Results for "house battery"

Solar Batteries Medium 4-6 hours for inverter replacement 326 👍 1

RV Inverter Guide: Modified vs Pure Sine Wave - Safe Power

My multimeter's out and I'm ready to tackle this RV electrical mess myself — pretty sure the inverter's the culprit but need to know where to start. I have a 2000 Winnebago Ultimate Advantage with four deep cycle house batteries and recently installed a Xantrex 758 inverter to replace my old Freedom 15 unit. The first time I tried using the inverter power while unplugged from shore power, something very strange happened - a hair dryer in the bathroom started running by itself and wouldn't shut off when I tried the switch. I had to unplug it, and the handle was warm. The hair dryer appears to be ruined now.

When I bought the Xantrex 758, I paid around $725 for what I thought was a good unit, but I'm now learning there's a difference between modified sine wave and pure sine wave inverters. I wasn't aware of this distinction when I made the purchase, and it turns out the 758 is a modified sine wave unit. I've since heard that modern electronics, especially things like residential refrigerators, computers, and sensitive electronic components, can be damaged by modified sine wave power.

I'm really concerned about potentially damaging my new residential refrigerator, stereo system, and computer equipment. Should I be worried about using this modified sine wave inverter with modern RV electronics? Is the hair dryer incident a sign that I need to upgrade to a pure sine wave unit, or are there other factors that could have caused this problem? I'm trying to understand if my current setup is putting my expensive electronics at risk. …more

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Electrical Medium 2-6 hours 295 👍 1

ECM Low Battery Warning RV: Complete Diagnosis & Fix Guide

During a family trip, my 2005 Fleetwood Discovery 39S threw code 168-1 for low ECM battery voltage and went into full shutdown mode—is this dangerous with kids onboard? Engine cut out, transmission selector went dark, ABS warnings everywhere - the whole nine yards. Scared the heck out of me when it happened on the interstate!

I'm seeing this seems to be a thing with these diesel pushers, but I'm drowning in conflicting info online. Some say it's the chassis battery, others blame alternator issues, and I've even seen posts about ECM power supply problems on the Caterpillar engines. What's the actual step-by-step process to track this down? And more importantly, how do I fix it so it doesn't leave me stranded again? Really need a complete walkthrough of what causes this code and the proper repair approach. …more

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Electrical Medium 30-90 min 190 👍 0

No 12 Volt Power in RV: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Turned the key and nothing works on 12 volt — no lights, no water pump, no slides. Batteries show 12.6 volts on the multimeter so they're fully charged. House batteries seem fine but zero power is getting to any of the 12V circuits inside the coach. …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 1-2 hours 176 👍 0

Xantrex Freedom X 1200 Inverter Low Battery Warning: Critical 11.2V Fix Guide

Walked into my new RV and discovered the previous owner left the Xantrex Freedom X 1200 inverter constantly throwing critical 11.2V low battery warnings. My Xantrex Freedom X 1200 inverter is displaying warning indicators on the panel, and I'm seeing some concerning voltage readings that have me worried about potential damage to my electrical system.

Here's the complete situation: My house battery is reading 11.2 volts, while the chassis battery shows 13.1 volts. The inverter panel is lit up with what I assume are low voltage warnings. I've been noticing the interior lights dimming significantly, especially when trying to run any appliances through the inverter. To make matters worse, it's currently overcast and getting dark, so my solar panels aren't generating any meaningful charge to help recover the battery.

I'm particularly concerned because I know lead-acid batteries can be permanently damaged if they're discharged too deeply. The voltage reading of 11.2V seems critically low to me, but I want to understand exactly how urgent this situation is and what my immediate next steps should be. Should I be looking at shore power connection, generator use, or is there something wrong with my charging system that caused this in the first place? I need to know both the immediate fix and what might have caused this failure. …more

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Electrical Easy 30 minutes 173 👍 0

RV 12V Lights Dimming: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

My neighbor insists it's the converter, the RV dealer swears it's bad wiring, and every YouTube video claims it's a dying battery—but my 12V ceiling lights keep dimming! One evening they're blazing bright like a casino, the next morning they're giving off all the enthusiasm of a sleepy firefly.

I've already checked my batteries, and they seem to be charging fine and in good shape. The converter is still humming and its fan is running normally. I'm pretty sure this isn't some fancy mood lighting feature I accidentally activated (though knowing my tech skills, anything's possible). The dimming seems totally random - sometimes they're fine, sometimes they look like they're on their last legs.

I've got a basic multimeter that I pretend to know how to use, but I'm not sure where to even start poking around. As a bonus weirdness, some of my under-cabinet light switches and the wall switch for the ceiling lights are getting really hot. Anyone know what typically causes this whole disco light show situation with 12V lighting systems? …more

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Electrical Medium 2-4 hours 140 👍 0

How to Protect Your RV Alternator When Charging Lithium Batteries: DC-

Tried everything my neighbor did to charge his LiFePO4 batteries but mine keeps frying the alternator while his works flawlessly — what's different? I want to install a temperature sensing device that can interrupt charging by opening the solenoid between chassis and house charging systems if the alternator gets too hot. I'm looking to spec out components and understand the installation process, and I'm open to hearing why this might not be a good approach. My goal is preventing alternator overheating when these lithium batteries draw high current compared to my old flooded or AGM batteries. I'm looking for technical feedback and am totally open to critique. …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 4-6 hours 137 👍 0

Georgetown GT7 Lithium Battery Conversion: Complete RV Installation Guide

Turned the keys on my 2023 Georgetown GT7 and discovered the previous owner left the electrical system in complete shambles, now facing this intimidating lithium conversion nightmare. I know I need LiFePO4 batteries, but every forum post I read mentions different components and I'm getting conflicting information.

I really want to make this upgrade work - the lead acid batteries are killing me with their weight and charging limitations. What specific components do I need beyond the actual lithium batteries? I'm especially confused about whether my converter will work and if I need additional charging equipment for the alternator. Please tell me my 2023 model year gives me some advantage here! …more

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Slideouts Medium 1-2 hours 136 👍 0

Fleetwood Bounder Slide Out Reset: Fix Lost Stop Points & Controller Issues

Slide out lost its stop points during a power surge at the campground and now it extends way too far and retracts too deep. Fleetwood Bounder forum says I need to reset the controller but the process involves running the slide to its limits and I'm afraid of damaging the mechanism. …more

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Electrical Easy 10 min read 134 👍 0

RV Battery Disconnect Switch Guide: When to Use, What Loses Power & Staying Safe

Wondering if I can skip the $400 shop diagnosis for my electrical issues and just figure out this battery disconnect switch myself, even though I'm getting conflicting advice.

Specifically, I'm concerned about what happens to things like my LP gas detector, carbon monoxide alarm, and refrigerator when I disconnect the battery. Will I lose all my radio presets and clock settings? Are there certain situations where I absolutely shouldn't use the disconnect switch?

I want to use it for storage to prevent battery drain, but I'm also wondering about daily use scenarios. What are the best practices to avoid any problems or safety issues? I really don't want to mess anything up or put my family at risk. …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 130 👍 0

Fleetwood Discovery Generator Won't Start: Battery & Electrical Fixes Guide

Since the manual says to check the fuel shutoff solenoid first on my 1999 Fleetwood Discovery 37V diesel pusher generator, why am I getting power there while the battery connections are completely corroded? The generator absolutely refuses to start unless I run the main Cummins engine for several minutes first, and I've already tried using the boost battery switch which seems to do nothing.

I have brand new batteries - two 12V for the chassis and four 6V house batteries properly wired. Everything else works fine, but this generator issue has me concerned. I want to understand: 1) Why won't the gen set start from its batteries without the main engine running first? 2) Which battery bank does the gen set actually use - chassis, house, or a separate gen set battery?

I'm 80 years old and hesitant to crawl under the coach to trace the gen set 12-volt cable. Can someone help me understand what might be happening with my generator's electrical system? …more

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Electrical Medium 30-60 minutes 125 👍 0

RV Emergency Start Switch Not Working: Complete Troubleshooting & Repair Guide

Every time the temperature hits 85°F or higher, my RV's emergency start switch completely fails — works perfectly in cooler weather, but now my chassis battery is dead while house batteries stay charged. When I press the emergency start button, absolutely nothing happens - no sounds, no response at all.

I'm worried there might be something wrong with the system or that I'm not using it correctly. Should I be hearing some kind of click or sound when I press the button? Could there be blown fuses I need to check? I'm hesitant to keep trying without knowing if I might cause damage to the electrical system. What's the proper troubleshooting process to safely figure out why this emergency start feature isn't connecting my house batteries to help start the engine? …more

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Engine Medium 3-4 hours 123 👍 0

Ford F53 Chassis Misfire Problems: Early Spark Plug & Coil Failure Solutions

Walked out to my 2021 Class A motorhome this morning facing the third Ford F53 chassis misfire this year and I'm done throwing parts at it blindly. We've got less than 20,000 miles on the odometer, but recently experienced rough running and got a check engine light. When I took it to a Ford dealer that services Class A rigs, they diagnosed misfires in two cylinders and recommended servicing the entire fuel system. I ended up having them replace all eight spark plugs, plug wires, and ignition coils since we were already dealing with failures.

The coach now runs better than it ever has since new, which makes me think the original components may have been subpar from the factory. What's really bothering me is that we shouldn't need major ignition system work this early in the vehicle's life. I'm curious if other owners of 2021 or newer F53 chassis motorhomes have experienced similar premature failures with their spark plugs, ignition coils, and plug wires? Is this pointing to some kind of quality control issue with Ford's ignition components on these newer chassis, and should I expect better reliability from aftermarket replacements going forward? …more

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Solar Batteries Hard 6-8 hours 122 👍 0

Complete Newmar RV Lithium Battery Upgrade: DC-DC Charger and BIM Wiring Guide

Staring at my 2019 Newmar's freshly wired lithium upgrade with Victron BVM-712, Orion XS DC-DC charger, and Cerbo GX — finished yesterday but the system still isn't charging properly.

The main issue is I can't figure out how to properly integrate my existing boost switch with the new DC-DC charger setup while maintaining the ability to trickle charge chassis batteries. Currently, my Orion XS DC-DC charger flows only one way from engine alternator to lithium batteries. Should I replace the existing BIM with a LI-BIM, which would be in series with the 2/0 cable? Is there a control wire on the Orion XS that will allow flow from lithium to chassis batteries while on shore/inverter power?

I'm considering adding a 120V battery tender for chassis batteries, but want to confirm what modifications might be needed to my existing BIM. Can someone provide guidance on the correct wiring approach? …more

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Slideouts Medium 45 minutes 121 👍 0

HWH 325 Levelers Shutting Off When Extended? Quick Fix Guide

This might sound like a warranty question, but before I start tearing into my HWH 325 series levelers that shut off when extended — am I covered or paying again? They power up just fine - all lights, sounds normal, no drama. But the SECOND I press any of the extend buttons, they shut off completely like I just insulted their mother.

I'm trying to level out while changing my motorhome's oil (because apparently I can't even do basic maintenance without my house deciding to be crooked), and these levelers are having none of it. Battery shows good on the panel, but I'm wondering if there's some kind of voltage issue happening when they try to actually work? Or maybe loose connections somewhere? Anyone dealt with this particular brand of RV stubbornness before? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-3 hours 120 👍 0

Stop RV Battery Drain During Storage - Expert Solutions

Planning to store my 2012 Winnebago Tour and there's clear signs of battery drain happening across all six house batteries and two chassis batteries. I'm religious about flipping both the chassis and house disconnect switches before putting her away for storage. Still go out monthly to fire up the generator and top off the batteries.

But here's the thing that's driving me nuts - even with those disconnect switches flipped, my batteries are still going dead! Sometimes I can't even get the engine started and have to hook up a trickle charger just to get things going again. What's the deal? I thought those disconnect switches were supposed to prevent this whole mess. Am I missing something obvious here, or is there more going on that I need to tackle? …more

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