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Horizon2 · 05-30-2024, 12:55 PM

A little out of my element, but thought it worthwhile to seek advice here before calling a repair service.

I've got my RV (2002 Condor / Workhorse P32 Chassis) connected to 120v 20amp service (don’t need full 50amp service).

Recently, the 120v circuit that supplies the RV tripped the breaker. Not the RV’s fault as it was using minimal electricity at the time. When the breaker was re-set, some systems in the RV no longer work:- leveling system doesn’t work, power stairs won’t extend/retract, and the engine won’t start. All were working and the engine started, no problem, prior to losing electricity.

I’ve located fuses in four places (in the RV): at the converter, at the power distribution panel, by the driver’s seat, and under the hood. I can find NO blown fuses.

Battery is lead-acid and no longer holds a charge. The Converter/Charger is Progressive Dynamics PD9260C (60 amp) with a Progressive Dynamics Intelipower 9200 Charge Wizard (which seems to be operating OK in Storage Mode).

Was thinking of upgrading the battery to Lithium, but need to sort out this issue before heading down that road.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Skip426 · 05-30-2024, 01:06 PM

Your coach shore power supply might have been down long enough to allow all batteries to go dead ( both chassis and coach ) so charging and load testing all batteries is in order .

Switching to lithium batteries , often requires charging system upgrades , and there are many threads here in the forums about the issues .
Many owners find their engine alternators don't hold up to the lithium batteries charging requirements .

Horizon2 · 05-30-2024, 02:47 PM

Thank you, Skip -
Coach battery won't hold a charge. Chassis battery is charged, no problem.

Was plugged in to 120v; tripped breaker; breaker re-set within minutes. Now no ignition, no leveling system, no stair extend/retract.

Turn key in ignition:- no dash lights, no nothing, no response from the engine whatsoever.

All fuses check OK. Where else can I look?

Again - thank you.

UFO Pilot · 05-30-2024, 02:54 PM

Have you checked the breaker for the converter? Maybe the converter went bad and that is what tripped the breaker?

Horizon2 · 05-30-2024, 03:21 PM

Thank you, UFO Pilot -

The converter is putting out 13.3v, so I don't think that's the issue. Plus, most of the 12v system in the coach is working (lights, et al). The only things not working are the leveling system, and stair extend/retract. Plus the engine won't start (chassis battery fully charged). Turn the ignition key and get zero response - no lights, no click from under the hood, nothing.

The 120v side of the business is working fine. Again, checked all fuses I can find. I'm missing something - another fuse somewhere.

Thanks again. I appreciate the help.

Skip426 · 05-30-2024, 04:07 PM

From your description ; somewhere between the chassis battery and the dash you have an open circuit . Either a 12 volt circuit breaker or a wire off the battery .
Sorry I can't give you any guidance on a location ; it might come down to going over every inch of wiring from the chassis battery to the ignition to track down.

On my Freightliner chassis the circuit breaker is within 3' of the chassis battery positive post.

Horizon2 · 05-30-2024, 07:02 PM

Thank you, again, Skip -

I am confident you are 100% correct - just can't find that danged fuse.

Gotta be soon, though...

Most appreciative of your response.

Best,

Hor2

SafariBen · 05-30-2024, 07:59 PM

I don't know which batteries the leveling and stairs run off of, so the engine starting is the obvious place to look first. Does anything work off the chassis battery? headlights, heater blower, radio? If they do, then I'd start by checking voltage at the ignition switch and checking voltage at the fuses also. If nothing works off the chassis battery, then start at the battery, checking voltage while trying to start.

There could be lots of things that happened to cause the chain of events you describe, but starting with the chassis battery and engine start is the easy thing to fix first, and you might get lucky and that fixes everything.

Isaac-1 · 05-31-2024, 03:42 AM

The PD9260 should work ok for LiFePo4 batteries, I have one and switched to LiFePo4 in late 2021, though I will manually bump it out of storage mode a couple of days before leaving on a trip in order to allow it to top off the batteries, as when the Charge Wizard is in Storage mode it will only maintain the batteries at around 70% SOC. Unlike lead acid, LiFePo4 are perfectly happy being stored at partial state of charge, in fact it can prolong their life.