HELP CLASS B SHORE POWER ISSUE 220/110

[landlordy]

I'm sick over this. I just got a 1997 born free 4x4 class b and I camped the first night and shore power worked perfect. I brought it home and found my shed actually had a 30amp plug so i plugged in so i could use the ac while i worked on it but noticed it didnt move to "ac connected". Long story short it was a 220 in my shed from the former owner having a welder. I unplugged and converted the plug to a proper 110 30amp and it still does not go to "ac connected", however everything else still works (lights, outlets, microwave, tv) on dc. I flipped the main breakers and it didnt work. So it doesnt seem I fried everthing but it does seem like I fried something. My first rv (upgrade from van) and ive owned it for about 3 days im so bummed. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[landlordy]

Just wanted to update this thread too that I won the auction on the freedom 20 for $107 and it has been shipped. Im praying that it fixes my issues and i get away w this tough learning experience relatively cheap!

[MEXICOWANDERER]

An underworked inverter will last longer. As Mr Wizard suggested make sure your fuse protection devices are for 1,000 watt maximum.

[MrWizard]

Fuse it for the 1000 watt inverter power
And you will be okay
You won't be able to use the Max 2000 Watts inverter power
But i don't think that is crucial in your situation

[landlordy]

Hey guys I have pretty much reached a dead end at the diagnosing and fixing it myself. I am also getting no help from either mobile repair guy in town. Contractors in this town are some of the most unreliable I have ever seen anywhere. I'm looking to win the auction on ebay on the freedom 20 and just do a swap, as I think this will be the easiest and most cost effective fix and I can do it myself. It is set up exactly the same and performs all the same functions and even uses the same control panel. My question for you guys is is it ok to upgrade the watts from 1000 to 2000 because that is literally the only difference in the 2 units. Even the wire size is the same. thanks

[MrWizard]

NOT the board with the heavy parts bolted to it and the heat sinking
running on memory but i think the main power board is along the right side that does the inverting, the control circuits might be ON the boards the relays plug into

[landlordy]

By control circuit do you mean the main board along the right side inside the unit?

[MrWizard]

the relays are DC voltage coils, dc voltage control circuit

since the unit is NOT charging, NOT operating

the only way to test the relays is to remove then, and use a DC source applied to the (2) terminals that are the coil leads
the relays should be marked, they are most likely 12v control

i think you will find they are OK
I think you fried the control circuit, evven if you can't see or smell the damage

[landlordy]

ooops forgot the link
http://www.bdub.net/manuals/Heart_Freedom_10.pdf

[landlordy]

Mr Wizard I know its amazing I have the original owners manual that came w the rig in paperback and it matches your link. Someone in the born free attached this other one that has a lot more information and troubleshooting about the unit. Here is the link and you will see on pg 24 info about the relays. I have found the 3 relays for sure I just dont know how to test them. Can they be tested while mounted or do they have to be pulled and if they have to be pulled do you just pull em off the board?

[MrWizard]

which manual, what link
the one i posted, the one i'm looking at says nothing about the relays
page 24 on this one is all battery battery wiring and installation

[landlordy]

Also someone mentioned someone in arizona that repairs these units can you add contact info please?

[landlordy]

I found on page 24 of the owners manual a description of the 3 transfer relays inside the freedom 10. They are mounted as you said to a vertical board but on the front right side of the unit. I can tell the 30amp push breaker goes right over there too. That board is the one w the tiny fuses that are still in tact. If this was as disastrous as it seems then those little fuses must be the toughest ones ever built lol. How can i test these relays? Do they need power to be tested?

[MrWizard]

landlordy

i haven't looked inside mine in several years,(not working,but stored in the rv)

i did not say left of breakers, i said left of center 'line' {aka left side}
i burnt the board where the relay connects on mine
and it was carrying less than 20 amps
the relay is NOT 30amp rated, even though there is a 30amp input breaker

30amps 120v = 3600va, the inverter/charge breaker is only 12amps on mine
running a 13k a/c in hot weather would be enough to burn out the pass thru relay on mine, i did it using an auxiliary battery charger plugged into that circuit

which is why this whole install is questionable, A/C plus battery charge = burned out relay or at least tripping the 12amp max load circuit breaker

Freedom series owners manual

page 7 explains that even with the master switch off
the unit will pass thru 120v input power and CHARGE the batteries

that switch only functions to control 'invert mode' and as a reset in case of overload/battery load etc .reset is needed

the manual has some testing procedures
and the installation instructions
and explanation of working process

if you have 110v inside then the relay contacts are still good
but your batteries are low
so you took out the charge section or at least the control section
you need to charge those batteries

[landlordy]

landlordy, I looked at the manual for your unit. It appears you have a remote control panel. The manual says in this case that the power switch on the unit should be left off in this case. I presume the remote control panel somehow overrides the switch on the unit.

I am beginning to wonder if it is only the remote control mechanism which has a problem. What happens if you put the switch on the inverter/charger itself to the on position? You may have to somehow disconnect or disable the remote control panel input from this to have any effect. With luck, if this works, you would only have to replace the remote control panel.