Batteries only charge from shore power

[Falcon]

Thanks for such a thorough reply! You really put a lot of thought into it. Converter CB, check. Can't find converter polarity fuses. I don't know where to check output voltage at the converter. Disconnect switch is on. Large CBs check good. Battery cables look really good, and I hate corroded cables. They wouldn't charge before and they wouldn't last when they were charged up on shore power so I just put in new batteries. Problem is the same before and after so I don't think the batteries were the problem. Very good trouble shooting process though, thank you so much for that!

[AZ Traveler]

Originally Posted by Falcon

Thanks for such a thorough reply! You really put a lot of thought into it. Converter CB, check. Can't find converter polarity fuses. I don't know where to check output voltage at the converter. Disconnect switch is on. Large CBs check good. Battery cables look really good, and I hate corroded cables. They wouldn't charge before and they wouldn't last when they were charged up on shore power so I just put in new batteries. Problem is the same before and after so I don't think the batteries were the problem. Very good trouble shooting process though, thank you so much for that!

Pat,

The easiest way to check if the converter is charging is to check battery voltage. You will see over 13v if it is charging and 12.5v or less if not. The best way is to use a voltmeter hooked to the batteries. Check it both on shore power and your generator.

[Carl n Susan]

Originally Posted by Falcon

.... Can't find converter polarity fuses. I don't know where to check output voltage at the converter....

You probably have a Progressive Dynamics Power Center. It has the 12V fuses, 120V Circuit Breakers and the converter built into one unit.




The converter portion parts you are looking for are in the lower right hand corner (assuming the old world's craftsman installed it normally). There are four 25 amp Buss fuses incorporated into the reverse polarity circuitry. The 12V charge lines are just left of the reverse polarity fuses.





But you write the battery charges fine on Shore Power (lets ignore the truck charging issue for a bit). That tells me the converter is working fine. Assuming you use the same 120V power input connection for both shore power and generator power, then the same internal coach electrical system is used for both charging methods. The difference has to be the generator or the power cord/adapters you are using when connected to the generator.

Do you use your 50 amp cord for shore power and generator power (with a 30 amp adapter)? Or do you use a different power cord when using the generator? The problem has to lie outside the coach's wiring system. The question is where (generator, adapter, or cord).

Truck charging has different circuitry form the coach charging system. You get 12V from the 7-pin plug on the truck. It goes up through the umbilical cable to the pin box and then directly wired to the battery. Check pin #4 on the truck receptacle to ensure 12V is coming from the truck. You could also pull the cover on the junction box located on the pin box and check for the voltage of the 12V charge line there.