Shore Charge not working

[kbillups]

Uncovered our 2015 Allegro Red 38 QBA. It was connected to shore power all winter and the engine and generator started right up. I let them run for about 45-min and shut them down. This morning the coach batteries were almost dead and I noticed the charger wasn’t on. I started the engine and used the aux to start the generator and let them run for about an hour. The converter came on just fine but the charger is still offline. I checked all the main breakers and they were good. Is there anything else I should check to isolate the fault?

[vsheetz]

In a bit confused by your terminology. Are you saying the problem is the house batteries are not being charged by the charging section of the inverter? But the inverter is ok. And you are on shore or generator power?

If you are on shore power or generator power the inverter should turn off and the charger on. If the inverter is on the charger will not, and should not, come on.

Are you sure you have both shire and generator power coming into the coach?

[kbillups]

I’m on shore power and the coach batteries were almost dead. My coach allows both charger and inverter to operate simultaneously, weather on shore or gen power. I tried turning off the inverter to see if the charger would come on and it wouldn’t. As a temp fix I’ve shutdown off coach and chassis power until I know what to do next.

[vsheetz]

Ok... I'm not familiar with how your system works. Differing from my Tiffin and other Tiffin I've experienced. But ok.

Assuming you have checked all breakers - especially those on the inverter/charger? The inverter in/out breakers in the main panel?

If you have input voltage to the charger and no output and all prerequisites for it to enable, then would point to the unit itself.

[Lt Dan]

Pull the cover off of your transfer switch and see if you have 120v (or 240 if you have 50amp service) on the input side from the shore line and on the output side to the coach. The default (power off ) on the inverter is generator. When shore power is applied, then the relays in the transfer switch engage and switch to shore power. If the transfer switch is not engaging on adequate shore power, then it's probably a transfer switch problem.

[garykk]

Originally Posted by Lt Dan

Pull the cover off of your transfer switch and see if you have 120v (or 240 if you have 50amp service) on the input side from the shore line and on the output side to the coach. The default (power off ) on the inverter is generator. When shore power is applied, then the relays in the transfer switch engage and switch to shore power. If the transfer switch is not engaging on adequate shore power, then it's probably a transfer switch problem.

And also check the breakers on the inverter itself. Are there any lights on the inverter?

[nothermark]

What I am trying to figure out is how you can have the converter working and not charge the batteries unless you are blocking charging with something like the salesman's switch relay or a manual disconnect. Have you tried calling Tiffin? Poking around with a voltmeter?

[vsheetz]

If your air conditioning is working power is getting through the transfer switch. Try it on both shore and genny.

Power comes through the transfer switch from either of shore or genny source. From transfer switch it goes to the 50a breaker in the main panel. Items on the main panel, such as air conditioning, are powered from there. Also in the main panel is a breaker that feeds power to the inverter/charger - the inverter/charger will be in bypass and return power to the inverted circuit sub panel - and have the charger enabled. If no shore or genny power is available the inverter is activated, is not in bypass, disables the charger - and provides inverter power to the inverted circuits.

But I realize you say both the inverter and charger can operate simoultaniously on your coach... So your coach somehow differs from my operation description for a Tiffin coach...

[TXTiger]

Also, check the batteries themselves. They may be bad and not taking a charge.

[trx430ex]

Check battery water level, before charging any further. Top off with distilled water. Destroyed perfectly good set of Trogons in 2nd year of ownership.

One of the “big deal” things never talked about in walk through.

[garykk]

Originally Posted by vsheetz

If your air conditioning is working power is getting through the transfer switch. Try it on both shore and genny.

Power comes through the transfer switch from either of shore or genny source. From transfer switch it goes to the 50a breaker in the main panel. Items on the main panel, such as air conditioning, are powered from there. Also in the main panel is a breaker that feeds power to the inverter/charger - the inverter/charger will be in bypass and return power to the inverted circuit sub panel - and have the charger enabled. If no shore or genny power is available the inverter is activated, is not in bypass, disables the charger - and provides inverter power to the inverted circuits.

But I realize you say both the inverter and charger can operate simoultaniously on your coach... So your coach somehow differs from my operation description for a Tiffin coach...

I think what the op means is that with the magnum, both can be on at the same time, however even though the inverter is “on” it’s not really inverting if MH is on shore or gen power.

[trx430ex]

There is a secondary 12 volt fuse on the inverter itself. best way to tell if it is converting /charging is just listen for the cooling fan. If your down that low it should be working it’s tail off.
But still think it is low battery water.

[kbillups]

Originally Posted by trx430ex

Check battery water level, before charging any further. Top off with distilled water. Destroyed perfectly good set of Trogons in 2nd year of ownership.

One of the “big deal” things never talked about in walk through.

I’ll check them.

[kbillups]

Originally Posted by garykk

And also check the breakers on the inverter itself. Are there any lights on the inverter?

I’ll check it.