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06-13-2020, 07:25 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 18
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House batteries won’t charge
Just picked up my 2017 40BH from storage and when I fire up the generator the control panel on the wall doesn’t indicate that it’s charging. I opened the compartment at there is some white powder substance on some of the terminals and looks like crystals on the top of the batteries. Corrosion? Would that cause the system not to charge them at all? Supposed to be pulling out on Wednesday so looking for any advice.
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06-13-2020, 08:12 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Payson, AZ
Posts: 3,871
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you should definitely clean the batteries and get rid of that corrosion. and while doing that also check the water level in the batteries.
you didn't say whether the generator was internal with a transfer switch or external where you plug the shore power core into the generator. for what follows i am assuming an internal generator.
i don't think the corrosion on the batteries is causing them not to charge. they had some charge in them in order to start the generator. and you say the indicator does not show a charging voltage. the first place i would look is at the circuit breakers on the generator. is any other 120vac device getting power from the generator? does the microwave light come on?
a multimeter would be very useful in diagnosing the problem. it would tell if the batteries are getting a recharge voltage when the generator is on or not?
__________________
2015 cardinal model 3825fl
2015 dodge ram 3500 dually
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06-13-2020, 08:40 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CHICKDOE
you should definitely clean the batteries and get rid of that corrosion. and while doing that also check the water level in the batteries.
you didn't say whether the generator was internal with a transfer switch or external where you plug the shore power core into the generator. for what follows i am assuming an internal generator.
i don't think the corrosion on the batteries is causing them not to charge. they had some charge in them in order to start the generator. and you say the indicator does not show a charging voltage. the first place i would look is at the circuit breakers on the generator. is any other 120vac device getting power from the generator? does the microwave light come on?
a multimeter would be very useful in diagnosing the problem. it would tell if the batteries are getting a recharge voltage when the generator is on or not?
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Thanks. If I turn the inverter on power hits the fridge and the microwave (until the battery gets too low). If I run the engine it recharges enough that I can turn the inverter back on. The generator is in fact Internal. Sorry for the miss there.
The breaker you are referring to would it be on the generator? Also I “assumed” (stupid me) that the batteries were maintenance free. I’ll try to find a video to look at for water maintenance of the batteries. Also I have a multimeter in the garage. You’re saying fire up the generator and see if the + - based on the multimeter starts to go up or not? Thanks!
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06-13-2020, 09:53 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Payson, AZ
Posts: 3,871
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the generator circuit breakers are on the generator itself. there may be one or two depending on whether you have a 30 amp or 50 amp rv. make sure they have not tripped.
if this does not solve the problem take a dc voltage measurement on the battery terminals with the generator not running and shore power not connected. it should read somewhere around 12.6 volts if they are fully charged, lower if not fully charged. then turn on the generator and take the exact same 12 volt battery measurement. if the batteries are getting recharge the voltage should be around 13.6 volts or even higher. if it is the same as the first measurement they are not getting recharged.
__________________
2015 cardinal model 3825fl
2015 dodge ram 3500 dually
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06-14-2020, 08:20 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,290
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sounds like it's simply that the Generator's own breaker has tripped - no worries - you'll be charging in no time!
the 'Alternator' charges the House batteries when traveling/engine running after the chassis batteries are up to charge, so that's why you see the House batteries able to handle the inverter when the engine is running.
When the engine is shut off, the inverter/batteries then have no charging, so only the Generator or Shore Power will then recharge them.
What you are experiencing is a typical 'issue' with onboard generators, are factories haven't yet provided a good 'indicator' that, while the Generator may be running, it's breaker is TRIPPED.
You can get an indication of this on your own by seeing that the Inverter is 'Inverting', though it should be 'Charging' the batteries.
You can also get an indication when you try to turn on a roof air conditioner, yet nothing happens, since they don't have 120v power.
I wish the factories would find a way to let the owner KNOW that the generator's breaker has tripped - whether a on-DASH indicator, or at the Inverter panel. It's always aggravating when you spend what seems like hours and sweat trying to pin down what turns out to be such a simple issue.
(NEXT, we'll also ask the factories to provide a way to RESET the generator breaker without having to get out the keys, open the hood, reset the breaker, in the RAIN, close the hood, relock the hood, etc!)
__________________
The Turners...
'07 Rockwood Signature Ultralight...
two Campers and two Electric cars : )
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06-14-2020, 08:39 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,290
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CHICKDOE
the generator circuit breakers are on the generator itself. there may be one or two depending on whether you have a 30 amp or 50 amp rv. make sure they have not tripped.
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most any onboard generator will have TWO breakers, though one is 'hidden'.
The reason is that while most of our onboard generators are producing only 120v power, even for our larger motorhomes with 50amp RV Service, the factory that builds the generator uses a combination of a 30amp 'main' breaker, sometimes along with a supplemental breaker of either 15, 20, or 30amps, depending on the size of the output of the generator. These two should equal slightly more than the output maximum.
The reason only a '30amp' main generator breaker is used is because 30amp RVs will only have that much capacity. If the RV is a 50amp RV, though, the generator will typically be larger, and the supplemental 'hidden' breaker will make up the difference, providing MORE than 30amps to the coach, shared by the Main 50amp double-pole breakers(both hot legs), and therefore to ALL the individual circuit breakers.
An onboard generator for a Class C, with 30amp RV service, might be 3,600watts - with only a need for a single 30amp 'Main' generator breaker.
An onboard generator for a Class A, with 50amp RV service, might be 6,000watts, like mine, with a 30amp 'Main' generator breaker, and a supplemental 'hidden' 20amp breaker, for a total of 50amps of total output at 120volts. (Now, while that 'sounds' like it's the same as the 50amp RV Shore Power that you plug into, it's not - it's only HALF as much, since Shore Power for a 50amp outlet is 240volts. But, that's just another conversation) : )
by the way, there are certainly much larger onboard generator sets, like 10,000watts and even 20,000 watts, which make use of 240v service, and provide a more Shore Power 'like' output, which also requires larger main breakers, etc., but that's a discussion for the big rigs : )
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06-14-2020, 08:49 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Southern California
Posts: 595
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Quote:
Originally Posted by formerFR
most any onboard generator will have TWO breakers, though one is 'hidden'.
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Funny you mention that - I just noticed the other day that my main breaker on my Cummins Onan RV 6000QD is a 30 A breaker, even though the genny output is 50 A and the coach is a 50A rig. Any suggestions on where to look for the "additional breaker" on a 2015 Berkshire 34QS? It's never tripped before, but it'd be nice to know exactly where it is . . .
Also, absolutely correct on the "check the genny breaker first" rule!!! I've had more than a few sphincter-tightening moments before realizing the problem was solved by a simple flip of a breaker!!
__________________
2015 Berkshire 34QS
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06-14-2020, 08:56 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,290
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no, there's no 'other' breaker somewhere's else, only the 'Main' generator breaker, with a supplement 'hidden' breaker, attached to it, behind the generator's panel. You don't have to access or mess with this 'additional' breaker, it's integrated into the 'Main' breaker, so you only have a single breaker to 'deal' with when resetting it.
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06-14-2020, 09:00 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Southern California
Posts: 595
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And THAT'S why I subscribe to this Forum!!
Thank you much!
__________________
2015 Berkshire 34QS
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06-14-2020, 09:07 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,290
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here's the breaker specs for several Onan 4000 series generators:
4KYFR65697 Gasoline 60 3600 4000 100 (1) 40.0 1 20 A, 2-pole
4KYFA26100 Gasoline 60 3600 4000 120 33.3 1 30 A, 1-pole
4KYFA6747* Gasoline 60 3600 4000 120 33.3 1 30 A, 1-pole
4KYFR11429 Gasoline 60 3600 4000 100 (2) 40.0 1 20 A, 2-pole
3.6KYFA26120 LP 60 3600 3600 120 30.0 1 30 A, 1-pole
3.3KYFR4858 LP 50 3000 3300 230 (2,4) 14.3 1 17 A, 1-pole
3.6KYFR4856 Gasoline 50 3000 3600 230 (2,4) 15.7 1 17 A,1-pole
some of these have a single 'Main' breaker, and some have a '2-pole' Breaker set, though you may only see a 'single' Breaker handle on the generator, since they are tied together.
Larger Onan generators will have a 30amp '2-pole' breaker set, etc.
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06-14-2020, 10:02 AM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 18
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You are all awesome. Two things I’ve learned 1) need to go get a wire brush, distilled water and a funnel and fill my batteries. 2) generator breaker is tripped.
I pulled the generator out of the chassis and looked for a breaker but I couldn’t find one. On this year (2017 Xl 40BH) where that breaker might be??? It’s not with the ones under the bed in the master is it?
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06-14-2020, 10:11 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Payson, AZ
Posts: 3,871
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what generator do you have? you may have to pull a front panel off the generator to access the start/stop switch and circuit breaker(s).
rather than a funnel many people use a turkey baster to add water to the battery cells.
__________________
2015 cardinal model 3825fl
2015 dodge ram 3500 dually
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06-14-2020, 10:25 AM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 18
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Found the breaker. I’m an idiot. It was right on the front. I reset it but before I try to get to charge I need to add water to the four batteries.
Looks like there are three caps per battery. Is there a guide somewhere to show me which ones to use to fill or is it all three?
Sorry for all the questions but really appreciate the support!
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06-14-2020, 10:50 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Payson, AZ
Posts: 3,871
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you have 6 volt batteries with 3 cells (caps) per battery. take each cap off, check water level, and fill as appropriate. each cell is independent as far as water level is concerned. you have some corrosion but not terrible. pretty simple to clean up. suggestion, only remove the cables from one post at a time and put them back on before you move to another post. but you have a beautiful picture for reference.
__________________
2015 cardinal model 3825fl
2015 dodge ram 3500 dually
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06-14-2020, 02:56 PM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ssbundy
Found the breaker. I’m an idiot. It was right on the front. I reset it but before I try to get to charge I need to add water to the four batteries. Attachment 231448
Looks like there are three caps per battery. Is there a guide somewhere to show me which ones to use to fill or is it all three?
Sorry for all the questions but really appreciate the support!
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Clean the terminals with baking soda and water mix. google it and they will go step by step.
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06-14-2020, 04:10 PM
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#17
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 18
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Update. Reset generator breaker and still nothing. In fact the batteries deplete when the generator is running. When the diesel is running the alternator is charging the batteries just fine. I can actually here the isolation switch when it goes from charging the chassis battery to the house battery. So charging is occurring (verified with my multimeter) but as soon as I start the generator everything starts to go down. In addition the air conditioners say E7 which means no AC voltage present. Is there a fuse or something else in line from the generator back to the batteries? I feel like it’s a bad fuse or something but the diagram is terrible Attachment 1
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06-14-2020, 04:17 PM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 18
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Fuse diagram this tiMe:
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06-14-2020, 04:57 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Small Town
Posts: 284
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If the genny is running its not a 12v fuse.
1st check gen breaker.
2nd check transfer switch. Make sure both legs are getting power from the generator and the transfer switch is working.
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06-14-2020, 05:00 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Small Town
Posts: 284
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Next check 25A breaker on inverter. Its small push button style.
It me
Lastly check 30A breaker in the breaker box.
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