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electric system problem

Yahoo Message Number: 11166
I got my 2000 Allure out of storage today. I always turn use the battery disconnects and usually the battery will be in the green or yellow on the Std CC gauge after 2-3 weeks of storage. This time when I checked the battery the gauge, was in the read and the generator would not turn over fast enough to start. The Engine battery started the Cummins and when I got home I plugged into AC.
The battery charged and soon the CC house battery gauge read in the green.
However, no LEDs would light up on my Freedom Remote control panel. An AC meter in a kitchen receptacle indicated about 120 volts. Later I unpluged the shore power and the receptacle stayed powered and the Microwave lights stayed on so I knew that the inverter was still on even tho the Freedom Remote didn't indicate that it was on.
I turned off the inverter at the bedroom curcuit panel, but it didn't turn off the inverter (the receptacle & Micro remained powered). I then turned off the main 50 power on the curcuit panel. Still AC house power stayed on. I turned off the House battery disconnect switch and still the AC house power stayed on.
Finally, I turned off the the on/off switch on the inverter and the house power shut off.

Any ideas of my problem?

Any idea why the Freedom Remote Control panel will not power up?
If I plug in the shorepower will the charger charge the batteries with the inverter off?
If I turn on the inverter with the Shorepower turned on can I cause damage to anything other than the inverter?

Thanks for any help
Dick

2000 Allure 30592

Re: electric system problem

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11170
Dick, the first easy answer is why the inverter didn't shut off when you tripped the breakers. Most of these units are "directly wired" to your battery. You have to turn them off by operating a switch on the unit or disconnecting the appropriate battery cable. Over the past four years my Hart 2000 has gotten confused and I disconnected it completely. This had the effect like rebooting a computer and things worked fine after that. Most of the time this occurred was when I had the inverter on and shifted to shore power or genset power. I still don't have a grasp on the complete logic as I know how to rectify it if it happens.
The AC indicator at your receptacle will provide a voltage output when the inverter is on. There are some time delays when it kicks inverses shore power. I think they are around 15 seconds or something like that. It can get confusing until you play around with the shore power and battery power.
The disconnect switch, when you hit store, removes 98% of the drain on the batteries... at least on my DSDP. There are phantom loads like detectors and similar items than are connected on the battery side of the battery disconnect relay. They place a small but continuous drain on the batteries. over time this can take them down. Perhaps the most important thing is the condition and/or state of the batteries when you put it in storage. If they are not fully charged or weak you are more at risk for draining them down faster.
One thing you might look into is equalizing your batteries. But make sure you operate the battery disconnect switch and remove the phantom loads I spoke of when you do. Equalizing place around a 16V charge on the batteries and boils it for a while to get residue off the lead plates. You inverter probably has an equalize setting to do this.... mine has. Another thing you can do is take the MH to a place that can load test the batteries. makes sure they are fully charged.
As for the panel not operating... it draws such a low current I suspect the inverter itself in such a state of confusion it could not present the proper data to the control panel.
The system will charge the batteries with the inverter off at the control panel. I do this all the time when I store it with 15 amp shore power. If you shut the inverter off at the unit itself I am not sure. I suspect it shuts the whole system down.
Shore power to the inside circuits and outlets the inverter feeds is routed through the inverter itself where there is a relay that either blocks shore power from getting through IF the inverter is on and providing the power to the circuits/outlets. OR, it allows shore power to go on through IF the inverter is turned off, to feed the circuits/outlet. I doesn't hurt to leave it on and is protected so you shouldn't harm anything. I usually shut mine off, before or after I switch to shore/genset power, to shut down the inverter function of the system.
At least you know the battery isolator relay is functioning properly or, you could have take the chassis batteries down also!

These are my thoughts... hope this helps.

Skip
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The battery charged and soon the CC house battery gauge read in the green.
However, no LEDs would light up on my Freedom Remote control panel. An AC meter in a kitchen receptacle indicated about 120 volts. Later I unpluged the shore power and the receptacle stayed powered and the Microwave lights stayed on so I knew that the inverter was still on even tho the Freedom Remote didn't indicate that it was on.
I turned off the inverter at the bedroom curcuit panel, but it didn't turn off the inverter (the receptacle & Micro remained powered). I then turned off the main 50 power on the curcuit panel. Still AC house power stayed on. I turned off the House battery disconnect switch and still the AC house power stayed on.
Finally, I turned off the the on/off switch on the inverter and the house power shut off.

Any ideas of my problem?

Any idea why the Freedom Remote Control panel will not power up?
If I plug in the shorepower will the charger charge the batteries with the inverter off?
If I turn on the inverter with the Shorepower turned on can I cause damage to anything other than the inverter?

Thanks for any help

Dick

Re: electric system problem

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11172
Not quite yet...! it's all about bucks for the time being and some family illness that prevents us from making a leap into extended RVing.
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at least on my DSDP.
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Hi Skip, Nice to see a note from you, it has been a long time since I looked at the Newmar owners site. Once we purchased our used CC we transferred to the CC owners group and never looked back!
It must be about time for a trade, why not get a CC and join us legally? GGGGG David & Karen