Inverter Problem

[Pete Masterson]

What you describe is an interesting problem. What it sounds like is
that the electrical system is causing a voltage drop at the engine
computer. (There should be a code in there...) I note that when my
engine computer codes were dumped (at CCW in Riverside), the
technician commented, oh, there's nothing unusual, just a few "low
voltage" warnings... I was concerned because I'll get the "check
engine" light to flash on for a few seconds every once in a while
(very infrequently) but by the time I have a chance to react to it,
the light goes out and there's no indication that anything is wrong.

A diesel engine will run so long as it has fuel. The modern diesel,
with computer control, will run so long as it has fuel and the
computer allows it to. The only thing that will bring the computer
down (in normal circumstances) is a voltage drop or a bad ground.

Whether it's the inverter ... or something else ... it sounds like a
transient short or ground interruption, causing the battery power to
be diverted, dropping voltage to the engine computer and the radio.

I don't doubt that Fort Valley wasn't able to find the problem,
because this is the type of thing that would only be detectable when
it is in the process of occurring and circuits will otherwise test "OK."

No real suggestion as what the problem might be ... but if it ONLY
happens while the inverter is working, then I'd suspect SOMETHING
with the inverter or the circuits that go to the inverter. (The
inverter itself may be alright, but there may be a short or bad
ground in the wires leading to the inverter.)

Since a mantra on this list is, "It's usually a bad ground" what I'd
check first is to ensure that all ground straps are not corroded and
are tight.

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



On Nov 15, 2008, at 2:23 PM, Randy Merrill wrote:

> Hi Everyone,
>
> I have an ongoing problem with the inverter on my 2003 LX. This
> scenario has happened twice: While driving down the highway with the
> inverter running the radio volume goes off. Then, the coach loses
> all power and stalls. It happened once in Washington, DC traffic
> last summer and again today coming home from Fort Valley. I
> recognized what was happening today when the radio volume cut out
> and the coach started losing power. I reached up and shut the
> inverter off and the coach "came back to life" and I continued home.
> This is a very dangerous situation to say the least. It seems to me
> that the inverter is pulling from the coach batteries and running
> them down and causing the coach to stall. I had the coach at the
> factory all last week having the electrical system checked out and
> they say that there isn't any problem that they could find. They
> said all batteries are in good condition and the inverter is fine
> and the changeover switches are working fine. I told them about the
> inverter problem and they said there isn't any way for the inverter
> to be causing the coach to stall. I spent $600.00 at the factory
> having everything checked out and am not satisfied that there "isn't
> anything wrong." I wondered if anyone else has had anything like
> this happen? I really want to get this straightened out before I
> head out on my next trip.
>
> Randy Merrill
> 2003 LX
> Ocala, FL
>
>
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