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electrical system..Motor home..keeps shutting..drain on the batteries

 
RANDALL's Avatar
  • Answered by:RANDALL
  • RVIA Certification
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Customer Question

WE are having a problem with out electrical system in our 2009 Essence Motor home. The inverter keeps shutting down and causing a drain on the batteries. We contacted our dealer and they said it was the inverter. We contacted Magnum and they said it was because we were running too much and causing it to shut down. Last night we had one heat pump on, a fire place, and hot water heater on and it shut down during the night. We have been able to run this much before. WE cannot run the microwave as it shuts it down. Can you give us some advice

 

Optional Information:
Year: 2009

Already Tried:
we reset the inverter and it works for a while.

Submitted: 360 days and 13 hours ago.
Category: RV
Value: $15
Status: CLOSED
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Expert:  RANDALL replied 360 days and 13 hours ago.

Hi: Thank you for coming to Just Answer with your question. My name is XXXXX XXXXX perhaps I can assist you with this issue.

Check the batteries. Have them load tested and checked for shorted cells and dirty cables. This needs to be done at least once a year. If you are pulling out too much power with out recharging the batteries it will shut the system down as that is a protection device to keep you from damaging equipment. Add some batteries or some solar panels if you want to run more on this system for longer hours without being plugged into shower power or running the generator. Battery power only works for just so long and then they have to be recharged from another power source. Please get back to me if you need more on this as all follow ups are included in our fee. R.J.

Customer replied 360 days and 12 hours ago.

We are plugged into a 50 amp plug in in a campground

Customer replied 360 days and 12 hours ago.

need more information

Customer replied 360 days and 12 hours ago.

We are plugged in and this is shutting down and inverting to batteries. It just shut down again. This is the third time since 4:00 am this morning.

Accepted Answer

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Expert:  RANDALL replied 360 days and 12 hours ago.

If you are plugged into a 50 amp service then be sure both legs are working on your power center first. Is there power to the cord? Then the current should pass through to your circuits. If the inverter is shutting down it may be damaged. When plugged into shore power it isn't supposed to be on except to charge the batteries. And when did you have those load tested last? R.J.RANDALL41028.6032035532

Expert TypeRVIA Certification
Category: RV
Pos. Feedback: 96.2 %
Accepts: 7766
Answered: 4/29/2012

Experience: RVDA/RVIA MASTER CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN WITH MANY YEARS EXPERIENCE

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Customer replied 360 days and 12 hours ago.

The panel was floating charging last night about 13.4 volts on magnum energy remote not it is show absorb charging 14.6 volts, 50 amps.

Customer replied 360 days and 12 hours ago.

We have 110 at each pole and the inverter charger is on lone leg.

Customer replied 360 days and 12 hours ago.

I accepted and did not mean to. We have 110 on each leg. the inverter clicks on when the system shuts down. It goes between float charging and bulk charging. Shows 14.4 volts and 44 amps when kicked back on.

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Expert:  RANDALL replied 360 days and 12 hours ago.

Not a problem..........it doesn't affect working on this.

That AC voltage is pretty low..............it should be up more like 120 VAC or so for good charging. Those DC voltages show the batteries are being charged properly. I suspect the batteries are bad and need replacing. If you have let them go dry they are going to be ruined. I would have them load tested and checked for shorted cells as soon as you can.
The inverter may be shutting down due to overheating the batteries and not due to the load you are using. Either one would shut that down. Try adding water to them if they are dry and it might get you by until you can get to a place to have them tested. Most places that sell batteries can do this for you. If you take them out be sure to mark the orientation in the tray and the cables well so you get them hooked up the same way. Easy to get this wrong if you don't. R.J.

Customer replied 360 days and 12 hours ago.

Thanks for your help, we will test the batteries.

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Expert:  RANDALL replied 360 days and 12 hours ago.

Good idea..........and don't scrimp on them if you need new ones. Sam's Club has some Duracell 6 VDC golf cart batteries for about $80 each last time I checked and they stand behind their product. Trojan are the best if you can find them. Kind of spendy, but last the longest. In any event you have to check the water every month. R.J.

 
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