Forum Discussion

Klueck's avatar
Klueck
Explorer
Oct 26, 2014

No DC power, so we have no heat or air conditioning

Everything was fine when we went to bed last night.

When we got up this morning, we noticed none of our DC lights were working.

We have a 2003 Monaco Windsor DP. We have an inverter.

All AC systems are working, but we have no lights, can't run the heat or air conditioning because the thermostat is dead, no water pump

The TV, coffee pot, portable heaters all work.

Hubby checked the 4 house batteries and they are all reading 6.92
The 2 chassis batteries are reading 13.7

The inverter is blinking green as normal.

We did not accidentally hit the battery cut off switch, but we flipped it off and on, just in case.

Any ideas?
Class A
  • lanerd's avatar
    lanerd
    Explorer II
    Oct 26, 2014
    Klueck wrote:


    Hubby checked the 4 house batteries and they are all reading 6.92
    The 2 chassis batteries are reading 13.7
    /


    I don't understand. Did you disconnect each of the 6v batteries to get this 6.92v reading. If all are still connected, these batteries are dead.

    Turn off the battery disconnect switch (in battery compartment) and remeasure the entire bank of batteries.

    Sounds like to me that something just ran the batteries down. If there is no charging voltage from the inverter, start the generator and see if it will charge the batteries.

    Good luck

    Ron
  • rgatijnet1's avatar
    rgatijnet1
    Explorer III
    Oct 26, 2014
    On my Monaco coach the inverter is on all of the time, shore power or not. Shore power just feeds through the inverter as part of the design. You do not have to worry about switching it on or off since it is all done automatically. There is a manual disconnect for the inverter but there really is no need to shut it down since it also charges your batteries when connected to shore power.
    In any case, the OP said that all 120 AC items are operating as they should. The only things that are not operating are those that need 12 volts DC. This involves any thermostats, 12 volt lighting, etc.
    The battery readings sound correct for fully charged 6 volt batteries so the problem is either with a bad 12 volt shut off switch or with the relay that is powered by the on-off switch.
  • Klueck's avatar
    Klueck
    Explorer
    Oct 26, 2014
    Executive wrote:
    Also, check the salesman switch by the front door....altho from the condition of the batteries, it sounds like they simply drained down overnight.

    Have you checked their water level?

    Why is your inverter ON if you're plugged into shore power?

    Did your shore power go off during the night and the inverter kick on? That would really drain the batteries.

    Keep us posted....Dennis



    Dennis

    Yes.
    The water level in the batteries is good.

    The inverter is always on, because in our manual it says "the main switch to the inverter is to remain on." We have done it this way for the 3 years we've had the coach.

    NO, it doesn't appear we had a power outage overnight. Our Progressive Surge electric management system would have indicated that, and it didn't.


    A few people on a Monaco forum think it may be the solenoid that's connected to the battery cut-off switch. They have told us how to go around it, but hubby and I are nervous about attempting that. Don't want to blow anything up. :)

    Evidently, these solenoids are known to be faulty.

    Right now, we're hoping our mobile RV tech hasn't left for Florida and can help us out before he leaves town.
  • Executive45's avatar
    Executive45
    Explorer III
    Oct 26, 2014
    Also, check the salesman switch by the front door....altho from the condition of the batteries, it sounds like they simply drained down overnight.

    Have you checked their water level?

    Why is your inverter ON if you're plugged into shore power?

    Did your shore power go off during the night and the inverter kick on? That would really drain the batteries.

    Keep us posted....Dennis
  • The_Texan's avatar
    The_Texan
    Explorer
    Oct 26, 2014
    Monaco coaches have a "salesman" battery cutoff switch as you walk in the door. The solenoid it controls is notorious for failing at the most inopportune times. It serves NO purpose other than turning off all 12v to the interior of the coach, so salesmen would NOT run down the batteries by leaving things turned on. The solenoid is located in the electrical compartment under the driver. It is the large solenoid at the bottom of the compartment. Remove the large red wires on either side and bolt them together and you will have your 12v back. Most of us have removed the solenoid and thrown it away.
  • 10forty2's avatar
    10forty2
    Explorer
    Oct 26, 2014
    Check breakers and/or fuses. Not sure of your setup, but your convertor may have a breaker that tripped. You should also check the house panel to make sure nothing tripped or blew.
  • sch911's avatar
    sch911
    Explorer
    Oct 26, 2014
    If the batt disconnect was open the batts would not have run down. To me it sounds like you have a bad converter (or inverter charging circuit) depending on your configuration.
  • rgatijnet1's avatar
    rgatijnet1
    Explorer III
    Oct 26, 2014
    On my Monaco coach the 12V DC on-off switch is not instantaneous. Try holding it for a few seconds and see if the DC resets.

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