batteries not charging from shore power

[77rednecktruck]

Good afternoon. I am down in Alabama this week ( I live in Pittsburgh, PA ) and when I got here I noticed that the batteries were not charging once I plugged in. I have a 2016 3011DS. I have 110v at the outlets when plugged in but the batteries are not charging. I started the engine with the jacks down and the slides out and it charged the batteries, but they are dead again. I tried calling the dealer but they could not help me.

I tried looking for the converter but never found it. The fuses in the bed are all good and I flipped all of the breakers with no change. I am getting 110 into the RV since the outlets work, I just need to figure out how to charge the batteries.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am supposed to leave for Pittsburgh on Monday morning.

[dalford]

Make sure your battery disconnect switch is on position..

[JLeising]

You've done the easy stuff (flipping all the breakers full off, then back on). Assume you have the house battery disconnect turned on. You can pull the step that covers your batteries (assuming your batteries, like mine, are under the step) and check for corroded or loose connections. After that troubleshooting involves finding the converter, checking it for output, checking for blown fuses on the converter, etc. An alternative to continue your trip - go to an auto parts store, buy an automotive battery charger, connect it to your house batteries, and plug it in to one of your working 110 volt outlets. Probably a ten amp charger will suffice.

[RamblerGuy]

If your 3011 is like our 3100, the convertor is in the utility compartment with the shore line.

If your 12 volt devices including lights, fans and refrigerator work when you are on shore power, then your convertor is working.

When you check the battery cable connections, remove them, don't just assume they are good if they look good. Sometimes there is corrosion under the terminals. Look underneath the coach on the outside of the battery box. There are terminals there that are exposed to the elements.

Of course, disconnect the shore line and all battery terminals including the chassis ground cable before you mess with any battery terminal. Those cables go everywhere.

[77rednecktruck]

thanks!!!

I will check the terminals when I get back to the RV. The batteries are in the steps and show no signs of corrosion. I did notice a wire going to a 80 amp fuse mounted right behind the battery was a little loose but could not crimp the connection with the tools I had with me. I will try to crimp that a little more and hope that is it.

I like the idea of charging the battery from the outlet, never thought about that. How do you put the leads on a setup with 2 batteries?

[RamblerGuy]

To attach a portable charger to two batteries, ideally you'd connect the cables so the current path through the positive battery cables is the same length as through the negative cables so the batteries are charged equally. However, with a 10 amp or so portable charger, the voltage drop through those heavy cables that connect the batteries together is so small it doesn't matter. If you aren't sure how to balance the current, just hook to either battery's positive and the other battery's negative and it will work fine.

PS. If you don't want the battery charger cables in the way of the steps, you could connect the charger's positive cable to the "Coach" terminal on the outside of the battery box and the negative cable to the frame, and plug the charger into your outside receptacle. Wear eye protection in case you get a spark or dislodge some dirt, etc.

That's assuming the cable arrangement in your coach is similar that in our 2011 year model 3100.

[camaraderie]

Now that you know where the converter is....
1. Check an interior 12V light to make sure it is working...this assures that the battery connect switch is on.
2. Take a voltmeter reading at the TERMINALS of the converter. Should be over 14V but anything over 13V assures the converter is working. If it is 0....check the fuses on the unit AND that there is 120V coming into the unit. If it is working...the problem is at the wiring to the batteries.
3. If you measure for voltage at the battery terminals and are still not seeing over 13V...then you have to clean up all terminals paying special attention to CHASSIS ground. ...and if that doesn't work...there is a break or bad connection somewhere...which you can verify with a continuity check (Ohms setting) and it is gonna be a real PITA to run it down.

Good luck running it down.

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by 77rednecktruck

Good afternoon. I am down in Alabama this week ( I live in Pittsburgh, PA ) and when I got here I noticed that the batteries were not charging once I plugged in. I have a 2016 3011DS. I have 110v at the outlets when plugged in but the batteries are not charging. I started the engine with the jacks down and the slides out and it charged the batteries, but they are dead again. I tried calling the dealer but they could not help me.

I tried looking for the converter but never found it. The fuses in the bed are all good and I flipped all of the breakers with no change. I am getting 110 into the RV since the outlets work, I just need to figure out how to charge the batteries.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am supposed to leave for Pittsburgh on Monday morning.

AND ALWAYS ALWAYS ---PLEASE. When you do finally correct the problem,,,, COME BACK HERE AND TELL US WHAT IT WAS. We do this for our educationAL benefit too.

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by Tom48

AND ALWAYS ALWAYS ---PLEASE. When you do finally correct the problem,,,, COME BACK HERE AND TELL US WHAT IT WAS. We do this for our educationAL benefit too.

X11!!

[77rednecktruck]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

Now that you know where the converter is....
1. Check an interior 12V light to make sure it is working...this assures that the battery connect switch is on.
2. Take a voltmeter reading at the TERMINALS of the converter. Should be over 14V but anything over 13V assures the converter is working. If it is 0....check the fuses on the unit AND that there is 120V coming into the unit. If it is working...the problem is at the wiring to the batteries.
3. If you measure for voltage at the battery terminals and are still not seeing over 13V...then you have to clean up all terminals paying special attention to CHASSIS ground. ...and if that doesn't work...there is a break or bad connection somewhere...which you can verify with a continuity check (Ohms setting) and it is gonna be a real PITA to run it down.

Good luck running it down.

I don't think I ever did find the converter. I am fairly certain that is the issue though. If it is under the bed with the breakers and fuses, then I found it but all of the fuses are good there.

The disconnect switch is on. The lights work, just very dim once the battery gets low.

The batteries were fine for the drive home and all was good. I will try to dedicate some time this weekend to trying to figure out where the issue is, and yes, I will come back to post the answer.

[77rednecktruck]

so I found out I have a Progressive Dynamics PD4560 converter.

I downloaded the manual for it and according to the blinking light, it is working normally. But it is not charging the batteries. The voltage is below the range listed in the manual and the fan is not running.

Is the fan supposed to be on when it is plugged in?

And I seriously think Forest River plans these failures to happen just out of warranty. My warranty was up last month and my water pump just died and now I think the converter is dead. Not a real happy camper right now.

[camaraderie]

Originally Posted by 77rednecktruck

so I found out I have a Progressive Dynamics PD4560 converter.

I downloaded the manual for it and according to the blinking light, it is working normally. But it is not charging the batteries. The voltage is below the range listed in the manual and the fan is not running.

Is the fan supposed to be on when it is plugged in?

And I seriously think Forest River plans these failures to happen just out of warranty. My warranty was up last month and my water pump just died and now I think the converter is dead. Not a real happy camper right now.

I don't think there is a problem with your converter. What EXACT voltage are you measuring at the output terminals of the converter? You need a voltmeter to read at least 13.2 volts THERE. with wires to battery disconnected there it should read 13.6V.
You also have THREE 25 amp fuses on the unit which should be checked first.

FWIW...I disagree entirely with blaming this on Forest River. Progressive makes superior chargers and that's like blaming the home builder for the Maytag washer that you don't even know isn't working for sure.

[77rednecktruck]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

I don't think there is a problem with your converter. What EXACT voltage are you measuring at the output terminals of the converter? You need a voltmeter to read at least 13.2 volts THERE. with wires to battery disconnected there it should read 13.6V.
You also have THREE 25 amp fuses on the unit which should be checked first.

FWIW...I disagree entirely with blaming this on Forest River. Progressive makes superior chargers and that's like blaming the home builder for the Maytag washer that you don't even know isn't working for sure.

LOL - note my smiley face after that comment...


But anyway, I followed the test procedure on the Progressive Dynamics troubleshooting PDF and I do not have the correct voltage. The instructions state to leave the shore power on, remove the 3 reverse battery fuses ( which are all good ), and check voltage at the converter. Should be between 13.3 and 13.9, I have .5VDC when I check there. So i will be ordering a new converter.

Thanks everyone for your help!!!!!

[JLeising]

While FR just warranties the MH for one year, Progressive might have a longer warranty on the Converter. Worth calling them to check?

[benagi]

Just checked the Progressive warranty on their converters for MH's and it is 2 years.

[77rednecktruck]

Originally Posted by benagi

Just checked the Progressive warranty on their converters for MH's and it is 2 years.

I already ordered another one but emailed PD about the warranty.

But it is fixed so I don't care that much about the money.

It was an easy 5 minute swap out and works perfectly. Thanks again for everyone assisting!!!


Max