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AC Electric *** Need Help ***

Yahoo Message Number: 112792
On a cross-country trip, we hooked up power at a Nebraska Campground. I then heard some nasty noises coming from the area by the inverter (by the shower). The inverter panel said FET (overcharge?). I called a mobile RV repair service who said the inverter had shorted out (3 yr old magnum), would not reset, and had to be replaced. It was 9 pm Saturday nite and he bypassed the inverter with the warning I just wouldn't have 110 on the road. I basically found out that driving charged the house batteries and being plugged in to 110 would discharge the batteries with any 12v on. Once they died I no longer had 12v meaning no furnace in the cold Michigan nights. We are visiting in the Kalamazoo area and letting the rig run for 30-60 minutes to charge up the batteries. Am I risking my life doing this until I find an RV service that I can trust. My agenda after Kalamazoo is Indy and then back to southern ca.

Re: AC Electric *** Need Help ***

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 112797
Dear dbhsjj,

Have you already contacted Holland Bus in Holland, Mi?  They're only about 50 miles from you. If so, why do you feel they can't be trusted?

Dave Trotter
01 Intrigue 11215

Re: AC Electric *** Need Help ***

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 112802
Somebody in this group knows a dealer in GR or HOLLAND. Do not go to Indy and hire Master Tech RV you will pay through the nose + your first born.
2006 Magna 6622
Gary Glenn
ServiceMaster by A-Town / Hi-Tech
325-665-4993

Re: AC Electric *** Need Help ***

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 112806
Hook up a quality battery charger to your house batteries while plugged into 110V. This will keep the house batteries charged until you can get the inverter repaired/replaced.

Fred Compton
Former Magna owner

Re: AC Electric *** Need Help ***

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 112810
By taking the inverter off line you also took your battery charger out, as you've found out by the batteries going dead. My first recommendation is to go get a decent battery charger (I recommend a NOCO G26000) and hook them up to the house batteries. The next thing is either send your Inverter to an authorized Magnum repair facility (such as myself) and get the FET board replaced. OR if your somewhat handy and somewhat mechanical you could just take a chance and buy a FET board and replace it yourself. It's not difficult and takes me less than ½ hour to replace & bench test. The downside is you'll have no warranty if you go that route replacing it yourself. Other option is to pony up and buy a new inverter with the plus side being you'll have a new inverter with a full factory warranty from Magnum. You said your inverter is 3 years old? What's the invoice date? If it's less than 3 years it's still under warranty. Feel free to get ahold of me, I repair, service & sell all magnum products.

But first, get a battery charger ASAP. Just running the coach for 30-60 minutes is only going to ruin your batteries and then you'll be faced with not only having to get the inverter cost but also the batteries cost.

Jim Lewis
Infinity Coach

(253) 891-0879

Re: AC Electric *** Need Help ***

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 112816
if you run the generator while you drive down the road, and plug an ac batterie charger into the AC, Why would that not work? Buy a set of thick gauge battier jump cables, and put on side on the drive battery, and one side to the house batteries ...

Bob
03 Allure 3 slide tag #30814

On Thursday, October 19, 2017 1:00 PM, "Jim Lewis jim@... [Country-Coach-Owners]"  wrote:

Re: AC Electric *** Need Help ***

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 112826
Well, when you go down the road with generator on.. Guess what, your batteries are charging. with your on board AC charger. As far as jumper cables, I said thick ones, not cheap walmart cables.. Your 2 or 4 house batteries are ran in series (they are connected with a cable and act as one) That is the same thing you are doing with your drive battery by using (Thick Jumper Cables) you are just adding one more battery to your series, and your ALT will charge all batteries. . Be careful, once you add all batteries in series, Just like any charge will charge all batteries, any draw will drain all batteries..

Bob

On Thursday, October 19, 2017 8:06 PM, "brian morrow bhmmorrow@... [Country-Coach-Owners]"  wrote:

Re: AC Electric *** Need Help ***

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 112828
I've seen too many accidents like this personally where the jumper cables can bounce off it and cuz our king and a fire when you're driving down the road if you have your generator running your inverter charger is charging your house batteries and your alternator is charging your engine battery so why the hell do you need to do this it's just an accident waiting to happen. I installed s High amperage combiner switch that I leave on all the time unless I'm dry camping. As a result all my banks are being charged at the same time no matter what the source. If I dry Camp I just turn the switch off and separate the banks. You would need at least an 0+4 cable between the two banks to make sense and not over amp One bank or the other

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

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Re: AC Electric *** Need Help ***

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 112830
You missed the point that the inverter is broke and disconnected.

That said I agree driving with cables on is a king for trouble.

While driving the engine should charge. While parked use a small battery charger.

Everything