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dylanfoster's avatar
dylanfoster
Explorer
May 01, 2015

Lost generator and leveling jack power

I'm slightly new to rving (4 mos) but I'm no stranger to vehicles and I've become quite accustomed to the mechanics of an rv. I have a 1996 fourwinds hurricane I just picked up (our second MH) and all was well until today.

Symptoms:

With the rig running I cannot start the generator or deploy my leveling jacks. As I said all was working just a day ago. The leveling jack panel lights up as does the generator start switch but no dice. The battery disconnect is off, all the cables around the batteries look good. The indicator for the battery (on the panel inside) reads dead (red) but I still have lights and water pump/heat. I'm not sure what it could be but I could definitely use some help.

Thank you.

8 Replies

  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    May 01, 2015
    you might have a "bird" problem
    Bidirectional Relay
    a battery charge controller and disconnect combined
    or it could be a ground cable problem, from the house battery bank
    so the heavy load systems can not get enough power to operate
    but the low amp systems like water pump can get power with the engine running and supplying power
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    May 01, 2015
    Switch must be on. Do you have a salesman switch and is it on/working? The alternator feeds a isolator that charges both battery banks. Does it? Use a voltmeter to find out. The converter charges the house battery and it may/may not charge the chassis battery.

    Have the batteries load tested for free at a auto store. All bets are off with dead batteries. You could also have blown fuses.

    A voltmeter will tell you much more than your current guessing/shotgun approach. Maybe some of the power you are seeing is from the solar?
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    May 01, 2015
    Yes, the alternator should charge the house batteries but the battery disconnect must be on.
  • dylanfoster's avatar
    dylanfoster
    Explorer
    May 01, 2015
    I'll check it out. I'm swapping over my solar panels tomorrow so that should help some of the discharge but I could've sworn the alternator fed the house batteries as well as the chassis battery. Is that not the case in this make?
  • BTPO1's avatar
    BTPO1
    Explorer
    May 01, 2015
    dylanfoster wrote:
    I would agree about the batteries being dead if it weren't for the lights and water pump/heater still having power.


    I agree that the batteries are probably dead. The other items are probably being fed from the converter from the 120 VAC system. The jacks and generator as well as the steps take a lot more current to operate. JMO
  • dylanfoster's avatar
    dylanfoster
    Explorer
    May 01, 2015
    I would agree about the batteries being dead if it weren't for the lights and water pump/heater still having power.
  • dylanfoster's avatar
    dylanfoster
    Explorer
    May 01, 2015
    Turned the battery disconnect on. Nothing from the genny or jacks still. Also I forgot to mention the step is stuck as well. As far as charging, I thought the house batteries also get a charge from the alternator while running the rig.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    May 01, 2015
    Battery disconnect should be on.
    The batteries maybe dead as they get their charge from 120 volt system through the converter and battery disconnect.

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