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Testing an Echo Charger

Yahoo Message Number: 55665
Does anyone know of a way to test an echo changer? I have searched and found lots of info on use and wiring, but not on actually testing the charger itself. Both in-line fuses are good. The charger light glows steady green and ground connection is good. The input wire (red) is connected to the house side of the alternator solenoid and reads 13.7 volts which is voltage my inveter/charger is putting into the house batteries. The output side of the Echo charger (red/strip) is connected to the chassis side of the solenoid and reads 12.3 volts which is the current state of the chassis battery. My understanding is whenever the input voltage is greater than 13 volts the Echo charger should be on and will pass charge on to chassis battery. So the output should read 13.7 volts. Even if the inverter/charger is bulk charging the house batteries at 14.5 volts the echo charger still reads 0 volts on the output wire. Any ideas?

Dave 07 Inspire 52060

Re: Testing an Echo Charger

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55666
Dave... I copied the below "frequently asked question" from the CC webpage... In his answer, James makes suggestions for testing...

buck

k7wn '99Magna#5653
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Frequently Asked Questions

by James Jordan, Country Coach Service Technical Resources Manager

Q   I have a question about the LED indicator on the Xantrex Echo-charger. Sometimes the green LED is flashing and sometimes it's on solid. I never have any trouble with my batteries but I'd like to know what that green light means.
A   The green light is used to display the voltage conditions on the two battery banks. When the light is on solid it means two things; the domestic battery bank voltage is somewhere between 13.0 & 17.0 VDC, and that the difference between the domestic and chassis banks is not greater than 10 volts. If both conditions aren't met, the light will flash. The echo-charger will only provide a charge current to the chassis battery bank when both conditions are met; the amount of charge current available will depend on the difference in voltage between the two banks with the maximum amount produced when the difference is approximately 1.5 VDC. To verify that the charger is working properly I would suggest using a DC amp clamp on the red/yellow wire to measure the output current. The manual for the echo-charger has a graph indicating how much current one can expect for a given voltage difference between the two banks.
If a coach is plugged in to shore power, or the generator is running, and the inverter is charging the domestic bank, one would normally expect to see a solid green light. Similarly, if the coach engine is running the light is normally on solid. If the light is flashing during either of these two situations I would first suspect the fuse or output wiring (red/yellow wire) that connects to the chassis bank. No green light at all would indicate a problem with the fuse or input wiring (red wire) connected to the domestic bank. A red LED indicates that the unit has shutdown due to overheating.
* As published in the WINTER 2008 issue of Country Coach Destinations --------------

Re: Testing an Echo Charger

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55668
Dave,

I had a similar problem over 1 year ago. You will need to trace the positive, from the echo charger, wire to the booster solenoid (use the wire number). My solenoid was located close to my chassis battery. I found an inline fuse holder, connecting the positive to: (1) the wrong side of the solenoid, (2) no fuse in the holder.

Once you locate the numbered wire close to the booster solenoid it is easy to test with a voltage meeter. You will also be able to tell which side the positive should be on by measuring the voltage on the two posts of the solenoid. The higher volts will be the house battery side and the lower reading will be the same reading as you chassis batteries.

Once I corrected the problems listed above, the chassis battery charged while plugged into shore power. And the tech at Beaudry Rv told me "everything was charging just fine".

I hope that this helps.

Dan Nigro

08 45' Intrigue 12233

Re: Testing an Echo Charger

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55687
I believe that you are describing a failed echo charger. Your system has met the requirements for output on the red/black wire. It is not there. The EC thinks it is there(green light). The device is dead.

Good luck.

George in Birmingham
'04 Allure 31038
George in Birmingham
2003 Magna 6298

Re: Testing an Echo Charger

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55693
if you are in AZ Chris Snyder will come to you anywhere in AZ he is great, knows his stuff. I only use him in AZ and I will hold off having thing done just to have him do it because I know it will be done right.

Chris Snyder 520-665-1014 E-mail chrissnyder04@...
Al 03 Magna

Re: Testing an Echo Charger

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55697
Dave,

You might also check to make sure the two red leads from the echo charger aren't reversed. I had similar symptoms and found out CC had installed the leads backwards; the echo charger was charging the house batteries when the chassis battery was charging instead of vice versa. If this is your problem, it can be detected and corrected by disconnecting both fuse holders and swapping the wire connections. You'll then see the chassis battery voltage begin increasing.
--

Tom Harsch 2002 Allure #30791

Re: Testing an Echo Charger

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55702
Thanks for all the response. Looks like my only choice is to replace the unit.

Dave 07 Inspire 52060

Re: Testing an Echo Charger

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55705
Dave, one more thing to test before you replace the Echo Charger. The last time ours seemed dead, Chris Snyder checked the connection from the output of the EchoCharger to the chassis battery and found that the wire was broken due to being tie-wrapped to tight to the frame. He checked the wire by removing the fuse from the output side of the EchoCharger and then checking the voltage from the battery side of the fuse holder to ground. In our case, no voltage. He replaced the wire and problem solved.

Bob Stephens

'05 Intrigue 1872