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dad4papa2's avatar
dad4papa2
Explorer
Jun 22, 2023

Xantrex AC to DC #XADC-60 Converter Issue!

1996 Damon Intruder, 460 Engine-ford Chassis -34.5 ft

My Converter fan seems to have started running all the time and won't shut off. It was installed 5/12/09.
What I have found up to now.
When I plug into shore power it comes on and puts 14.26 volt to the batteries. It seems to continue at 14.26 volts while plugged in.
When I unplug the shore power and leave the house batteries connected it will slowly drain the batteries down until they are dead.
Now I have plugged back in to shore power and the batteries start charging again at around 14.26 v.
Now as a test I unplug the shore power and remove the positive and negative battery cable and the batteries will drop to around 12.7v and stay there.
I think this is indicating a short somewhere but not sure.
Where do I start with this project of getting it going again???
Thanks so much in advance for any help. Dennis
  • opnspaces's avatar
    opnspaces
    Navigator II
    Aug 26, 2023
    That's a huge load as in I would think the positive and negative wires would be red hot.

    It really sounds like a battery with a dead cell. I know you had them tested as good but battery cells are about 2.1 volts each. So a dead cell will bring a battery down to 10 volts.

    Assuming the batteries are good try this. Plug the shore power in and charge the batteries up. Then take a picture of the fuse block on the converter and pull all the fuses out. Check battery voltage after 10 minutes. If it's still around 12.7 (fully charged is 12.65 to 12.7) start adding fuses back into the system and checking the voltage after 10 minutes. Eventually you should find the fuse that is causing the drop.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Aug 26, 2023
    12.8 to 10.6 in 5 minutes is close to 50+ amp load. This not a small load if the batteries are actually in good shape.

    A DC clamp-on ammeter would tell the story immediately.
  • dad4papa2's avatar
    dad4papa2
    Explorer
    Aug 25, 2023
    Well so sorry this has taken this much time. I had a little illness and had to set this aside. Took the house batteries down and had them tested. They both show good strong batteries. I will do the test by pulling fuses to see if I can find the issue. When I pull the shore power off it goes from 12.8v to 10.6v within the first five minutes so I think it is a bad short for sure. Everything in the motorhome seems to be working fine but I haven't tried the furnace yet.(to to hot to get it to turn on) More to come later as I do the fuse test! Thanks Dennis
  • dad4papa2's avatar
    dad4papa2
    Explorer
    Jun 24, 2023
    Well I am still testing but I think I have found the culprit. My Chassis battery is 4 years old and doesn't seem to want to take a charge. Been on charger for about 3 hours and on at 9.65 Volts. Will know more soon!!! Good part is that they are 5 year free replacement!!!!!
    Dad
  • dad4papa2's avatar
    dad4papa2
    Explorer
    Jun 23, 2023
    Thanks everyone for your input. I will pull batteries and have them tested.
    If the batteries are bad I will replace them both. If they test good I will go through the whole process from start to finish and post results.

    Thanks again for the input.

    I did unplug shore power last night at 5 pm and batteries were showing at 12.7v.

    Today a 1:00 pm they are still at 12.67.

    The only time the fans quits running is when I unhook from shore power.
    Thanks much-Batteries will go to shop to be tested.
    Thanks Dennis
  • opnspaces's avatar
    opnspaces
    Navigator II
    Jun 23, 2023
    How long does it take the batteries to go dead when you unplug shore power but leave the batteries hooked up?

    How long does the battery stay at 12.7 volts when disconnected? Did you wait 4 hours or 4 days?
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Jun 23, 2023
    To me it sounds like a bad battery. Shorted battery actually.

    Converter stays in boost as it cannot really charge fully and see the amps taker off. Then the shorted battery wants to rest at 10 volts due to a lost cell.

    Get the batteries out and have them checked. Converter should run normal with no battery.
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Jun 22, 2023
    Most RVs have draws that cannot be turned off like smoke detectors. How long is "slowly"?

    Load check the batteries to determine they are OK. You can pull fuses to isolate the drain. Quicker to use an inline ammeter to isolate circuit draws, but time consuming.

    Today one buys, begs, borrows or steals (not really) a clamp on ammeter. It simply clamps on a wire to display the amps. Be sure to use one that measures DC amps.

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