 |
03-04-2016, 05:09 PM
|
#1
|
|
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 8
|
Batteries being overcharged
We have a 2001 Itasca Horizon dp. Does anyone know if the charger part of the converter can be shut off while plugged into shore power. Any help will be appreciated. Almost full timers.
|
|
|
 |
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
|
03-04-2016, 05:16 PM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
|
Probably not as it is presently wired, but you could install a disconnect between the charger and the batteries. You might check online for a manual for your present converter/charger. If there is a temperature sensor that is supposed to regulate charger rate, if it's bad or disconnected that could be your issue. A new converter/charger would be high on my list if the old one is damaging the batteries. Cheaper move in the long run with battery replacement, out gassing and corrosion in the battery compartment, etc.
__________________
Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
|
|
|
|
|
03-04-2016, 05:21 PM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Mcdonough, Ga.
Posts: 5,932
|
How old are the batteries? Most times the batteries get old and build up high resistance. Then they gas and act as if they are overcharging. Get a meter and check the charge. It should be about 13.6 volts.
__________________
1998 Pace Arrow 35 ft. F53 Ford V10 2014 Honda CRV toad
32 years mechanic at Delta Air Lines 15 year motorhome service manager. 3 popups....2 travel trailers....5 motorhomes....loved them all.
|
|
|
|
|
03-04-2016, 05:29 PM
|
#4
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,777
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Donaldshoe
We have a 2001 Itasca Horizon dp. Does anyone know if the charger part of the converter can be shut off while plugged into shore power. Any help will be appreciated. Almost full timers.
|
Donaldshoe
That information can be found in the users manual for the make/model of the converter/charger, (or inverter/charger), Winnebago Inc. used in your Itasca.
There may also be adjustable charger settings that are not set correctly for the batteries you have in your coach.
(If you don't have the manual find the model number and find one online).
Mel
'96 Safari
|
|
|
|
|
03-04-2016, 05:47 PM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,796
|
The coach battery disconnect switch should separate the charger/convertor from the batteries leaving the convertor to run the house 12VDC items (lights, fridge, water heater, TV antenna amp and such). The down side is there could be a few devices such as the CO and Propane detector that are still pulling power from the house batteries even with the disconnect tripped. Given enough time they could discharge the batteries beyond the recommended minimum.
The disconnect option is a short term fix until your budget will support replacing the convertor/charger. If its the original 15 years is a pretty good run. Mine lasted 7.
|
|
|
|
|
03-04-2016, 06:09 PM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Mcdonough, Ga.
Posts: 5,932
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Donaldshoe
We have a 2001 Itasca Horizon dp. Does anyone know if the charger part of the converter can be shut off while plugged into shore power. Any help will be appreciated. Almost full timers.
|
There is not a charger perse. The converter puts out a constant 13.6 volts. You shouldn't run a converter without a battery hooked up to it. The battery acts a a filter or a buffer for the converter.
__________________
1998 Pace Arrow 35 ft. F53 Ford V10 2014 Honda CRV toad
32 years mechanic at Delta Air Lines 15 year motorhome service manager. 3 popups....2 travel trailers....5 motorhomes....loved them all.
|
|
|
|
|
03-04-2016, 06:19 PM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,446
|
If you do a bit of research, you will find the converters can be run without batteries. That why they call them converters.
Switch off the batteries and you will be fine.
Inverter/ CHARGERS and battery chargers need a battery to buffer the output.
|
|
|
|
03-04-2016, 07:48 PM
|
#8
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,982
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Donaldshoe
We have a 2001 Itasca Horizon dp. Does anyone know if the charger part of the converter can be shut off while plugged into shore power. Any help will be appreciated. Almost full timers.
|
What brand, model inverter/charger? My MH-below- has a Xantrex RS 2000. The charger may be turned off with the display panel or a push button on the front of the unit.
I had an overcharging issue last fall. I discovered the battery temperature sender was causing the over-charging problem. The float charge went from 13.8-14.2 while connected to 13,2 constant immediately when the temperature sender was disconnected. With this model, charge rate is not adjustable.
__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD , ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA. " My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
|
|
|
|
|
03-05-2016, 05:59 AM
|
#9
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,777
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sweetbriar
The coach battery disconnect switch should separate the charger/convertor from the batteries leaving the convertor to run the house 12VDC items (lights, fridge, water heater, TV antenna amp and such). The down side is there could be a few devices such as the CO and Propane detector that are still pulling power from the house batteries even with the disconnect tripped. Given enough time they could discharge the batteries beyond the recommended minimum.
The disconnect option is a short term fix until your budget will support replacing the convertor/charger. If its the original 15 years is a pretty good run. Mine lasted 7.
|
Sweetbriar
If/when my "house battery disconnect switch" is OFF when I have no shore, or generator, 120VAC power.. EVERYTHING 12V in the house of my coach is OFF... (including the CO and Propane detectors).
However when my coach does have 120V power, the converter in my original, (now 20 year old), Heart Freedom 20 combination inverter/converter/charger powers everything 12V in the coach ... (even when the house battery disconnect switch is OFF).
BTW, although my "house battery disconnect switch" turns those detectors OFF...my "salesman switch" does not.
Mel
'96 Safari
|
|
|
|
|
03-05-2016, 04:55 PM
|
#10
|
|
Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,796
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mel s
Sweetbriar
If/when my "house battery disconnect switch" is OFF when I have no shore, or generator, 120VAC power.. EVERYTHING 12V in the house of my coach is OFF... (including the CO and Propane detectors).
However when my coach does have 120V power, the converter in my original, (now 20 year old), Heart Freedom 20 combination inverter/converter/charger powers everything 12V in the coach ... (even when the house battery disconnect switch is OFF).
BTW, although my "house battery disconnect switch" turns those detectors OFF...my "salesman switch" does not.
Mel
'96 Safari
|
I specifically use the words 'should" and "could" for a reason. Every coach builder wires up power differently and about the only thing we can take for granted is the use of a negative ground based system. A 1996 Safari is a very different rig from the OP's 2001 Itasca Horizon or my 2006 Thor Hurricane. Plus who knows what a prior owner(s) may have added or changed.
|
|
|
|
|
03-06-2016, 05:42 AM
|
#11
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,777
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sweetbriar
I specifically use the words 'should" and "could" for a reason. Every coach builder wires up power differently and about the only thing we can take for granted is the use of a negative ground based system. A 1996 Safari is a very different rig from the OP's 2001 Itasca Horizon or my 2006 Thor Hurricane. Plus who knows what a prior owner(s) may have added or changed.
|
Sweetbriar
The point I was trying to make when I posted the information about how the "house battery disconnect switch" and the "salesman switch" are wired in my Safari is that different coach builders wire up power differently.
Although I did say that Safari wired up power differently in my coach than Thor wired up the power in yours, I did not say that either you, (or Thor), was wrong.
Sorry.
Mel
'96 Safari
|
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
