Alternator discharging!
2002 Itasca Horizon DP 5.9 Cummins.
420 Watts Solar
Magnum 2 KW pure sinewave inverter/charger
SC 230 30 A Solar controller
Trimetric TM 2030 Monitor
500A shunt
4 GC House Batteries
2 Group 31 "Marine Deep Cycle" Chassis batteries
Xantrex Echo Charger (Charges Chassis batteries from house batteries)
All DC in and out through the shunt.
Suddenly, after being in storage for the winter, the house batteries died after not being checked: the shore power plug had been disconnected probably by passing deer. The solar was not working as I had disconnected it because the battery voltage hit 15VDC every sunny morning.
Now batteries charge fine from solar and/or shore power but DISCHARGE when engine is running according to the battery monitor. First noted when driving the rig with dead house batteries to the shop for new house batteries. Noted that the chassis batteries had discharged during the 30 kilometer trip to the shop.
Batteries were replaced, alternator checked OK.
Need to run generator to keep the batteries from discharging (15-20 Amps according to the monitor) Three hour highway trip to a rally and the same back, same problem. No observable over heating, no smoke, no fire. I would suspect that such a current draw would result in something noticable if it was due to a short. My mechanic and RV tech is away at the moment on holidays.
Anyone have any ideas? We need this rig in three weeks.
420 Watts Solar
Magnum 2 KW pure sinewave inverter/charger
SC 230 30 A Solar controller
Trimetric TM 2030 Monitor
500A shunt
4 GC House Batteries
2 Group 31 "Marine Deep Cycle" Chassis batteries
Xantrex Echo Charger (Charges Chassis batteries from house batteries)
All DC in and out through the shunt.
Suddenly, after being in storage for the winter, the house batteries died after not being checked: the shore power plug had been disconnected probably by passing deer. The solar was not working as I had disconnected it because the battery voltage hit 15VDC every sunny morning.
Now batteries charge fine from solar and/or shore power but DISCHARGE when engine is running according to the battery monitor. First noted when driving the rig with dead house batteries to the shop for new house batteries. Noted that the chassis batteries had discharged during the 30 kilometer trip to the shop.
Batteries were replaced, alternator checked OK.
Need to run generator to keep the batteries from discharging (15-20 Amps according to the monitor) Three hour highway trip to a rally and the same back, same problem. No observable over heating, no smoke, no fire. I would suspect that such a current draw would result in something noticable if it was due to a short. My mechanic and RV tech is away at the moment on holidays.
Anyone have any ideas? We need this rig in three weeks.
