electrical problems

peter1 · 11-24-2009, 01:56 PM

Hello everyone I have a 2008 fourwinds hurricane that I just picked up for warranty work. I was having trouble with the DVD not working properly but I was later told the DVD player was fine but the TV had an issue and was replaced. I also had other minor work done like latches not closing and slides not opening all the way.

They kept the mh for about two months and when I went to pick it up I noticed the RV batteries were dead so I started the mh engine and was able to start up the gen. after the gen was turned on the RV came to life. I then drove the mh to a local RV park which was about 30 mins away, level it and put out the sides then I plugged in the 50 amp cord and shut down the gen.

Well we stayed about a day and a half and I noticed the clock on the radio had turned off and paid it no mind. Later that morning we started to pack and when I started to bring in the slides I had no power to the slides. I then started up the gen and that started charging the house batteries. After about 20 mins I remember the switch that you can use to jump the battery in the mh so I figured it would work in reverse and yep it sure did. i was able to bring in my slides and levers

We drove home for about 3 hours and after storing and shutting down the gen the house lights went out but the clock for the radio was on.

Then next day I came back and checked the voltage on the house and they were fully charged. Also the slides and the leveling system work fine off the batteries.

It seems to me that the house batteries should have charged when I had the 50 amp plugged in… the gen charged the batteries on the way home. I checked all the fuses and breakers and they all appeared to be fine I also check the gci or gui breakers on the plugs and they appear to be fine…does anyone have an idea why the house batteries would not charge when the 50 amp cord is plugged in??? And why wouldn’t the house lights come on.. I did use a test light on the fuses and had no power when the gen is off but after starting the gen the fuse had power… I also had the chassis and mh breakers on the on position during the test

a k · 11-24-2009, 02:17 PM

Sounds like an inverter problem. Do you have to manually turn on the charger?

peter1 · 11-24-2009, 04:18 PM

im dont think so.. i think it does it automatic... was looking for some type of breaker but i could not find one..i fugured i blew out a fuse when trying to bring in the slides.. i tried several times to bring them in but the votage on the batts were to low and would kill the gen.. so i did several series of starting and letting the gen run and then attemp to bring in a slide... but after 20 mins of this i remember the a switch that will tie all the batts together and i was able to finish with the slides and levelers

GaryKD · 11-24-2009, 04:33 PM

Hi peter1,
Sometimes when one connects to shore power the breaker for my converter/charger will trip. It happens enough it is now part of my setup procedure to check the coach batts to see if they are charging. The breaker for your converter charger should be in the 120 VAC breaker panel.

Because the batts charge up when the gen set runs but not when connected to shore power tells me it is the converter/charger. This appliance takes over the charging duties when connected to shore power. If the breaker is not tripped, the charging part of the appliance may be broken. Another possibility is the dealer disconnected something in the circuit but forgot to reconnect it. Check the output of the charger.

**RV Wizard** · 11-25-2009, 03:01 AM

Make sure the battery disconnect switch in on and the solenoid is closed connecting the battery to coach and inverter/charger. There is also a large amp fuse off the battery bank; check it if need be. Always check your ground side of things too; it is what will complete a circuit.

peter1 · 11-25-2009, 06:51 AM

The first thing I did after picking my mh from the dealer is reach in and place the mh and chassis disconnect in the on position.. Ok but if the batteries were dead they would not engage right?? So I may have had them in the off position when arriving at my storage location.. So that could solve the problem why they didn’t charge with the shoreline plugged in… but what about the lights in the mh?? I have cycled the disconnect several times and the fuse panel is still cold.. is their some type of inline fuse for the inverter… I have cycled all the breakers and still no luck

GaryKD · 11-25-2009, 03:56 PM

Hi peter1,
Have you determined if the converter/charger is on, when plugged into shore power? If it is on, have you taken a VDC reading on the output leads from the converter/charger to the batteries?