Will the house batteries charge on 30 amp?

Ol Poopypants · 10-21-2016, 04:59 PM

At Goshen, I was on 30 amp for the first time and the house batteries died. Does the battery charger work on 30 amps or just on 50 amp? Thanks.

Iggy · 10-21-2016, 05:11 PM

It works on both 30 amp and 50 amp plug-in.
Now with that said have you check the charger plugin in the compartment where the power hooks up?
Sometimes the plug gets jarred and pulled out a bit which would stop the charger from charging.

Here is what my plug is located.

Ol Poopypants · 10-22-2016, 05:37 PM

I was hoping it was both 30 & 50. I've not noticed any plugs in that area of the basement but I also wasn't looking for any. I'm going to look closer tomorrow.

I've had a maintenance charger on the new batteries and this afternoon, they were full charged. I tried the steps a few times, waiting a few minutes between tries, and on the 3rd try, they didn't retract all the way. I used some Zep spray on all of the moving joints and that may of done the trick.

Thanks Iggy. We said "Hi" to each other at Goshen, standing in line at the service building but each of us had conversations going on with other people so that was that.

donniedu · 10-22-2016, 05:49 PM

House batteries should charge on 20A. Mine does

Iggy · 10-22-2016, 05:58 PM

The plug on mine is the power cord to my battery charger onboard to the right in that compartment.
This is your battery charger. No power to this then no charging of batteries.

wahoonc · 10-22-2016, 06:38 PM

Double check your adapter and make sure you were getting power on both legs of your 50 amp. Apparently not all adapters are made properly. I have seen this happen several times, using a different adapter made things work properly.

Aaron

**Mr. Dan** · 10-23-2016, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hd0187dh

No. If you have a 50 system your inverter is 220 v to 12v.

Are you sure?
Inverters change 12v to 110v A/C.

A converter in a 50a trailer changes 110v to 12v.

bubbles · 10-23-2016, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hd0187dh

The 50 amp plug / circuit feeds 220 ac volts in. They have a double pole breaker feeding 110 volts / 50 amps on each leg. Then the rig breaks it down to 2 -110 volts ac circuits and a 12volt DC circuit.

From your posts it might be best that you just follow the postings and learn something. You are just adding confusion to the issue. Just a suggestion; not trying to be rude.

325BH · 10-23-2016, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hd0187dh

No. If you have a 50 system your inverter is 220 v to 12v. On a 30 amp single pole you are only supplying power to one leg of the inverter .

Wrong.

50 amp service provides 240/120 volts (two hots). 30 amp service provides only 120 volts (just one hot).

Although 240 is available with 50 amp service, almost no rigs have 240 devices. (Some ultra high-end might, but that is the exception. Doesn't matter though, it doesn't change this conversation.) Most 50 amp RV panels aren't even configured to allow for a 240 volt breaker (double) and get 240 volts. The panel has one leg on the left and one leg on the right, with the main breaker in the middle. To get 240 volts with a breaker, the panel has to have alternating left/right legs, so no two stabs next to each other are on the same leg.

On a 50 amp service, the voltage across the left and right side of the panel is 240 volts, however only 120 volt devices are used and only connect to a single breaker on either the left or right side. When a 50/30 dog bone adapter is used, the single hot leg from the pedestal is connected to both the left and right legs in the panel. This means the voltage across the left and right side of the panel is 0 volts because they are the same wire. Voltage across either the left or right side and neutral is of course 120 volts. This is OK because only 120 volt devices are used. You are still limited to 30 amps in this configuration.

A 50 amp service provides 100 amps at 120 volts. (50 amps on each of the two legs.)

The converter is 120 volt. If 30 amp service is not energizing the converter, it is because the 50/30 dogbone isn't powering both legs like it is supposed to. All 50/30 dog bones should send 120 to both legs/sides of the power panel. If the dog bone isn't doing that, one complete half of your panel will be dark. Every converter I have seen is on a 20 amp breaker, which is less than the 30 amp service... which means the 30 amp service is more than enough.

Unless your batteries are very low, you will probably not draw more than 3 or 4 amps from the converter. (Converters can draw a lot of current while charging low batteries, however maint mode draws significantly less.)

Ol Poopypants · 10-24-2016, 12:07 PM

My head hurts.

**Mr. Dan** · 10-24-2016, 03:55 PM

The site team has moved pkhill's posts and replies to its own thread. Can we get back to helping the OP solve his issues if we haven't already?

Thanks.

Ol Poopypants · 10-24-2016, 04:24 PM

The new batteries and the Zep spray has solved the problem with the steps not retracting all the way and I'll keep a lot closer eye on the level of the batteries. Thanks for the responses, guys! I learn something every time I log on.

**wmtire** · 10-25-2016, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol Poopypants

My head hurts.

We understand, this link may help clarify 325BH's post.

Electrical Tutorial - Chapter 3 - 30 Amp versus 50 Amp

325BH · 10-25-2016, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol Poopypants

My head hurts.

The cliff-notes version:

Your RV doesn't know the difference between 30 or 50 amp service. Everything will work... until you exceed 30 amps and the breaker on the pedestal opens.

A converter draws much, much less than 30 amps... so it will charge your batteries fine. Heck, the converter is on a 20 amp breaker.

If your not running a bunch of things, and are only concerned about keeping your batteries charged, a standard 15 or 20 and house receptacle would be more than enough for the converter to charge your batteries.

RVnut · 10-25-2016, 11:46 AM

We have never had problems on 30 amp as long as we dont need A/C

Ol Poopypants · 10-26-2016, 06:00 AM

And the hits just keep on coming...The other day, I plugged into shore power at my house and later discovered that I don't have power in the m.h. I checked the outlet and it's good. I called the dealership who suggested cranking up the generator. If there's power, then the transfer switch is bad.
The gen cranks but won't start. Since I bought the m.h. in March of '13, I've started the gen monthly, without issue. My house batteries are full charged. The m.h. is going to the dealer this coming weekend.

wmtire: thanks for the link. I've bookmarked it.

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