Batteries, DC Power, & Generator Issues

GORVN4FUN wrote:
I agree that the fan does not always run. I still feel the old one is bad. Everything in the coach is working great now. I will keep the old one and test it more when I get back home.

It's a WFCO 55AMP POWER CONVERTER model WF-9855.

I had the same one, it would only run from 13.2 to 13.6. Never seen higher. When I put a heavy load on the converter it would drop down. Got an IOTA now seeing 14.8 during high charge and getting bank to charge a lot faster.

I agree that the fan does not always run. I still feel the old one is bad. Everything in the coach is working great now. I will keep the old one and test it more when I get back home.

It's a WFCO 55AMP POWER CONVERTER model WF-9855.

What converter did you have. You said you replaced it with the same model. The fan probably goes on and off with temperature change in the converter.

To answer a few items in the thread above... I do exercise the generator about once a month or so, the gas in the tank is from May, the batteries are only 2 years old but I did neglect to keep water levels up, and I do have a voltage meter to check things out.

Process of elimination, only running the MH engine would show a 13.6V charge to the house batteries. 50 AMP service coming in and the generator by itself didn't. So, process of elimination, I went to CW and bought the same converter ($249 w/ tax). It's installed and appears to have solved the problem. I only hope the batteries can retain a good charge. The salesperson at CW said that dimming house lights are often a good sign of this problem.

Interestingly, I put 110 to the old converter and hooked up the voltage meter and it showed 13.6V with nothing attached. When still on the coach, it did not do that. The fan was not running on the old converter. I assume it's still bad.

Again, thanks for everyone's help.

Check your converter, AC power to it, then the DC output. DC, with you battery being low you should see 13.6 or more at the DC terminal on the converter. Then see if you have that at your house battery. Your battery might be to low to keep the generator running. Work from your show power first to solve your DC problem. then work on your Generator.
Also a side note. Is all your AC system in the MH working? Just a extra thought that maybe you lost one side of your shore power? This could also be why you battery is low. You could ALSO see if the generator will run with you holding down the boost switch for more than 30 seconds, if so that might mean the generator problem is your house battery. Good Luck Gary

You have several problems
But your generator charges the batteries thru the same converter charger as shore power
The generator power transfer switch will not engage, while connected to shore power
You cannot use both at the same time
Charge your batteries from shore power
Then unplug shore power and diagnose your generator problems

You have a couple of issues and it would be easy to diagnose where the problems lie it you have a volt-ohm meter. It sounds like your converter is not providing the proper output to your battery and/or DC distribution center.

Could be that it is not receiving shorepower thus it would not be able to output proper DC voltage or fuses may have blown causing same scenario, both can be readily verified with meter. If converter is receiving 120Vac converter output should read 13.2 Vdc or higher and can be measured at converter or battery.

Batteries having dried out can be caused by dumb converter with only a single mode of charging and/or lack of maintenance. Suffice to say, they will not return to full capacity, but you may get limited use out of them if you just plan to stay plugged into shorepower. Might be best to get new batteries if converter needs replacing or if upgrading to a multi-phase charger.

The Onan generator is unrelated to your 12 volt issues and is more than likely having fuel delivery issues from a gummed up carb and stale gas along with under-usage and lack of proper exercise and/or maintenance. Using Stabil or other fuel stabilizer and monthly exercise will help alleviate these issues. Sometimes the carb can be cleaned but Onan suggests replacement.

There are plug in voltage monitors (used inside your rig) that can help keep an eye on what's going on with the AC and DC voltages within your rig. I always have them plugged in while RVing to monitor AC voltage drop when using our Air Conditioner and to monitor the converter's DC output and charging phase.

As for the generator, sounds like the gas may have gone bad. Have you tried to run the main engine?

Hopefully, your batteries can be brought back up to snuff.