Solenoid / converter issue? Trouble with battery disconnect
Well I’ve had my first new-to-me RV (2000 Roadtrek 200 Popular) for my first full summer and everything was working as should – frig, heater, AC, generator, etc. Then a few weeks ago I had trouble turning the aux. battery on and off but after several tries switching the rocker switch back and forth it would work. I thought maybe I had a problem with the switch and would have to replace it. However, when preparing for a trip last week I could not turn the battery on at all. When I tried I got the cha-chunk sound of the solenoid but no power. The battery power indicator light turned on briefly then faded out. I tried running the generator, running the RV and hooking to shore power hoping that switching between the different modes might flip something back and I would be able to turn the battery on again. No luck. Everything was still functional on shore power which I knew we would have access to on the trip so I didn’t worry about it.
During the 5 day trip I would periodically try the battery switch but nothing powered up. After arriving home (a 3 hour drive) I still could not switch to battery power and thought maybe it was just not taking a charge while driving. I hooked it back up to shore power to see if I could recharge the battery. After about 5 hours I went and checked on it. Good thing I did! I soon as entered I could smell what I thought was an electrical fire. There was no smoke but a very strong smell. I immediately disconnected the shore power and checked the converter which is located under the dinette seat. The wooden cover under the cushion was warm to the touch. I opened it expecting the worst. Everything looked fine but the solenoid was very hot and one of its fuses was blown. The strange thing now is the aux. battery is stuck on. I turned on an overhead light and the exhaust fan. Both worked so I know I’m getting battery power.
I should mention too that during our trip, while hooked to shore power, I tried to check the tanks levels. The indicator lights briefly lit then faded out. I checked them again after arriving home and was hooked to shore power again and still no lights. And now, though the battery power is stuck on the indicator lights still do not light.
All pretty confusing to me. Any idea what the problem could be? Battery? Control panel? Solenoid?
Thanks for any incite you can provide.
During the 5 day trip I would periodically try the battery switch but nothing powered up. After arriving home (a 3 hour drive) I still could not switch to battery power and thought maybe it was just not taking a charge while driving. I hooked it back up to shore power to see if I could recharge the battery. After about 5 hours I went and checked on it. Good thing I did! I soon as entered I could smell what I thought was an electrical fire. There was no smoke but a very strong smell. I immediately disconnected the shore power and checked the converter which is located under the dinette seat. The wooden cover under the cushion was warm to the touch. I opened it expecting the worst. Everything looked fine but the solenoid was very hot and one of its fuses was blown. The strange thing now is the aux. battery is stuck on. I turned on an overhead light and the exhaust fan. Both worked so I know I’m getting battery power.
I should mention too that during our trip, while hooked to shore power, I tried to check the tanks levels. The indicator lights briefly lit then faded out. I checked them again after arriving home and was hooked to shore power again and still no lights. And now, though the battery power is stuck on the indicator lights still do not light.
All pretty confusing to me. Any idea what the problem could be? Battery? Control panel? Solenoid?
Thanks for any incite you can provide.
