Inverter/charger

[elang]

Hello, need help. Got a 1999 discovery 36t and my inverter/charger is not charging the house bat, is there a fuse somewhere, and I check the breaker and it's ok, check the input/output power from elect pole and have 110 power, wonder if it's fried.

[BFlinn181]

Do you have an inverter or a converter? Converter changes 120 v AC to 12 v DC to power all 12 v systems in RV and charges batteries too. They often have fuses or circuit breakers on the outside of the metal box. Search all sides. If you are plugged in to shore power, a multimeter can verify if 120 v is going into the box. Then switch scales and check for 12 v on the output side. (actual voltage could be more like 13.6 v or more)

An inverter is used to convert 12 v DC to 120 v AC when generator or shore power is not going. They don't have 12 v charging capability since the consume 12 v DC.

[docj]

Failure to charge is one of the common failure modes for inverter/chargers. You might be able to get more assistance from the forum if you would tell folks what brand and model yours is.

[wa8yxm]

I will only ask one simple question regarding the fuse (And there should be one)

Does the INVERTER work if you charge the battery via other means?

If so. the fuse is good. Same fuse works both ways.

To find it.. Find the big wire that goes to the Inverter's 12 volt POSITIVE, Follow it to the battery, you will find the fuse just before you find the battery.,

[Triker56]

The Inverter/charger has 2 push button fuses on it. Also one inside.
If the batteries are below 10.4 Volts the charger shuts off and will not charge until they are back up to 12 + with a portable charger.
Attached is a trouble shooting guide.

Good info on a Discovery found HERE

[elang]

Thanks all for the good info.

[mel s]

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

Do you have an inverter or a converter? Converter changes 120 v AC to 12 v DC to power all 12 v systems in RV and charges batteries too. They often have fuses or circuit breakers on the outside of the metal box. Search all sides. If you are plugged in to shore power, a multimeter can verify if 120 v is going into the box. Then switch scales and check for 12 v on the output side. (actual voltage could be more like 13.6 v or more)

An inverter is used to convert 12 v DC to 120 v AC when generator or shore power is not going. They don't have 12 v charging capability since the consume 12 v DC.

A "converter" will only "charge batteries" if it has "charging circuitry", (which makes it a "converter/charger").

Different RVs have different equipment, (depending on make, model, year, and what has been changed/added).
They will/can have:
1.) A "battery charger", which ONLY charges the batteries.
2.) A "converter", which ONLY converts 120VAC to 12VDC.
3.) A "converter/charger", which converts and charges.
4.) An "inverter", which ONLY converts 12VDC to 120VAC.
5.) An "inverter/converter", which inverts and converts.
6.) An "inverter/charger", which inverts and charges.
7.) An "inverter/converter/charger" which does all three.
8.) Any combination of the 7 listed above.

My coach, for example, (as built by SMC in 1996), has a "Heart Freedom 20 Inverter/Charger", which is a combination inverter, converter, automatic 3 stage battery charger, AND an automatic "transfer switch".
See: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...50723672,d.aWc,

BTW, ONLY my house batteries are charged by my "inverter/charger", (which is often the case on motor homes).

Mel S
'96 Safari Sahara

[gemini5362]

Originally Posted by Triker56

The Inverter/charger has 2 push button fuses on it. Also one inside.
If the batteries are below 10.4 Volts the charger shuts off and will not charge until they are back up to 12 + with a portable charger.
Attached is a trouble shooting guide.

Good info on a Discovery found HERE

I do not believe that the inverter/house battery charger on my allegro bus works that way. I left the batteries on while the iverter was turned on for a couple of days and ran my coach batteries all the way down. I plugged the coach into shore power and they charged back up with out any other action by me.

[elang]

Was able to fix the problem, it was a plastic connector that had fall on the bat positive post and had short out, replace and the inverter/charger work like a charm, I notice that it charge the chassis bat also. Thank to all the good info.