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blackcreek12 · 10-21-2016, 03:33 AM

Good morning all, I have been chasing this issue for a week or so now and haven't had any luck. its on a 2004 tiffin phaeton 40tgh.

When running on gen power, and I hit the test lights in control panel battery lights all the way up to charge level.

When gen is shut off and rv is on shore power batteries will not light above low.

For some reason I will charge on gen power and not shore power.

I have checked breakers in bedroom, and all fuses behind it. I inspected the 300amp fuse in battery compartment and it appears and smells fine, ( don't seem blown) if it was I think I would have a lot more issues.

only thing I cant find to check in the inverter itself.i believe it has 2 breakers on it, they seem to have hidden it pretty well. all thought there is a black box in the back passenger side compartment that says power source but it doesn't have a fan or look like any inverter I have seen.

I have tried plugging into multiple 50 amp services , eventually the batteries die when plugged in.

Everything in the RV works perfect. outlets, microwave, coffee pots, both ACs at the same time on shore power or gen power.

thoughts where maybe the actual inverter is bad, but that don't make since I guess since it charges on gen power, so maybe that 300 amp fuse or a charging soliniod somewhere? or inline fuse maybe?

Also tried playing with the inverter panel (xantrex) by the main control panel above door and when i hit set up or charge or invert nothing happens.. no led lights or anything. Like it has no power either ..

Thanks in advance for any help

pwhittle · 10-21-2016, 04:15 AM

It sounds like the 12V converter is only receiving 120V power when it is on generator and not shore power.

What model is the Xantrex?

Can you post some pictures of the electrical bay and the black "power source" box you mentioned?

Paul

vsheetz · 10-21-2016, 05:04 AM

Look in the top of each storage compartment, starting nearest the batteries. I think you will find the inverter up there. It will have large gauge wires connected to it. Depending on the model there will be breakers and/or fuses.

blackcreek12 · 10-21-2016, 05:49 AM

I attached imagine from online of what the panel looks like for the inverter.
I will double check all those compartments when I got home tonight and get images of the power box I mentioned.

nothermark · 10-21-2016, 06:22 AM

FWIW - thinking about the problem - the charging path is almost the same whether on Generator or shore power. Either you are losing 120 VAC to the Inverter/Converter or something is causing the battery disconnect relay to go open. That would have me looking at the input to the Xantrex or whatever is in there. It would also have me looking at both sides of the big relay to see if there was a significant difference in the voltage. Then I would go from there. YMMV. HTH.

OLYLEN · 10-21-2016, 08:56 AM

I would look at input to the transfer switch. On Gen the charger is working on shore it is not. Only flow through point is the transfer switch. Also as I read your description you have tried several shore power sources so I would think not all would be bad. This leaves the transfer switch input side, but with no input to charger you should have other systems not working also. I would make sure ALL POWER in off take cover off transfer switch and tighten connections and check power cord at the same time.

LEN

Gary RVRoamer · 10-21-2016, 09:33 AM

Since the inverter works exactly the same whether the 120v comes from genset or shore power, and the inverter/charger to battery wiring is identical as well, you can skip checking all that stuff.

For some reason your inverter/charger is not receiving 120v power when on shore power. Is it possible shore power isn't actually reaching the coach, i.e. the transfer switch is not engaging? That would leave the coach operating on inverter-only, which of course runs the batteries to "low" fairly quickly. When plugged to shore power, does the Xantrex Remote show "AC In" status on? Try turning the inverter Off and if you still have any 120v power in the coach.

twinboat · 10-21-2016, 09:48 AM

Shore power and generator power are the same, once past the transfer switch. EVERYTHING runs off 1 output from it.

A 50 amp transfer switch switchs 2 lines. 1 must not be connecting.

Check for power at both of your 50 amp breakers, inside the MH, while on shore power.

Kiawah · 10-21-2016, 10:55 AM

Quote:

A 50 amp transfer switch switches 2 lines. 1 must not be connecting.

I agree with this. Your symptom points at the transfer switch, but you indicate that on power your A/C's work. My suspicion is you are loosing one of your power legs when on shorepower.

The easiest way to check for this is at the circuit breaker box. Take the cover off the box, and while on shorepower take your voltmeter and check the voltages on the dual 50amp input breaker. You should have 120volts measured from the black wire (on the dual breaker) to white wire (on the neutral bus bar), and 120 volts from the red wire (on the dual breaker) to white wire (on the neutral bus bar). Assuming those are both good, then check black to red, which should read 240 volts.

If those all are correct, then check the voltage on the circuit breaker which feeds the inverter/converter. I suspect it's a 30amp breaker. Make sure the voltage is making it to the breaker output which is the wire that feeds the inverter/converter.

Let us know what you find.

If my suspicion is right and you don't have the correct voltages, then you'll need to back up to the transfer switch and pull the cover off that to measure where the voltage is failing to get through.

If your voltages in the breaker box ARE correct, then you need to take your meter down to the inverter/converter and confirm that the input voltages as measure at the converter, are correct.

blackcreek12 · 10-21-2016, 05:43 PM

these are few pictures of what im looking at.
i will get to reading volts this weekend.
where is the transfer switch?

blackcreek12 · 10-21-2016, 05:49 PM

few more pictures. i noticed today the lights on the panels next to step and passenger seat that lights up awning switch, step switch ect..was looking very weak and flickering...maybe for some reason steady stream of,power isnt reaching front passenger area..those lights flickering and the inverter control panel has.no power in that area.

i still have not actually located a inverter. searched high and low today.

twinboat · 10-21-2016, 06:14 PM

Forget, for now, anything 12 volts.

Open the "Transfer Relay Delay" box and check all of the connections inside.

Do this with the power off.

This is where the generator and shore power come together and go out to the MH. It's layed out on the cover.

nothermark · 10-22-2016, 06:58 AM

Lets back up a step. It looks like you have a Parallax Paramode 5465 Converter Charger that charges your batteries. Not sure where Xantrex came from unless there is also one of those in there. If so it may be a dedicated Inverter or you may have a non standard setup. Start by figuring out if the Parallax is getting 120 VAC at it's input with shore or generator power.

You can find the Transfer switch by following the power cord. It's between the plug and power panel. Most likely the first thing the power cord is connected to unless you have a power cord windup reel. Then probably right after the reel.

blackcreek12 · 10-24-2016, 03:18 AM

Thanks for the input everyone, im not much on electrical work but I bought a multi meter this weekend. and plan to start looking into all the recommendations hopefully by end of week. and ill check back with all the findings

Thanks agian