Community Forums

Jzack · 03-27-2024, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damon3776

That location has the freighliner installed chasis fuse and relay block and the Damon installed BCC (battery control center) which only has a fuse for AC/Heat which when pulled kills power to the whole AC/Vent/Heat system. Could there be something I am missing there?

What I am searching for is a direct fuse or relay for the 12v power going to the pressure switch to turn on the ac clutch.

Ok, that was just a suggestion. I'm really not sure where it would be but the next place I'd look would be the fire wall above the generator. I checked my owners manual and unfortunately there isn't a wiring diagram for the dash A/C. I do have some generic wiring diagrams for your Acme A/C system that I will attach below. Hopefully they help.

Damon3776 · 03-29-2024, 07:30 AM

Thanks JZack - that is perfect! Looks like there is no fuse in line from the ac dials to the compressor, only a thermostat and relay which could disrupt the 12v signal.

Jzack · 03-30-2024, 07:30 AM

No problem, glad to help!

If you're interested, PM me your email address and I can send you the whole file. It was too large to attach in this forum. I also have the Damon Astoria Owners Manuel in PDF and a couple others for the slide rooms, etc.

Damon3776 · 04-01-2024, 09:01 AM

Will do - turned out to be the thermostat - it is mounted to the evaporator housing above the generator on the outside of the coach.

If anyone else runs into this issue - Dash AC started working sporadically until the AC Compressor would no longer engage. There was no power going to the pressure switch located on top of the drier. There are 2 things that give power to the 12v positive ac compressor clutch - relay and thermostat. Easiest one to test is the thermostat - there are 2 wires going to it - one with 12v in and the other gives 12v out as long as the temperature of the evaporator coils is above freezing.

DenandLoe · 08-10-2024, 09:11 AM

New to the Forum so Glad I found it

I have questions about my specific set up for Inverter/coach batteries/In use Store switch.

DenandLoe
2007 Damon Astoria Pacific 3776
Missouri

DenandLoe · 08-10-2024, 09:15 AM

Shore power charges batteries and all works
Generator charges batteries and all works

Disconnect shore power or generator and coach batteries disconnect.

Switch for Use or Store goes dead.

Switch stays In Use red for about 20 seconds.

I have not been able to find where the problem is. As long as I have shore power or generator everything is fine and batteries are charging.

Lost in Missouri

Jzack · 08-11-2024, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenandLoe

Shore power charges batteries and all works
Generator charges batteries and all works

Disconnect shore power or generator and coach batteries disconnect.

Switch for Use or Store goes dead.

Switch stays In Use red for about 20 seconds.

I have not been able to find where the problem is. As long as I have shore power or generator everything is fine and batteries are charging.

Lost in Missouri

It seems the solenoid is working in that you are switching between use and store when powered by shore or generator. What you describe with the light slowly fading out is exactly what mine does when I hit the store side of the switch. I'd look at and test the use/store switch. Maybe it is bad, maybe a wire came loose? Otherwise, dead house batteries would cause these symptoms too I believe.

Sorry I'm not much help, I would post this message in the Class A Motorhome Discussion forum as all Motorhomes are wired very similar and I'd bet you would get more detailed answers.

DenandLoe · 08-11-2024, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jzack

It seems the solenoid is working in that you are switching between use and store when powered by shore or generator. What you describe with the light slowly fading out is exactly what mine does when I hit the store side of the switch. I'd look at and test the use/store switch. Maybe it is bad, maybe a wire came loose? Otherwise, dead house batteries would cause these symptoms too I believe.

Sorry I'm not much help, I would post this message in the Class A Motorhome Discussion forum as all Motorhomes are wired very similar and I'd bet you would get more detailed answers.

Thanks. I started over in the Class Forum but couldn't get the specific to my coach as they had different set ups.
The switch looks ok, no loose wires. Clicks a solenoid on an off like it is supposed to. Just has me scratching my head why it all goes dead after no shore, no generator and it also charges when the MH is running. So only when there is no power that the batteries do not kick in. Has to be a solenoid somewhere that is not functioning however with 1000 miles of wiring in this thing it is hard to trace.

gsf35099 · 08-12-2024, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenandLoe

Shore power charges batteries and all works
Generator charges batteries and all works

Disconnect shore power or generator and coach batteries disconnect.

Switch for Use or Store goes dead.

Switch stays In Use red for about 20 seconds.

I have not been able to find where the problem is. As long as I have shore power or generator everything is fine and batteries are charging.

Lost in Missouri

Welcome to the forum DenandLoe,

It honestly sounds like your coach batteries are dead. Holding zero charge. Put a volt meter across them with the shore/gene power off and see what voltage you have if any.

DenandLoe · 08-13-2024, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsf35099

Welcome to the forum DenandLoe,

It honestly sounds like your coach batteries are dead. Holding zero charge. Put a volt meter across them with the shore/gene power off and see what voltage you have if any.

Batteries were new in May/2024 and are kept charged.

gsf35099 · 08-14-2024, 06:02 AM

I’ve had new batteries be defective within a few months of purchase and cause problems.

The battery disconnect switch is held in place with 12v dc and why I think the problem is on the battery side based on your description of the problem.
While having AC power (shore/gene), the inverter/converter provides 12dc output and is latching the battery disconnect switch. If your rig is similar to mine, the battery disconnect switch cannot even be turned off while AC power is connected.
If it were me, I’d measure the voltage of each battery with a meter with no AC power to rig to assure each battery is holding a charge. Not sure what batteries you have, but 6v should be 6.7v or greater and 12v should be 12.8v or greater.

DenandLoe · 08-19-2024, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsf35099

I’ve had new batteries be defective within a few months of purchase and cause problems.

The battery disconnect switch is held in place with 12v dc and why I think the problem is on the battery side based on your description of the problem.
While having AC power (shore/gene), the inverter/converter provides 12dc output and is latching the battery disconnect switch. If your rig is similar to mine, the battery disconnect switch cannot even be turned off while AC power is connected.
If it were me, I’d measure the voltage of each battery with a meter with no AC power to rig to assure each battery is holding a charge. Not sure what batteries you have, but 6v should be 6.7v or greater and 12v should be 12.8v or greater.

Well I will be a monkey's uncle. The batteries checked out to be 5.78 or 5.79.
So I took them out charged them all individually and they held a 6.13 to 6.18 charge for a couple of days.
Put them all back in and cleaned all of the terminals and connections from the Inverter/charger and back to normal so far.
I have in the past left the use/store switch in use while plugged in but this time i turned it to store
Thanks for your help and guidance. never suspected new batteries got so low and guess the system is smart enough to now the batteries were not charged enough to work. now my question is what caused them to lose charge.

gsf35099 · 08-19-2024, 06:31 PM

Glad you got it working. Those volt readings are really low and I’d check them again in a few days. They really should be closer 6.8v.

My dash radio is what sucks the power the most when not plugged into shore and there are a few other items that pull power. I assume the rig was not plugged in. If it’s plugged into shore, your inverter/converter should maintain the coach batteries. Well, mine does anyway.

gsf35099 · 08-19-2024, 08:03 PM

Reading your post again, you said you were plugged in with the battery disconnect switch on or in the run position, correct?
Your inverter/converter should maintain your batteries.
It’s possible the charging function of your inverter or converter has gone bad.
You can test it by leaving your shore power plugged in and measure the voltage across your battery pack. It should be 13v plus. Mine stays about 13.6. When it’s really charging, I see 14.2+.

I’ve had my converter go bad and had to replace it.