Inverter and Generator Problems

[Randy Merrill]

Hi Everyone,

I have a strange problem happening with my coach. I was dry camping
a couple weekends ago and put the inverter on and the generator on
auto start. The generator came on several times as expected to
charge the batteries. Everything worked as it should. I parked the
coach for about a week and had it plugged into a 50 amp outlet.
Again everything worked fine. I left on a 1,500 mile trip last
Friday. It was cool out the first day so I didn't need the generator
to run roof airs. I had the inverter on and everything seemed fine.
I stopped at a truck stop the first night and started the generator
to run the roof airs. The generator ran fine, but the coach did not
get any power. I checked the reset switch on the generator and the
50 amp breaker. I reset both several times and still no power to the
coach. I checked all the breakers in the coach breaker box and all
were fine. We got by with the inverter giving us lights, etc. The
second day out I was driving along and the coach totally shut down.
There was no 12 volt power at all. I managed to pull off the road. I
turned off the inverter and power came back to the 12 volt system. I
assume the inverter pulled the batteries down and stalled the coach.
I ran the rest of the second day and stayed at a RV park the second
night. When I plugged the 50 amp power cord in I found I had no
power to the coach. Couldn't find a thing wrong. I turned on the
ignition switch and the power came on. When I turned off the
ignition switch the power stayed on in the coach but the radio
stayed on even when I turned it off. I finished the trip on Sunday
and the coach is in the garage and plugged into power. I have turned
the 12 volt cutoff switch on so there is no 12 volt power going to
the radio, etc. I'm not sure what is going on or where to start
trouble shooting. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Randy Merrill
2003 40' LX
Ocala, FL

[Glenn Allen]

Randy,

It sounds like several problems are occuring but the common element
is the inverter. If the batteries are draining and not getting
replenished, then check for charge voltage when plugged in and when
running generator. I'm not familiar with the '03, but if the
chargers are integretated into the inverter, confirm that the
chargers are turned on and then check for output voltage. If you
have separate chargers, make sure they are getting power and have an
output voltage.

Since you were not seeing power to the coach when running generator,
again the power from the generator probably goes through the
inverters, then the Inverters automatic transfer switch might not
have made the switch over to generator. If you have an external ATS
to transfer power from Shore Power to Generator Power, then it could
have a problem. Try to identify where the ATS is located and then
you can begin to issolate why you are not seeing a transfer of
power. For example, is the generator power getting to the ATS? If
not, then it might be a generator circuit problem. If it is, then it
is an ATS or something in the circuit after the ATS.

Good hunting,

Glenn

Glenn Allen
1986 PT-40
Marietta, GA


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Randy Merrill"
wrote:
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I have a strange problem happening with my coach. I was dry camping
> a couple weekends ago and put the inverter on and the generator on
> auto start. The generator came on several times as expected to
> charge the batteries. Everything worked as it should. I parked the
> coach for about a week and had it plugged into a 50 amp outlet.
> Again everything worked fine. I left on a 1,500 mile trip last
> Friday. It was cool out the first day so I didn't need the
generator
> to run roof airs. I had the inverter on and everything seemed fine.
> I stopped at a truck stop the first night and started the generator
> to run the roof airs. The generator ran fine, but the coach did not
> get any power. I checked the reset switch on the generator and the
> 50 amp breaker. I reset both several times and still no power to
the
> coach. I checked all the breakers in the coach breaker box and all
> were fine. We got by with the inverter giving us lights, etc. The
> second day out I was driving along and the coach totally shut down.
> There was no 12 volt power at all. I managed to pull off the road.
I
> turned off the inverter and power came back to the 12 volt system.
I
> assume the inverter pulled the batteries down and stalled the
coach.
> I ran the rest of the second day and stayed at a RV park the second
> night. When I plugged the 50 amp power cord in I found I had no
> power to the coach. Couldn't find a thing wrong. I turned on the
> ignition switch and the power came on. When I turned off the
> ignition switch the power stayed on in the coach but the radio
> stayed on even when I turned it off. I finished the trip on Sunday
> and the coach is in the garage and plugged into power. I have
turned
> the 12 volt cutoff switch on so there is no 12 volt power going to
> the radio, etc. I'm not sure what is going on or where to start
> trouble shooting. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Randy Merrill
> 2003 40' LX
> Ocala, FL
>

[Pete Masterson]

I'm assuming that my '95 is in many ways like your coach. I suspect
that the inverter(s) are not switching the power transfer correctly.

My inverters (I have dual 2500 watt units) are both chargers as well
as inverters -- and they include an internal automatic transfer switch.

From your description, I'd suspect the ATS(s) -- they are probably
worn, shorted, or otherwise defective.

I don't know if this is a time to replace the inverters or if it is
possible to repair them.

A transient over-voltage situation can seriously damage the transfer
switches, resulting in behavior as you describe.

If your coach is wired like mine, the incoming power, either from the
shore power cord or from the generator, passes through the inverter
(s) where the transfer switch "watches" the power sources. When no
generator or shore power is present, the ATS selects inverter power,
drawing from the batteries and providing current on a separate set of
circuits to those items that operate on inverted power (refrigerator,
microwave, some outlets, etc.) When generator or shore power is
present, then the ATS drops out the inverter and sends the power on
through the main power panel. At the same time, the chargers
(internal to the inverters) should engage and charge the batteries.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Mercer, PA.



On Sep 16, 2008, at 7:31 AM, Glenn Allen wrote:

> Randy,
>
> It sounds like several problems are occuring but the common element
> is the inverter. If the batteries are draining and not getting
> replenished, then check for charge voltage when plugged in and when
> running generator. I'm not familiar with the '03, but if the
> chargers are integretated into the inverter, confirm that the
> chargers are turned on and then check for output voltage. If you
> have separate chargers, make sure they are getting power and have an
> output voltage.
>
> Since you were not seeing power to the coach when running generator,
> again the power from the generator probably goes through the
> inverters, then the Inverters automatic transfer switch might not
> have made the switch over to generator. If you have an external ATS
> to transfer power from Shore Power to Generator Power, then it could
> have a problem. Try to identify where the ATS is located and then
> you can begin to issolate why you are not seeing a transfer of
> power. For example, is the generator power getting to the ATS? If
> not, then it might be a generator circuit problem. If it is, then it
> is an ATS or something in the circuit after the ATS.
>
> Good hunting,
>
> Glenn
>
> Glenn Allen
> 1986 PT-40
> Marietta, GA
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Randy Merrill"
> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Everyone,
>>
>> I have a strange problem happening with my coach. I was dry camping
>> a couple weekends ago and put the inverter on and the generator on
>> auto start. The generator came on several times as expected to
>> charge the batteries. Everything worked as it should. I parked the
>> coach for about a week and had it plugged into a 50 amp outlet.
>> Again everything worked fine. I left on a 1,500 mile trip last
>> Friday. It was cool out the first day so I didn't need the
> generator
>> to run roof airs. I had the inverter on and everything seemed fine.
>> I stopped at a truck stop the first night and started the generator
>> to run the roof airs. The generator ran fine, but the coach did not
>> get any power. I checked the reset switch on the generator and the
>> 50 amp breaker. I reset both several times and still no power to
> the
>> coach. I checked all the breakers in the coach breaker box and all
>> were fine. We got by with the inverter giving us lights, etc. The
>> second day out I was driving along and the coach totally shut down.
>> There was no 12 volt power at all. I managed to pull off the road.
> I
>> turned off the inverter and power came back to the 12 volt system.
> I
>> assume the inverter pulled the batteries down and stalled the
> coach.
>> I ran the rest of the second day and stayed at a RV park the second
>> night. When I plugged the 50 amp power cord in I found I had no
>> power to the coach. Couldn't find a thing wrong. I turned on the
>> ignition switch and the power came on. When I turned off the
>> ignition switch the power stayed on in the coach but the radio
>> stayed on even when I turned it off. I finished the trip on Sunday
>> and the coach is in the garage and plugged into power. I have
> turned
>> the 12 volt cutoff switch on so there is no 12 volt power going to
>> the radio, etc. I'm not sure what is going on or where to start
>> trouble shooting. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Randy Merrill
>> 2003 40' LX
>> Ocala, FL
>>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

[Gregory OConnor]

Maybe a ground problem with a bank of batteries??? when you turned
on the ig switch you may have tied both banks together and found a
ground???? the 'ign switch on' thing may also only be a way around
the problem,, like a 110V transfer issue that is only bypassed at
that (ign on)combination of events. I would repeat the synario
that shows issues and check batteries to ground. The 'radio stayed
on thing' kinda makes you think the relay that powers things like
the radio when the ig switch is turned has an issue. It could also
be somthing like a HWH pump stuck on and not spinning and burning
up all the power, or one of those big relays sucking major amps?????
watch out for operating the engine on low batteries, it will add new
issues with the cummins computer.

With the 'engine shutting off' thing and no obvious repair to be
found, I would seek the help of a tech befor it become a
intermitting issue. I dig holes on rock cliffs teathered to a crane,
climb 200 foot 1/1 slopes using the bucket of my excavator and sat
through 5 audits in as many years without even a sweat on my brow
but last month my bus kept shutting down on the freeway and I was
visably shaken.

A good tech will love your list of events.
GregoryO'Connor
94ptRomolandCa

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Randy Merrill"
wrote:
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I have a strange problem happening with my coach. I was dry
camping
> a couple weekends ago and put the inverter on and the generator on
> auto start. The generator came on several times as expected to
> charge the batteries. Everything worked as it should. I parked the
> coach for about a week and had it plugged into a 50 amp outlet.
> Again everything worked fine. I left on a 1,500 mile trip last
> Friday. It was cool out the first day so I didn't need the
generator
> to run roof airs. I had the inverter on and everything seemed
fine.
> I stopped at a truck stop the first night and started the
generator
> to run the roof airs. The generator ran fine, but the coach did
not
> get any power. I checked the reset switch on the generator and the
> 50 amp breaker. I reset both several times and still no power to
the
> coach. I checked all the breakers in the coach breaker box and all
> were fine. We got by with the inverter giving us lights, etc. The
> second day out I was driving along and the coach totally shut
down.
> There was no 12 volt power at all. I managed to pull off the road.
I
> turned off the inverter and power came back to the 12 volt system.
I
> assume the inverter pulled the batteries down and stalled the
coach.
> I ran the rest of the second day and stayed at a RV park the
second
> night. When I plugged the 50 amp power cord in I found I had no
> power to the coach. Couldn't find a thing wrong. I turned on the
> ignition switch and the power came on. When I turned off the
> ignition switch the power stayed on in the coach but the radio
> stayed on even when I turned it off. I finished the trip on Sunday
> and the coach is in the garage and plugged into power. I have
turned
> the 12 volt cutoff switch on so there is no 12 volt power going to
> the radio, etc. I'm not sure what is going on or where to start
> trouble shooting. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Randy Merrill
> 2003 40' LX
> Ocala, FL
>

[Eric Perplies]

Sure sounds like your transfer switch is malfunctioning. Your
transfer switch isolates the shore power from the generator power
allowing only one to feed your coach. Somehow neither is getting
though to your coach.

Can't say anything about your inverters. I have found that problems
are usually the simple things even if the problem sounds complicated.

Good luck,

Eric Perplies
96 42' WBWL