Community Forums

RufussSewell · 09-12-2013, 12:13 AM

The LP detector is beeping saying "low voltage"

The battery meter also reads low.

I have the generator running. Is there something I should do to charge the battery?

Run the engine perhaps?

Medico · 09-12-2013, 02:51 AM

The generator should charge the batteries. On my coach I have a control panel where I can turn the charging on/off. Check to see if you have this.

If my voltage gets too low (boondocking and not running the generator long enough) I do not have enough power to start the generator. In this case I can fire up the engine to help start the generator.

H. Miller · 09-12-2013, 04:55 AM

Year, make & model of your rig to include engine info? Also generator make & model?????????

mahon1993 · 09-12-2013, 05:03 AM

Sounds like your converter, [converter / inverter if you have one] is not working.

bruceisla · 09-12-2013, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RufussSewell

The LP detector is beeping saying "low voltage"

The battery meter also reads low.

I have the generator running. Is there something I should do to charge the battery?

Run the engine perhaps?

Is your "battery meter" monitoring the Chassis Battery or the House Battery? The LP detector is probably connected to the Chassis Battery.

So ... yes ... start the engine and see if the problem goes away.

Unless your RV has a BIRD installed, and it's functioning properly, the inverter/charger won't charge your Chassis battery.

clyon51 · 09-12-2013, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RufussSewell

The LP detector is beeping saying "low voltage"

The battery meter also reads low.

I have the generator running. Is there something I should do to charge the battery?

Run the engine perhaps?

Not knowing anything about what rig you have, I'll discuss generally. Some rigs, you have to move the power cord from the shore connection to a special outlet in the power bay to get the power to the coach from the genny. Others have an automatic transfer switch that switches between the two and takes nothing from you to make the switch. But that switch could be bad.

Once 120v power is confirmed in the coach, check all 120v circuit breakers. The one that powers the charger may be tripped. Now you need to test the 12v output of the charger. If you still have nothing, start the engine and get back to us.

tompen · 09-12-2013, 08:13 AM

Is your "salesman switch" turned off ? You may be not charging the coach batteries. The LP detector is often wired direct to the batteries.

Triker56 · 09-12-2013, 10:43 AM

If the house batteries are below 10V. And you have a Inverter/Charger it will not charge them from any kind of power.
They will be need charged by portable charger up to 13V and then the Inverter/charger will take over.

RufussSewell · 09-12-2013, 11:02 AM

It's a '97 Beaver Patriot.

I ran the engine for a bit and the battery charged. The panel meter now says "good" instead of low.

I'm now sure where a "salesman switch" would be. I'm not currently hooked up to shore power.

Dr4Film · 09-12-2013, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RufussSewell

The LP detector is beeping saying "low voltage"

The battery meter also reads low.

I have the generator running. Is there something I should do to charge the battery?

Run the engine perhaps?

First off, you ran the batteries down far below the recommended 50% SOC. This will lower the life of the batteries to a few months versus having many years of quality use.

Using the generator to recharge the batteries will take hours upon hours to bring them back to fully Float Charge SOC. Normally it would take 3-4 hours for batteries that were only discharged the normal 50% but since yours were close to dead it may take all day.

You should use your vehicle engine alternator to recharge the batteries. Your alternator puts out far more amps than your generator can ever obtain over time.

Sounds like you had better buy stock in the battery company as you will be buying batteries often if you keep doing that over and over again.

I would HIGHLY suggest that you read both of the following links to better understand batteries and the 12 Volt Side of life.

The 12volt Side of Life (Part 1)

The 12volt Side of Life Part 2

Dr4Film ----- Richard

calhyatt · 09-12-2013, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

First off, you ran the batteries down far below the recommended 50% SOC. This will lower the life of the batteries to a few months versus having many years of quality use.

Using the generator to recharge the batteries will take hours upon hours to bring them back to fully Float Charge SOC. Normally it would take 3-4 hours for batteries that were only discharged the normal 50% but since yours were close to dead it may take all day.

You should use your vehicle engine alternator to recharge the batteries. Your alternator puts out far more amps than your generator can ever obtain over time.

Sounds like you had better buy stock in the battery company as you will be buying batteries often if you keep doing that over and over again.

I would HIGHLY suggest that you read both of the following links to better understand batteries and the 12 Volt Side of life.

The 12volt Side of Life (Part 1)

The 12volt Side of Life Part 2

Dr4Film ----- Richard

Nothing like scaring the crap out of the guy. You even scared me.

mel s · 09-12-2013, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triker56

If the house batteries are below 10V. And you have a Inverter/Charger it will not charge them from any kind of power.
They will be need charged by portable charger up to 13V and then the Inverter/charger will take over.

Triker56
What kind of coach do you have?........(it sounds like your coach builder cut some corners)!
Any GOOD inverter/converter/charger will have a 3 stage charger built in, (which is much better than most portable chargers).
It sounds like your coach builder cut some corners!
If/when you have shore power a 3 stage charger will automatically charge badly discharged house batteries.
Mel '96 Safari

RufussSewell · 09-12-2013, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

First off, you ran the batteries down far below the recommended 50% SOC. This will lower the life of the batteries to a few months versus having many years of quality use.

Using the generator to recharge the batteries will take hours upon hours to bring them back to fully Float Charge SOC. Normally it would take 3-4 hours for batteries that were only discharged the normal 50% but since yours were close to dead it may take all day.

You should use your vehicle engine alternator to recharge the batteries. Your alternator puts out far more amps than your generator can ever obtain over time.

Thanks for the links!

We've only had the RV a few days, but any time we have anything turned on we have the generator on. I ran the engine for a bit yesterday and the battery charged up fine. Today it still read "good" on the meter instead of low.

There's got to be an inverter switch somewhere.

1997 Beaver Patriot

Playtime III · 09-12-2013, 05:07 PM

On some (like mine); using the dash radio will drain the chasis battery even while the genny is running. I just replaced both chasis batteries as I ran them down too far.

Other MH have switches to connect the radio to the battery of choice or a BIRD which would charge both battery set ups (over time, of course).