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Trace inverter charge light status when driving?

Yahoo Message Number: 22643
Hello Country Coachers.

Just wondering if anyone knows if the charge light is suppose to be on when driving. I have the Trace RC7GS inverter and the other day I noticed that the charge light was not on when we were going down the road. The battery gage on the inverter got down to 81%, but mysteriuosly jumped to 100% a couple of times. Is this normal? The book talks about charge light when connected to shorepower, but no mention of it while driving. Charge light is on solid at 100% battery when plugged into shore power. It blinks slowly (absorption charge) when generator is on and battery at 100%. Thanks.

Larry, 2003 Allure 30856

Re: Trace inverter charge light status when driving?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22645
Larry:

I have the same inverter set up as you do; however, if I am reading your email correctly, there appears to be a difference in what is presented.

On Shore Power:
1. When my batteries are at 100% the "Charge" light blinks very rapidly and the "Batt. Full" light is solid. The "Charge" light is solid when charging at 14+ volts and begins to blink at faster rates as the batteries approach 100%. The "Batt. Full" light is off when charging at a high rate and begins to blink, approaching solid as the batteries reach 100%.

2. I have selected "Battery" in the LCD window to show voltage rather than percentage charge. The percentage readings are not that accurate while the voltage tells you what is really happening via the charge rate.

Driving:

1. My charge light does not come on when using the alternator, but the voltage, once again tells me what is happening to the batteries with respect to charging/status.

2. The charging will fluctuate depending on the battery status. Sometimes it is just a short maintenance charge which is what you may be seeing depending upon your settings.

3. The "Batt. Full" light will either flash or be solid depending on the state of charge.

Generator:

1. Same as shore power.

The manual explains a lot of this and may be helpful with any lingering questions. I would be happy to assist with my interpretation.

Chuck Penque

03 Intrigue 11673

Re: Trace inverter charge light status when driving?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22646
Larry, I have the same setup, and the light is not on when going down the road unless the genset is running. I can't help you on the voltage jump.

Walt Rothermel

03Allure30811 ( for sale )

Re: Trace inverter charge light status when driving?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22647
How old are the batteries? I had some strange problems with, I thought, my fan controller and "ECM Power Faults" after driving over some rough California roads. After trying several things, someone suggested that it might be the battery -- intermittent shorted cell in chassis battery, aggravated by rough roads.
Replaced the battery, and everything has been fine every since -- over a year ago.

So I am suggesting that MAYBE an intermittent shorted cell might cause the swing in the battery gauge.

Herb

2002 Allure #30690

Quote from: Larry Feather

Re: Trace inverter charge light status when driving?

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22650
Thanks Chuck and to all

I have two 8D AGM batteries that are about 15 months old. It's comforting to know that the charge light is not supposed to be on while driving. I think I'll switch to the "voltage" gage so I can see what is really happing.

Larry, 2003 Allure #30856