at the exit. Yeah. Impulse buying at its best. I bought the last two 6 volt golf cart batteries @ $93 each. So much for waiting until Spring. I talked myself into putting them in to troubleshoot the 120 volt shore power problem.
Sooo....I just installed them. The new house batteries looked to be happy and working. The power panel was live, the power display showed full and the interior lights worked. There was some clicking at the center rear of the coach, which I thought was the refrigerator but it was off. The power cord is plugged in.
I started the engine and it was happy and running fine. The voltmeter looked normal. After a few minutes, the engine died. It looked like the starter battery was dead. I was able to restart by using the emergency switch. The engine still died. Now the main battery was really dead.
I tried to hook up the external BatteryMinder charger but it complained about the battery connection being reversed. I disconnected the house batteries which let me leave the main battery on the charger.
So it looks like charging the house batteries were dragging the alternator down or sumptin, but those batteries themselves are fine.
It's 32 degrees and dark now so I'll come back tomorrow and try to figure it out with a meter and with the power cord unplugged.
__________________
--Mike Lake County, IL
1991 Clarion by Coachmen #143 (for sale)
2012 Phoenix Cruiser 2551
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