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tinkerer's avatar
tinkerer
Explorer
Oct 31, 2013

Electrical problem on Discovery solved

I posted a while back about not having house electricity unless I started the engine. I called Fleetwood and I immediatly was put on the phone with a technician. He was very thorough at explaining to me how the system worked and the location of the solenoid that controlled the house batteries. I was emphatic about checking the condition of the batteries first but if I was to check the solenoid to be sure to disconnect the house batteries first. So went to disconnect the house batteries and guess what. One of the cables had rotted off of the battery terminal. Reconnected it and every thing worked. I still have not figured how I got a 12v reading to start with. I just will say kudo's to Fleetwood for being so prompt and helpful and setting me straight. I have to admit that I was to arrogant to check the batteries to start with. Thank you everybody for making suggestions to help me.:B
Class A
  • rgatijnet1's avatar
    rgatijnet1
    Explorer III
    Nov 01, 2013
    Good for letting us all know the outcome. The one thing about battery voltage, and actually even 120 volt pole voltage..........if even ONE strand of the wire is still intact, the voltage will read correct. As soon as you try to draw any kind of a load(AMPS), is when the problem will show itself. Voltage measurements only take a very very small amount of current, which is why measuring the voltage at an RV park pole shows if power is present, but NOT if it has the capability to supply you with the 50 amps that you need for your coach. The same goes with battery voltage. Just because you read 12 volts on a voltmeter does not mean that your cables have the amperage capacity to turn over your starter.
  • Gjac's avatar
    Gjac
    Explorer III
    Nov 01, 2013
    Quote(I still have not figured how I got a 12v reading to start with.) It took me a while to understand this also. Just because you have volts doesn't mean that amps are getting through, especially when dealing with an older MH. Each time that I read 12v and something didn't work it turned out to be corrosion in or at the terminal. Several times I cleaned the terminals at the battery, inverter or genset only to find that the wire itself was corroded or loose inside the terminal.
  • ksg5000's avatar
    ksg5000
    Explorer
    Nov 01, 2013
    Had similar problem - battery ground wire had come loose under the insulation - when I hit a bump electrical would temporarily go out. Took me a while to find that one.
  • tinkerer's avatar
    tinkerer
    Explorer
    Nov 01, 2013
    Actually the Fleetwood technician informed me I was checking the voltage at the solenoid which links the main batteries to the house batteries when the engine is started. He informed me the solenoid that controls the house batteries are behind the main computer box. It helps a lot to talk to someone that has good knowledge of how the coach is configured. This fellow sure seemed to know what he doing!:)
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Nov 01, 2013
    Thanks for coming back and updating us. Most folks don't take the time.

    Scott
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Oct 31, 2013
    Hi,

    You got a 12 volt reading because the alternator connects to the "house" 12 volt, so when the engine was running you had 12 volt power.

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