Xmas electrical present

[Iceclimber]

Out of nowhere - no house power. Engine, generator fine. There are two good legs of 120v when plugged into shore power tested at the junction box.

Inverter (new AIMS) dead
House batteries - will not accept an external charger, voltage tests are inconclusive
Inside 50amp smart monitor - dead even when running the generator - all house power is dead including the thermostat. I can't move the slides so I can't get into the house breakers to check for power
Main marine fuse for house 12v - has continuity

Any ideas ? I was going to pull the inverter next....but it's snowing :(

[Tha_Rooster]

Originally Posted by Iceclimber

Out of nowhere - no house power. Engine, generator fine. There are two good legs of 120v when plugged into shore power tested at the junction box.



Inverter (new AIMS) dead

House batteries - will not accept an external charger, voltage tests are inconclusive

Inside 50amp smart monitor - dead even when running the generator - all house power is dead including the thermostat. I can't move the slides so I can't get into the house breakers to check for power

Main marine fuse for house 12v - has continuity



Any ideas ? I was going to pull the inverter next....but it's snowing :(

Have you tried turning on and off salesman switch? You say voltage test are inconclusive, what is the voltage with multimeter?

[wolfe10]

RESPONSES IN SOLID LETTER CAPS


[QUOTE=Iceclimber;6027317]Out of nowhere - no house power. Engine, generator fine. There are two good legs of 120v when plugged into shore power tested at the junction box. WHEN YOU SAY JUNCTION BOX, IS THIS THE CG OUTLET? HAVE YOU CHECKED FOR POWER IN AND OUT OF THE ATS (ASSUMING YOU ARE SAFE WORKING AROUND 120240 VAC).


Inverter (new AIMS) dead
House batteries - will not accept an external charger, voltage tests are inconclusive. DON'T KNOW WHAT VOLTAGE INCONCLUSIVE MEANS. AND MOST "STUPID" CHARGERS WILL CHARGE EVEN A DEEPLY DISCHARGED BATTERY BANK.





Inside 50amp smart monitor - dead even when running the generator. IF NEITHER SHORE POWER NOR GENERATOR ARE GETTING POWER TO THE MAIN 120 VAC BREAKER BOX, AGAIN, CHECK AT BOTH THE "OUT" SIDE OF THE ATS AND THE CONNECTIONS IN THE MAIN BREAKER BOX.

[Old-Biscuit]

Got 2 hots (120VAC 50A) at junction box.......

No 120VAC in RV via shore or generator

Auto Transfer Switch (ATS) got 2 Hots going in/no Hots coming out??


Issue is NO 120VAC not 12VDC ----correct?

[Iceclimber]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Got 2 hots (120VAC 50A) at junction box.......

No 120VAC in RV via shore or generator

Auto Transfer Switch (ATS) got 2 Hots going in/no Hots coming out??


Issue is NO 120VAC not 12VDC ----correct?

Hi.
Nothing has changed but auto transfer failing makes sense, preventing 110v to the inverter charger and the coach. I am not familiar - but opened it and did test the good 2 legs of 120v at the black box - could use help understanding what to test next. I have not pulled apart the inverter wiring yet, but I don't think power is getting there.

[wolfe10]

Originally Posted by Iceclimber

Hi.
Nothing has changed but auto transfer failing makes sense, preventing 110v to the inverter charger and the coach. I am not familiar - but opened it and did test the good 2 legs of 120v at the black box- could use help understanding what to test next. I have not pulled apart the inverter wiring yet, but I don't think power is getting there.

Again if you are safe working around 120/240: Testing the ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch).


On both IN from shore power when plugged in and in from generator when generator is running and OUT side which goes to the main 120 VAC breaker box:


Between black and white= 120 VAC
Between red and white= 120 VAC


Between either black or red and green= 120 VAC


If on 50 amp shore power between black and red= 240 VAC

[Gary RVRoamer]

You said inverter is dead. Does that mean it won't charge batteries or pass-through 120v, or that it won't invert (make 120v from battery)? Have you tried powering things via the inverter? Of course, the inverter needs usable batteries and you said "inconclusive", whatever that means. Also, is there a circuit breaker on the inverter? Reset it.

Was the inverter on standby when power was lost, i.e. it would automatically begin to supply power once shore power was lost? Could it be that the inverter supplied 120v power until the batteries were exhausted? If the ATS failed somehow and the inverter kicked on as backup power, that would explain most of your symptoms.


You need a "dumb" charger or a small trickle charger to bring the battery voltage up enough for the bigger but smarter charger to bring the batteries back.



What happens when the generator is running? Do you have 120v power anywhere? Starting with the ATS?

[153stars]

Is Aims inverter also a charger. Does it have pass through power from gen. or shore power?
Do you have any 120v power with inverter off at outlets like microwave. Do you have 120 v to charger at inverter on shore or pole. Sounds like you need put a different charger on batteries to get them back up. Most inverter chargers won't charge/kick below 9- 10 v. You might get it to kick in holding boost solenoid on and off every minute or so. , you may need to do with engine at high idle help recharge house batts. Maybe ATS loss leg to charger side . Any reset breakers on the inverter.
When did problem start ? Did hose batts go dead driving down the road...that points to isolator/combiner issue.

[Iceclimber]

I'll try to answer all

Yes I am safe with 240v testing and understand it.
The coach was sitting still with shore power plugged in, the inverter in auto and the house batteries turned on. When I try to hook up a semi smart battery charger to the house bank, it doesn't see the 4 batteries so they must be totally flat for whatever reason. They are good, recent 6v's. I'll pull those apart if needed but would love to not.
I'll start back upstream and test the house power in at the auto transfer, then move downstream. Like I said, I can't get to my house breakers, dang slide is in the way.

Can someone advise manual option for getting that slide out ?

Quick edit the left side of the transfer box is hot, right side not. I'm going to have to yank the inverter charger now. Tight fit and I can't see all the way around it.

[Biljol]

If one side of the ATS is hot and one side is not then the issue is with the ATS not the inverter.

[Iceclimber]

Well, in today's humbling moment I had the bright idea to jump the house batteries and I'm in business. Slides open

House panel and inverter troubleshooting begins.

Man, do I feel dumb haha

It wasn't the ATS, just had to read the diagram upside down. The dead side is the generator. I then found a sketchy breaker to inverter connection, just enough to cause everything to look dead. Happy ending but not sure how much a hit the house batteries took, lesson learned to keep them turned off, just got lazy. Maybe Santa is thinking new lithium house batteries, hmmmm

[SuperGewl]

Hey OP, it would have helped more if you would fill in your Signature with your MH info.
Glad you figured it out. Have a Merry Holiday and a Happy Winter Season

[Iceclimber]

Originally Posted by SuperGewl

Hey OP, it would have helped more if you would fill in your Signature with your MH info.
Glad you figured it out. Have a Merry Holiday and a Happy Winter Season

USAF SERE says, will do squid.

[153stars]

If batts didn't freeze or sit too long they should bounce back.... 6v are pretty robust. Make sure you get a good deep charge in them and keep them up.I would run an equalize charge after a few days if inv. has it, make sure batts are topped off with water first.