What voltage does your generator put out?

[glamisorbust]

I am out camping with my class A for the weekend. I have two 6 volt golf cart batteries for the house. The voltage at the battery when the generator is running is around 12.5V. Should it be around 13.5-14V? I am thinking the charger has a low output problem. With a volt meter, how many volts is your generator charging your house batteries? Anybody bad this exact problem?

[wilco]

You may well be right about the convertor, but it can't hurt to check. A one-finger push of a popped C/B or a two-finger reseat of a bad plugin is waaaay cheaper than a new box.

[glamisorbust]

I just got home this evening. I haven't plugged it in just yet to check what the voltage is on shore power. It shouldn't matter, because the converter is plugged directly into a 110 volt outlet right by the output plug for the generator. I am 99% sure the converter is faulty.

[wilco]

glamisorbust wrote:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PROGRESSIVE-DYNAMICS-PD9260C-12-VOLT-60-AMP-CONVERTER-CHARGER-WIZARD-RV-NEW-/151066794943?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item232c485bbf

Here's the one i'm gonna pull the trigger on.

A couple more questions before you dash out and buy a new convertor.

Do you know what make/model you have now? Does it perhaps have a fuse or circuit breaker that's tripped?

Is the voltage at the batteries the same (12.xV) when it's plugged in as when the gen is running? If it charges when plugged in, it may be a connection/fuse problem between the gen and the convertor.

The voltage at the batteries should be between about 13.x to 14.x when any of the three possible charging sources is operating.

If it does turn out to be a bad convertor, the one mentioned above always seems to get good reviews.

[glamisorbust]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PROGRESSIVE-DYNAMICS-PD9260C-12-VOLT-60-AMP-CONVERTER-CHARGER-WIZARD-RV-NEW-/151066794943?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item232c485bbf

Here's the one i'm gonna pull the trigger on.

[glamisorbust]

wny_pat wrote:

glamisorbust wrote:
Thanks for the help guys. Looks like I will be digging into it further.

Which charge cycle is your converter/charger on? Depending on make and model, it could be any of 4 different voltages.

I have no idea what charge cycle it's on, or what that means. Electricity is not my specialty. Looks like there are no adjustments on the unit, I think it just needs to be replaced.

[garry1p]

X2 on Peg Leg suggestion the PD 9260 is a very good unit and that is a very good price.

[wny_pat1]

glamisorbust wrote:
Thanks for the help guys. Looks like I will be digging into it further.

Which charge cycle is your converter/charger on? Depending on make and model, it could be any of 4 different voltages.

[John_Wayne]

Let your batts. run down a little then run the generator and see if it takes a bigger charge i.e.. 13 volts and above. It could be that your batts. are topped off and don't need to be charged.

[Peg_Leg]

I just replaced mine with a Progressive Dynamics PD9260. Great unit and simple install.

http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/Inteli_Power_Converter_PD9260_p/vts-330.htm

The Charge Wizard pendant was included. Does a great job.

[dougrainer]

RV Gensets do NOT have 12 volt chargers. They only supply 120 output and the RV relies on either a Power Converter or a Inverter/Charger to charge and supply 12 volts to the RV AND the Genset. Most gensets require 12 volt supply to stay running. Doug

[glamisorbust]

I measured the voltage coming right out of the charger with the genny running. It is right at 12.5V, time for a new charger. Any recommendations on what model is a good one? It has a 50 amp model in it now, and I was thinking of bumping it up to a 75 amp. This RV was only designed for 1 battery for the house, and now I am running two 6 volt golf cart batteries. I found a ton of them on ebay for between $100-$150, that might be the hot ticket.

[glamisorbust]

Thanks for the help guys. Looks like I will be digging into it further.

[hmknightnc]

I'm little confused on your terminolgy so. Your generator provides 110 volt AC power to the coach (exactly the same as plugging to shore power). That 110 volt AC power then runs your converter that charges the battery. I assume you are asking questions about your converter and not generator.

Battery voltage at 12.5 with the converter operating is a problem. Assumming you don't have a wiring or connection problem your converter should be applying somewhere between 13.6 and 14.4 volts to the battery depending on the converter and battery condition. Check your wiring and if that is ok, make sure the converter has 110volt power to it and then check the output of the DC at the converter to see if you have right voltage.

If the converter has 110 volts applied and is not putting out correct DC it is probably gone or you have fuse blown

[garry1p]

Should be the same as on shore power 13 to 14.5 VDC.