Forum Discussion

C350amg's avatar
C350amg
Explorer
Jan 20, 2014

House battery switch

My coach is stored for the winter here around montreal canada, it is equipped with 2 12 volts house batteries and a 3rd for the engine.
It also has an electric cut off switch to turn off the house portion.

During the winter every 3 weeks i go to the rv to check everything and also charge the batteries with the generator.

This am i walked in and could not turn on the house switch, current would not flow.

My house batteries were fully charged 3 weeks ago and i know we just went through extreme cold. Anyhow i tried the generator being sure that it would not crank but it did and started.

30 seconds after starting the house switch turned on (it has a red light when it is on). Then all the current came back.

The generator ran for 15 minutes and when i turned it off the house switch went also dead. Turn the generator back on and switch also is back. I have checked the house batteries indicator and it says fully charged? Turn the generator off again andvthe switch died again.

Ideas?

If my batteries were dead how come the generator started? Is it connected to the engine battery?
Class A
  • olfarmer's avatar
    olfarmer
    Explorer II
    Jan 20, 2014
    I have had 3 MHs with a generator, a class C and 2 class A. On all 3 of them the generator started off from the engine battery. Then the converter would charge the coach batteries. I don't know why the switch doesn't work if the batteries are fully charged unless you have a bad connection or dirty cables. It sure sounds like no current is getting to the disconnect switch until you start the generator and the converter is supplying the current.
  • C350amg's avatar
    C350amg
    Explorer
    Jan 20, 2014
    That would explain why the generator started.

    I will have to go check under the hood what is wrong with the switch or the batteries and unfortunately this will have to wait because my MH is under a cover for the winter.

    I am not sure the battery gage is able to give a proper reading when the generator is running. Knowing that when the generator is running the batteries are receiving current not pushing due to the higher voltage output of a charging system.
  • C350amg's avatar
    C350amg
    Explorer
    Jan 20, 2014
    we were at a solid -30 celcius for close to a week so I would not be surprised that the house batteries went dead, the previous owner had the MH in Florida all the times and they are probably old enough to go bad.

    The engine battery I changed myself prior to the winter with a deepwinter battery.
  • olfarmer's avatar
    olfarmer
    Explorer II
    Jan 21, 2014
    It sounds like the problem is that those coach batteries are dead, possibly even frozen at that temp. If the generator is running your battery gauge will be showing what the converter is putting out not what the batteries have for voltage. The best time to check the batteries is without the generator running and the coach not plugged in to 120 volts.
  • C350amg's avatar
    C350amg
    Explorer
    Jan 21, 2014
    unfortunately for me, I think you are right.

    Batteries are probably gone, and today it's back to a -24 celcius.

    ;-(
  • olfarmer's avatar
    olfarmer
    Explorer II
    Jan 23, 2014
    I feel your pain, we had -10 F. here last night with -25 F. wind chills. We were going to take off for Texas next month but wife broke her hip last Friday so that trip is cancelled for this year. We'll just all have to stay indoors and wait for warm weather.
  • C350amg's avatar
    C350amg
    Explorer
    Jan 27, 2014
    Good new on the battery front.

    Went back to the RV this Sunday with my tools including a multi-meter, temperature was -18celcius.

    House battery both show a 12.52 volts (does say they are fully charge only that there is current).

    Started the generator, house batteries still show 12.52 but when measuring on the other side of the electronic house switch I have 13.7 volts. This says to me that the house switch is not letting the current flow.

    I saw 2 small fuses and I replaced both with spares ones that I had and "eureka!" house batteries show 13.7V

    Conclusion defective fuses on house switch. I have decided to replace the whole switch because it has been there under the hood for 16 years, and thanks to internet the search for the part was very rapid. It's an Intellitec 01-00055-00.
  • C350amg's avatar
    C350amg
    Explorer
    Jan 27, 2014
    Here is the picture of the broken part and fuses position.



    Replacement part:

  • JC2's avatar
    JC2
    Explorer
    Jan 27, 2014
    You gotta love it when everything comes together at a reasonable cost. Good job!:B
  • olfarmer's avatar
    olfarmer
    Explorer II
    Jan 27, 2014
    Glad to hear that you got it fixed. At least you don't need batteries like I thought! :-)

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