So we have been on the road for about 7 weeks with our DP. Very few problems so far.Yesterday morning our Norcold fridge signaled Lo Dc. I figured that meant low house battery power. Of course being plugged into 50 Amp 120V that should not be so. All lights etc. worked just fine. I cranked up the engine for a few minutes and all was back to normal. That lasted about 12 hrs then we were back to Lo Dc.I ran the engine again and all was normal When I got up this AM at 4:30 all was OK. By 5:30 it was back. I did not start the engine. I don't think people appreciate listening to a big old diesel at 5:30 AM. I shut off the fidge. Now 2 hrs later house lights are still on.So A: Do I have an invertor problem? Or a battery problem? Or a fridge problem?B: What happens if I just leave the fridge alone? Will it eventually shut down?Thanks for any advice.

almost sounds like your fridge is wired to the chassis battery instead of the house battery.....

Sounds to me like your converter quit on you. Don't have any idea how your system is set-up as you do not list the type of coach that you have, but if your alternator charged your house batteries (that is how most Fleetwood DP's are designed) your batteries are likely fine, just not getting charged by your converter.Short term fix-get a 3 stage battery charger and connect it to your house battery bank.

A: It could be the converter or as Pass42 suggested, could be wired to the chassis battery. This is unlikely unless someone has been playing with the wiring. I can't see the manufacturer doing that.B: Yes it will shut down. Without knowing the battery voltages all we can do is guess. Measure voltage at the battery terminals with a digital volt meter or multimeter. Measure both house and chassis battery voltages. Lights will work with pretty low voltage, so house batteries could be too low for the fridge and still run the lights.Let us know what you find, we'll have more suggestions as to how to fix the problem.Also let us know what converter (or inverter/charger) you have, and what batteries.

And yes, once the voltage gets low enough the control circuits will no longer function and the fridge will shut down.Go get that charger before your food spoils!

Do you have a voltmeter? The fridge is signaling LoDC because the incoming 12V line for the control circuits is below the spec. Your house batteries are low and are not being charged by your inverter/charger. Your engine alternator is going to charge house and chassis batteries and so the problem appears to go away.While you are plugged in, your house batteries should be showing around 13VDC. Any lower than that, then your charger is not working.

Lo DC on fridge | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

Canadian_Rainbi
Explorer
Jan 25, 2014
A: It could be the converter or as Pass42 suggested, could be wired to the chassis battery. This is unlikely unless someone has been playing with the wiring. I can't see the manufacturer doing that.

B: Yes it will shut down.

Without knowing the battery voltages all we can do is guess. Measure voltage at the battery terminals with a digital volt meter or multimeter. Measure both house and chassis battery voltages. Lights will work with pretty low voltage, so house batteries could be too low for the fridge and still run the lights.

Let us know what you find, we'll have more suggestions as to how to fix the problem.

Also let us know what converter (or inverter/charger) you have, and what batteries.
FormerBoater
Explorer
Jan 25, 2014
Sounds to me like your converter quit on you.

Don't have any idea how your system is set-up as you do not list the type of coach that you have, but if your alternator charged your house batteries (that is how most Fleetwood DP's are designed) your batteries are likely fine, just not getting charged by your converter.

Short term fix-get a 3 stage battery charger and connect it to your house battery bank.
Pass42
Explorer
Jan 25, 2014
almost sounds like your fridge is wired to the chassis battery instead of the house battery.....

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Lo DC on fridge

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