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No inside power after connection to shore power

Yahoo Message Number: 95183
I have moved our 2000 Allure out of storage to a campground. Hooked up to 50 amp shore power and nothing working inside, such as frig, lights, generator, furnace, etc. On engine power all works fine, including generator. Power from pedestal is working. Checked electrical panel switches, voltage lights are on behind electrical panel inside rear of coach. Checked chassis and house switches which are on back in the electrical area behind the battery bay. Gfi switch was popped back in the bedroom near the bed but reset that. Batteries had all been removed and on trickle charger throughout winter and were replaced back in bay.

Anyone know of a bypass switch or something else to check to gain power? Have reviewed user manual and not finding other solution?
Diane, Dave's widow

aka Billy Byte (trusty hound)
2000 Allure #30443

Re: No inside power after connection to shore power

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 95185
We have a main disconnect switch on the left at the entrance door on our 2003 Allure. That shows a battery but kills almost everything.

2003 36' Allure 30900

Re: No inside power after connection to shore power

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 95190
Thanks Bryan, when you say "shows a battery" what do you mean?

Diane, Dave's widow

aka Billy Byte (trusty hound)
2000 Allure #30443

Re: No inside power after connection to shore power

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 95195
The rocker switch had t picture of a battery embossed on it. This rocker somehow works as the main disconnect and kills everything.

BVL

2003 36' Allure First Ave 30900

Re: No inside power after connection to shore power

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 95202
Hi Diane,

Have you checked the breakers on the inverter? My only other guess is a problem with the transfer switch. If you open the cabinet next to the breakers in the bedroom and smell something funny, that might be it. That's how we discovered the wires in our switch were fried.

Good luck,

Susie

2000 Allure 30531

Re: No inside power after connection to shore power

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 95203
Thanks Susie. I did look at the inverter panel back in the battery compartment and it looked good. Also in the cabinet above the bed where the high voltage panel is the lights are on and all looks good there. I am hugely missing Dave as he was an electrician and did "everything", realizing now I should have tapped into his knowledge more!
I'm hoping when I arrive there today that I will find a switch near the steps that needs to be activated???

Diane

aka Billy Byte (trusty hound)
2000 Allure #30443

Re: No inside power after connection to shore power

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 95242
Diane,

Given the amount of traffic on this subject I thought I would add my two cents.

Please read and answer the statements and questions below:

1. When hooked to shore power you have no 110v in the coach.
You have no 12v in the coach.

When connected to shore power or when not; Nothing inside the coach that requires electricity works.

2. The engine will start when hooked to shore power and when not.
Once the engine starts, the 12v lights and appliances come on.
The 110v appliances do or do not turn on???

3. The generator will start when connected to shore power and when not??? The genset will or will not start when the engine is running? When running, you do or do not have 110V and 12V?
4. The breakers leading to the inverter located above the house batteries, behind the steel cover are on?

The three red reset buttons on the inverter itself are not tripped?

5. There is no main battery auto disconnect switch on this coach located by the door.
But, there are two house and chassis battery disconnect switches located in or next to the battery bay that are turned on.

6. Have someone plug and unplug the 50 amp power cord while you listen to the 110V transfer switch, see If it makes a clicking sound.

7. If the generator will start, do all the 110v lights work with the shore power connected or disconnected?

Same question for the 12V lights and appliances?

Please get back to me when you get a chance to answer.

If you would like to contact me to ask questions feel free to call me at 956-592-8000.

Terry

08 Affinity 6837
Had a 98 Intrigue

Re: No inside power after connection to shore power

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 95246

1. When hooked to shore power you have no 110v in the coach. Incorrect, the microwave and back tv work. Currently don't have a tv in front (meaning the presence of).

You have no 12v in the coach. Correct When connected to shore power or when not; Nothing inside the coach that requires electricity works.

2. The engine will start when hooked to shore power and when not. Correct Once the engine starts, the 12v lights and appliances come on. Correct

The 110v appliances do or do not turn on??? They do

3. The generator will start when connected to shore power and when not??? Incorrect The genset will or will not start when the engine is running? It will

When running, you do or do not have 110V and 12V? Have both

4. The breakers leading to the inverter located above the house batteries, behind the steel cover are on? If you mean the buttons that would pop out they are flush with the wall, not popped out. The on/off switch there is off as I have a remote inverter control switch on the inside above the door.
 The three red reset buttons on the inverter itself are not tripped? They do not seem to be tripped. They do stick out further than the wall however I don't believe they are tripped as there is dust build up on the top of each one so I believe they are in their correct position. I had a man try to push them in and he could not.

5. There is no main battery auto disconnect switch on this coach located by the door. Correct, only 4 switches near the steps and they are the steps, porch light, and two overhead ceiling lights.
 But, there are two house and chassis battery disconnect switches located in or next to the battery bay that are turned on. Correct, these two switches are in the bay directly behind the battery bay on the front wall, both these switches are turned on.

6. Have someone plug and unplug the 50 amp power cord while you listen to the 110V transfer switch, see If it makes a clicking sound. Where would this switch be located so I can be near it. When I re-set the surge protector and watched the lights after 2.5 minutes I heard the clunk of the power start up and can hear a soft buzz like it is working.

7. If the generator will start, do all the 110v lights work with the shore power connected or disconnected?

Same question for the 12V lights and appliances? I will have to try that. Previously when the engine was off the generator would not start while plugged in. I can unplug shore power and try it.
I will be arriving the coach later this afternoon and can try more things.

Thanks for your help!

Diane

aka Billy Byte (trusty hound)
2000 Allure #30443

Re: No inside power after connection to shore power

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 95252
Diane try turning on the switch at the inverter as some models that is hard switch that overrides all other switching.

That said your problem sounds more like dead battery and not charging when plugged in or gen running. The engine charges the batteries or at least supplies 12 volts to the coach side.

So check water and voltage at batteries with a meter. Trace the positive cable to the inverter. Along the way you should find either a large fuse or circuit breaker 50-100 amp.

Re: No inside power after connection to shore power

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 95259
Diane,
1. Sounds like the 110 volt system works fine when plugged in as you have microwave and rear TV. -- Then the coach is getting 110v from shore power and the transfer switch must be working.

The 12v system is not working when plugged in but does with the generator on. The genset will not start unless the engine is on to give it 12V. -----

This tells me that the 12v house batteries are:
A. Depleted or are hooked up wrong.
In a previous email you stated the the batteries were hooked up in series, they should be hooked up in parallel in this instance.
B. The 12V main house disconnect has failled

2. When the engine starts on shore power or not indicates that the starting batteries are correctly connected and the starting main disconnect is functioning properly.
The 12V system is getting it's power from the engine in this instance.
The 110v is working indicating that the inverter is working properly.

3. The genset starts only when the engine is running tells me that the house batteries are depleted or not hooked up right (see above). When the engine is running it will supply enough power to the genset starter to turn it over.
In this case the genset is providing the 110V to the coach and the engine is providing the 12V as most of our coach's gensets do not have alternators on them. Try and see if you have 12V with the engine off and the genset running, this would confirm the battery statement above.

4. The inverter is apparently working because you have 110v when the genset is running and the coach is unplugged from shore power.
In this paragraph you stated that the inverter switch is turned off as you have a remote switch inside the coach. --- Let's try and turn this switch on, wild chance that it may be related to the problem.

5. No problem here.

6. It sounds like the transfer switch is working fine since you have a TV working and the microwave starts when you are hooked to shorepower. Additionally, when the genset starts when unhooked tells me that the transfer switch has switched to the genset as it should.
For your info, the transfer switch is usually located adjacent to the breaker box in the rear of the coach.

All of the above leads me to believe that the batteries were not reinstalled properly or the main House disconnect is not working. It is possible that the charging system is not charging properly, most likely that is not the case or the starting battery would have discharged over time.

I don't think that the surge protector is at fault, the inverter sounds fine, and the transfer switch works.

If in 1. the TV and the microwave worked but you did not have all the other 110V circuits working in the coach. I would think that
A. You where really getting the 110v from the inverter indicating that the batteries and the main disconnect where good. - This couldn't be the case because the Genset will not start without the engine on.
B. If the TV and Microwave are on one leg of the shorepower circuit but all others were
not would tell me that both legs of the shorepower we're not making it into the coach. It is remotely possible that thru time and vibration one of the incoming lugs connecting the shorepower to the transfer switch has loosened. This can be dangerous because heat is generated at the connection and results in a fire. It happens periodically with age and is increased if the coach is located in a coastal region close to saltwater.

You stated early in your posts that one of the GFIs in the coach were tripped. A GFI trips as a result of an imbalance or fault between the hot and neutral, this would happen if a lug worked loose or was corroded as well.

I know that I have given you a lot to think about, but we'll get to the bottom of this problem; that's what we do on this forum. We pull together!

Does anyone else have any bright ideas??

Terry

08 Affinity 6837

Re: No inside power after connection to shore power

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 95260
Terry on 4 the only thing proved to be working in the inverter is the transfer switch passes 110 through when supplied.

Since Diane states they have 13 volts at the batteries where they leave for coach they "should" be wired correctly. Getting 13 volts with 2 12v wired in series would be unusual not impossible but highly unlikely.

Sounds more and more like a break between battery a and coach. Possible bad ground from battery connection but more likely blown fuse or c/b in positive cable since 12 volt completely dead without engine running.

Diane if you monitor house battery voltage when you start the coach does it change? From what to what?

No inside power after connection to shore power

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 95262
ALLELUIA!!!!!! Prob solved!! My nephew who is an engineer and knows electric looked things over and discovered no juice to the house disconnect switch in back. Found a stray cable lying behind the house batteries that had not been connected! Praise God! Thanx SO much for all your help and suggestions. I know Dave referenced this site many times and I've learned a lot already as well!

Re: No inside power after connection to shore power

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 95264
Glory be! The problem is solved, congratulations.

To Ray & Cheryl, you are right I misspoke on #4, I meant to reference the transfer switch not the inverter.
I missed the reference to the 13V reading in the previous post as it would indicate the batteries were wired correctly rather than in series as stated.

Happy Trails, Diane

Terry

08 Affinity 6837
 

Re: No inside power after connection to shore power

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 95274
Diane,

There are only two things I can think of. 1) There should be a 250 or 300 amp fuse in between your inverter and the house battery bank. 2) Your house battery disconnect switch has malfunctioned.

Rich 2002 Magna