Country Coach Owners Forum

Country Coach Restoration, Repair & Parts Forums => Country Coach Archive => Topic started by: Billh378 on September 03, 2015, 09:59:37 pm

Title: Battery/Inverter Problem
Post by: Billh378 on September 03, 2015, 09:59:37 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 102670 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/102670)
2004 Intrigue 11826

Left on a trip 3 weeks ago and the error light and alarm light went off on our Zantrex RV 2012 panel.
I turned it off for about an hour.  Need Inverter for Samsung refrigerator .  Tuned it back on and everything seemed to work properly.  Coach plunged in at our campsite for 2 weeks.
This morning after unplugging from power .  I tried to start engine and it would barely turn over.  Used boost and couch barely turned over.  Started generator and after a few minutes the engine turned over and started.  Drove it 500 miles today.  Did not shut engine off.
Twice stopped and engine idling the error light would come on.  Cut inverter off  and turn it back on and no error light driving.  Stopped for the night and I checked all the batteries with and amp meter and all had 12.8 volts in them before I plugged coach in.

Have not had the batteries load checked.

Any Ideas?

Thanks in advance 
Bill
Title: Re: Battery/Inverter Problem
Post by: Bobrobertross on September 04, 2015, 05:56:02 am
Yahoo Message Number: 102675 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/102675)
Hi,

There is a few things that puzzles me.  1st, your coach didn't start.  That should have nothing to do with your house batteries.  I think someone may have jumped the Chassis battery into the house batteries.  You should never run down your house battery.
You have 2 problems

The (boost button) simply puts the chassis battery in line with the house battery.  It like putting jumper cables from the chassis battery, to the house batteries.  In your case you are trying to jump start a dead battery, with a dead battery.

1 Problem, you need to keep chassis battery isolated only to chassis, you need not to get stranded if you ever have,  or should I say when you have, a house battery /inverter problem.  This way you can always drive away, and always have boost power for either chassis or generator.

2nd problem,  run down house batteries.  When the alarm went off, did you check voltage on the batteries?  if voltage was good, you have more then likely a bad ground connection.  Might have to clean, or tighten it up.  If the batteries are run down, the questions is, was it the battery or the draw.
I think from what you say, the chassis battery was dead as well as the house,  I feel I would be looking at the Ground, as it did not come out of the factory with all batteries in line, so I do not know what they did with the ground.  If ground is good, (on the frame.  Make sure wire brushed and tight)  I would look for the draw.
Where are you located? 
Bob
Title: Re: Battery/Inverter Problem
Post by: BillH on September 04, 2015, 07:38:48 am
Yahoo Message Number: 102676 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/102676)
Thanks Bob.

I am located in Texas.  About 500 miles from home.  Will see how it performs today and check and clean all

grounds when I get home. 
Bill
Title: Re: Battery/Inverter Problem
Post by: richoliveria on September 04, 2015, 10:52:37 am
Yahoo Message Number: 102681 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/102681)
Just went through a similar situation with our Monaco.  Happened 4 or 5 times and the coach battery always tested over 13V.  Would always start with the boost from coach batteries.  Last time I went out and cleaned the posts on the 8D starting battery and came back in and no start so I hit the Aug Start switch and BAM blew the top of that big 8D. Acid went everywhere. Ours probably had a short IN the battery.  So be careful.

Rich O.

02' Windsor.
Title: Re: Battery/Inverter Problem
Post by: Bill Harris on September 04, 2015, 11:02:15 am
Yahoo Message Number: 102682 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/102682)
After being plugged in all night, coach would not turn over fast enough to start.  Checked starting battery voltage 11.2.  House batteries  13.2 volts.  Use boost to start coach.

Looks like starting battery bad.

Thanks 
Bill
Title: Re: Battery/Inverter Problem
Post by: Robert Ross on September 04, 2015, 02:19:38 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 102687 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/102687)
If your information is right, then yes start battery for sure.
I would still see if start battery is inline with house.  It could be when the inverter drain the batteries, that is when you start battery died and could make it back.
I would keep start battery by itself.
Glad to hear you got it... 
Bob
Title: Re: Battery/Inverter Problem
Post by: Jay Williams on September 04, 2015, 02:30:10 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 102688 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/102688)
Have you confirmed that your Echo Charger is functioning correctly? Did you try connecting an external battery charger to the chassis battery?

Jay

05 Inspire 51457

From: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com] Sent: Friday, September 04, 2015 11:00 AM To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Battery/Inverter Problem

After being plugged in all night, coach would not turn over fast enough to start.  Checked

starting battery voltage 11.2.  House batteries  13.2 volts.  Use boost to start coach.

Looks like starting battery bad.

Thanks     
Bill
Title: Re: Battery/Inverter Problem
Post by: Jr45455 on September 04, 2015, 03:00:52 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 102691 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/102691)
Bill

When I got my coach the echo charge was bad, it sat at home for about a week or so went to start and all it did was click. I did some checking and everyone said to install the Magnum combiner, works great, I also use a volt meter in the power port to see what my chassis battery reads all the time when setting, never caught of guard again.
Floyd  2006 Inspire 51744

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MAGNUM-ME-SBC-SMART-BATTERY-COMBINER-/271604006524?hash=item3f3cdc3e7c (http://www.ebay.com/itm/MAGNUM-ME-SBC-SMART-BATTERY-COMBINER-/271604006524?hash=item3f3cdc3e7c)

voltmeter

http://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3721-Battery-Charging-Monitor/dp/B000EVWDU0/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1441393079&sr=8-19&keywords=voltmeter+gauge (http://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3721-Battery-Charging-Monitor/dp/B000EVWDU0/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1441393079&sr=8-19&keywords=voltmeter+gauge)
Title: Re: Battery/Inverter Problem
Post by: overbeckmichael on September 04, 2015, 04:36:03 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 102698 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/102698)
Bill

When I got my coach the echo charge was bad, it sat at home for about a week or so went to start and all it did was click. I did some checking and everyone said to install the Magnum combiner, works great, I also use a volt meter in the power port to see what my chassis battery reads all the time when setting, never caught of guard again.

Floyd  2006 Inspire 51744

Magnum Me SBC Smart Battery Combiner | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/MAGNUM-ME-SBC-SMART-BATTERY-COMBINER-/271604006524?hash=item3f3cdc3e7c)

voltmeter
Amazon.com: INNOVA 3721 Battery and Charging System Monitor: Automotive (http://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3721-Battery-Charging-Monitor/dp/B000EVWDU0/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1441393079&sr=8-19&keywords=voltmeter+gauge)
Title: Re: Battery/Inverter Problem
Post by: Travman100_4 on September 04, 2015, 07:43:23 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 102701 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/102701)
Have you checked the terminals on the battery to insure they are corrosion free?

Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040