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Old 01-09-2025, 11:45 PM   #1
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Shore Power Charging Problem

Dear Alpine RV Community,

My Son and I are new members and recently new owners of an Alpine Coach. We are having issues with the battery charging system and hopefully someone can help us solve the problem. I have a good understanding of electronics and electrical systems (retired vocational teacher) however this is my first motorhome. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Below is a description of the issue.

RV Year, Make, & Model - 2000 Western RV Alpine Coach 38fds.
Inverter Make & Model – Xantrex Freedom 458-20, Model# 81-2022-12, Inverter Manufacture Date: 8/18/10 with remote control and Heart interface echo-charge. I assume this is not the original inverter on the coach because of the manufacturing date.

Problem – Does not charge batteries or provide 12vDC/120vAC output (microwave etc.) while on shore power.

Symptoms/Information:
1) When running the Onan 7.5kw diesel generator it provides 12vDC/120vAC output and charges the batteries. Coach electric systems seem to work appropriately.
2) When running the coach engine it provides 12vDC/120vAC output and charges the batteries. Coach electric systems seem to work appropriately.
3) When on shore power, if batteries are fully charged both 12vDC/120vAC outputs off the inverter work till batteries drain to the point that the emergency cutoff activates. System seems to be running only off the batteries and not shore power.
4) The ATS (automatic transfer switch) is functioning properly. The ATS functions properly providing power to the inverter from the coach engine, generator, and shore power.
5) Electrical current pulsates (lights flick off then back on) when the generator or coach engine is running. The inverter makes a clicking sound every few seconds that corresponds to the pulses. (I can attach a video if requested)

Requested Support – Help diagnose electrical issue and provide possible solutions or possible upgrades as the current hardware is approximately 15 years old.

Thank you for your support in advance. Kevin & Seth (Co-Owner) Davis
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Old 01-10-2025, 06:42 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4Dklick View Post

RV Year, Make, & Model - 2000 Western RV Alpine Coach 38fds.
Inverter Make & Model – Xantrex Freedom 458-20, Model# 81-2022-12, Inverter Manufacture Date: 8/18/10 with remote control and Heart interface echo-charge. I assume this is not the original inverter on the coach because of the manufacturing date.

Problem – Does not charge batteries or provide 12vDC/120vAC output (microwave etc.) while on shore power.

Symptoms/Information:
1) When running the Onan 7.5kw diesel generator it provides 12vDC/120vAC output and charges the batteries. Coach electric systems seem to work appropriately.
2) When running the coach engine it provides 12vDC/120vAC output and charges the batteries. Coach electric systems seem to work appropriately.
3) When on shore power, if batteries are fully charged both 12vDC/120vAC outputs off the inverter work till batteries drain to the point that the emergency cutoff activates. System seems to be running only off the batteries and not shore power.
4) The ATS (automatic transfer switch) is functioning properly. The ATS functions properly providing power to the inverter from the coach engine, generator, and shore power.
5) Electrical current pulsates (lights flick off then back on) when the generator or coach engine is running. The inverter makes a clicking sound every few seconds that corresponds to the pulses. (I can attach a video if requested)

Requested Support – Help diagnose electrical issue and provide possible solutions or possible upgrades as the current hardware is approximately 15 years old.

Thank you for your support in advance. Kevin & Seth (Co-Owner) Davis

The Freedom 458 is an inverter/charger. All 12vdc power for the coach comes from the batteries.

The Freedom 458 has an internal transfer switch that decides how power will be fed to the circuits on the sub-AC panel.

The Freedom 458 has a low voltage cutoff point. If the batteries have been discharged too far, the charger will not turn on.

If you are right about your system functioning as expected on Generator power, but not working as expected on shore power, your problem is likely in the coach transfer switch, the wiring/cord from the power pedestal to the transfer switch, or in the power supply from the pedestal/wall plug.





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Old 01-10-2025, 07:04 AM   #3
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Welcome to the thrills and associated peaks and valleys!

I concur that since you're getting VAC power from the generator, your transfer switch and inverter are working. I would still confirm the inverter is set to ON/Charge Only, etc. and there are no reset buttons on it for good measure.

That leaves the shore power pedestal or the converter which converts AC to DC to charge your batteries. Easy one first: Check that the breakers on the pedestal are ON. They're normally left OFF and then turned ON after plugging in. When flipping the breakers to ON do you hear a 'clunk' from the transfer switch? If no, and the breakers are on, move to a different pedestal. If the pedestal is working, check your voltage at the converter; it should be ~14VDC.

Lastly, how old are your batteries? Maybe too old to hold a charge?

Good luck
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Old 01-10-2025, 08:09 AM   #4
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Stick with Andy, he has "been there and done that!" No offense to other brands but Alpine owners know best. Some confusing statements about your 12v current but think Andy is spot on. Usually, the ATS gives priority to the genset so a failed ATS would allow genset to work but not shore power. Older inverter/chargers can be finicky but focus on ATS first. The OEM ATS was an IOTA brand--very bad news, unsafe. As a test, you can easily jumper around the ATS and see if the other "symptoms" clear up. If so, replace ATS [I like the LYGHT brand but get a DC contactor model]. Then with ATS replaced see where you are.
PS--battery age can be an additional factor--even if relatively new, load test to confirm status.
PSS--some 120v circuits go thru inverter by-pass [eg microwave] while other are direct to shore power [eg, light over dinner table]. Makes it confusing when diagnosing 120v issues.
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Old 01-10-2025, 08:58 AM   #5
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I agree with Andy.

You have two possibly related issues.

Low battery

Defective shore/generator transfer switch.

Fully charge battery bank for 18 hours using a high quality charger. Flickering lights when power switches is likely low battery power.

If behavior returns to normal then all is good.

Measure voltage at the shore power pedestal. It should be 120 volts for a 30 amp outlet.

It should be 240 volts for a 50 amp outlet measured L1 to L2. Measure neutral to L1 and neutral to L2. Each should be close to the same 120 volts. Measure ground to L1 and ground to L2. Voltage should be close to the same 120 volts and the same as the neutral voltage.

If good, measure voltage at shore/transfer switch input. It should be same as the pedestal voltage. Generator input will only have voltage when generator is running. Shore power input will only have voltage when plugged into shore power.

If good, measure voltage at transfer switch output. It should be the same as pedestal voltage.

No output when plugged into shore power and generator is "OFF" means transfer switch is defective.
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Old 01-10-2025, 09:42 AM   #6
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The Iheart interface (remote inverter panel) can help with troubleshooting. the "AC in" light is the first thing to look for. It should be on when on generator or on shore power.



The panel here indicates "AC In" (green), "Battery State" (orange -mid-level), "DC Volts" 14.0 (charging is ~>13.0vdc), "Amps" 10.0 (draw of the coach as it is currently being used), "Incoming AC Breaker" (a programed setting that should match the expectation from the power source -in this case 50), "Charge" (charger on indicated by green LED), "Inverter" (no light means inverter off - normal unless boondocking).


This is how the panel looks when using the inverter.
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Old 01-10-2025, 12:07 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Scout View Post
Stick with Andy, he has "been there and done that!" No offense to other brands but Alpine owners know best. Some confusing statements about your 12v current but think Andy is spot on. Usually, the ATS gives priority to the genset so a failed ATS would allow genset to work but not shore power. Older inverter/chargers can be finicky but focus on ATS first. The OEM ATS was an IOTA brand--very bad news, unsafe. As a test, you can easily jumper around the ATS and see if the other "symptoms" clear up. If so, replace ATS [I like the LYGHT brand but get a DC contactor model]. Then with ATS replaced see where you are.
PS--battery age can be an additional factor--even if relatively new, load test to confirm status.
PSS--some 120v circuits go thru inverter by-pass [eg microwave] while other are direct to shore power [eg, light over dinner table]. Makes it confusing when diagnosing 120v issues.
Our 2000 is factory equipped with a Todd Engineering ATS and has remained trouble free all these years, with the exception of a bad wire nut job internally, courtesy of WRV.
I’d definitely open it up and check there first.
FWIW our Freedom 458 left the factory with the inverter wired in such a way that the internal by-pass had the potential to be extremely overloaded. I’ve since removed the convection microwave off the inverter sub panel after damaging the 458’s by pass circuitry due to overload.
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Old 01-10-2025, 01:55 PM   #8
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Wow what a quick response, Thank You All!!! You have given us lots of information to digest. We will start working our way through the suggestions and will post what we find out ASAP. Have a great day and thanks again.
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Old 01-11-2025, 03:11 PM   #9
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Lots of good information provided above, but one more thing I'm noticing:

If the lights are flickering off and on, when on generator or coach engine running, then it's a battery connection problem. The "lights" are 12vdc, which are direct fed through fuses, from the batteries. If one of your main battery cables is corroded, and giving an intermittent connection, then the lights AND inverter would be going off and on in unison. I would start there.

Once you solve the flickering problem, you can then move on to why no 120v power when plugged into shore power. As Andy stated, that is usually due to corroded contacts on the relays inside the transfer switch.
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Old 01-20-2025, 10:54 PM   #10
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PROBLEM SOLVED!!!

We traced the power back to the inverter and found that behind the installation cover plate on the back of the inverter the AC input wire-nut connection was burned to a crisp, so no AC power was reaching the inverter. Once we replaced the wiring everything works as it should. Again, thank you all for all your help and support what a great community.
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Old 01-25-2025, 11:47 PM   #11
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Thanks for the update. I just swapped out the transfer switch on my 2004 as it quit and would work on shore power only. Was informed by the manufacturer that they are set to use shore power as default/priority. It had refused to transfer to generator. Used the Parallax brand. This is the same as was in there, but I think it had been replaced once before.

Think I will now also check out the wires behind the inverter. Glad you got it handled
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