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sullivd's avatar
sullivd
Explorer
Jun 15, 2017

low voltage for levelers

I have a 2007 Southwind with electric levelers. When I tried to level I got a "low voltage" indication. Plugged up electric and was able to activate levelers. When I checked main and aux voltage I got 14+ for each. Is there something wrong besides batteries and also can I continue to plug up electric and use levelers. Thanks for all responses.

Dean
  • There is no reason you cannot run your leveling jacks while plugged into shore power, I mostly do that when leveling. Pull into site and get situated, plug in electric and level and connect water and sewer THEN extend slides, saves many a skull injury.

    Oh, do get the battery power looked into, it should be adequate to run levelers and slideouts.
  • Was the engine running? I get low voltage if I try to do it without being plugged in, generator running, or engine running.
  • I would think that "Electric Levelers" would draw lots of current when leveling. If you have a bad connection (E.G., lose, corroded, burnt or dirty) it will cause voltage drop across it and cause a low voltage condition at the control unit. If you have a bad connection that has a .1 ohm resistance at 10 amps it would be a 1 volt drop from the source (battery) to the load (controller.) Measure the voltage at the control unit and the battery while trying to run the jacks. Compare the 2 readings. Is there a large difference? If there is, find the cause of the voltage drop. I would start controller and look for problems both on the positive and negative wires. It could be a bad ground. Then I would work your way back to the battery checking each connection and taking voltages (while running the jacks) until you find the bad connection. If the voltage is the "same" I would focus on the battery.
  • If you check your owners manual, you may find that the engine must be running to operate the leveling system. Your engine has a 140 amp alternator, and your converter might be a 40 amp output.