house battery seem dead/ shore power dead

[FlyFishinRVr]

Originally Posted by amirm

I only have a 100 watt solar and it doesn't do much this time of year in pacific northwest.

But yes, I redesigned the system so that the current motorized disconnect is a true master disconnect. It shuts off everything including the inverter power.

I leave it plugged in all the time though so it is not a concern in my situation.

Ah, OK. So when your Main Disconnect is "off", you can't charge your batteries from shore power? How about other charging sources (main engine, genny, and solar)?

Thanks!

[joe rv guy]

I had my service call at the Airstream dealer is week and here how it went.

They let me shadow the technician, which I really appreciated.

I killed the house batteries, I had the manual battery disconnect switch (the one with the battery on its face next to the house fuse box) in the "on/over-ride position. This is a three position switch 1) on over-ride 2) on controlled by the Battery disconnect switch and 3) off . I wish the operators manual would have covered this properly.

You will know that you have the 3 position switch in an incorrect position if the red light next to the battery disconnect switch stays on on matter which position you have the battery disconnect switch in. I remember seeing this and not know what is meant.

The inverter "relay solenoid" the one covered by SB164, was not causing a problem. My airstream technician explained that airstream upgraded that solenoid (my 2016 had the upgrade) She said she's still pulling the old ones out, as they always fail at some point, but has not seen a "new style" solenoid fail yet. Time will tell.

However, the problem the technician discovered was on the other end of the solenoids connection, the MS power buss located next to the position contact on the sprinter battery. The two connections were very loose. This was just poor installation by airstream. These loose connection prevented the sprinter from recharging the house batteries (that I drained) on my 250 mile return trip. These loose connects also were responsible for the tank fill level panel not working from time to time. So if you're not able to read your tank levels from time to time, that buss on the sprinter battery could be were the problem lies.

what's next?

[FlyFishinRVr]

Originally Posted by joe rv guy

I had my service call at the Airstream dealer is week and here how it went.

They let me shadow the technician, which I really appreciated.

I killed the house batteries, I had the manual battery disconnect switch (the one with the battery on its face next to the house fuse box) in the "on/over-ride position. This is a three position switch 1) on over-ride 2) on controlled by the Battery disconnect switch and 3) off . I wish the operators manual would have covered this properly.

You will know that you have the 3 position switch in an incorrect position if the red light next to the battery disconnect switch stays on on matter which position you have the battery disconnect switch in. I remember seeing this and not know what is meant.

The inverter "relay solenoid" the one covered by SB164, was not causing a problem. My airstream technician explained that airstream upgraded that solenoid (my 2016 had the upgrade) She said she's still pulling the old ones out, as they always fail at some point, but has not seen a "new style" solenoid fail yet. Time will tell.

However, the problem the technician discovered was on the other end of the solenoids connection, the MS power buss located next to the position contact on the sprinter battery. The two connections were very loose. This was just poor installation by airstream. These loose connection prevented the sprinter from recharging the house batteries (that I drained) on my 250 mile return trip. These loose connects also were responsible for the tank fill level panel not working from time to time. So if you're not able to read your tank levels from time to time, that buss on the sprinter battery could be were the problem lies.

what's next?

The position of the manual override was covered in my walkthrough. If your dealer didn't do that AND had it in the wrong position (or did you change it???), then shame on them. That's not AI's fault.

As for what's next, let's think happy thoughts and say years of enjoyment and trouble free RV'ing.

[joe rv guy]

Originally Posted by FlyFishinRVr

The position of the manual override was covered in my walkthrough. If your dealer didn't do that AND had it in the wrong position (or did you change it???), then shame on them. That's not AI's fault.

As for what's next, let's think happy thoughts and say years of enjoyment and trouble free RV'ing.

No, I don't think the dealer missed that on the walk through, however there is a lot to take in, during one. And I do think that I changed the position of the manual override. My complaint is that the operators manual poor coverage of this topic, led me to my poor understanding, and bad decisions.

and yes.... happy thoughts and say years of enjoyment and trouble free RV'ing, I like that!

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by joe rv guy

I had my service call at the Airstream dealer is week and here how it went.

They let me shadow the technician, which I really appreciated...

...However, the problem the technician discovered was on the other end of the solenoids connection, the MS power buss located next to the position contact on the sprinter battery. The two connections were very loose. This was just poor installation by airstream. These loose connection prevented the sprinter from recharging the house batteries (that I drained) on my 250 mile return trip. These loose connects also were responsible for the tank fill level panel not working from time to time. So if you're not able to read your tank levels from time to time, that buss on the sprinter battery could be were the problem lies.

what's next?

Where is this "MS power buss located next to the position contact on the sprinter battery". I'm not familiar with these terms.

I had a loose connection on my BIM isolator relay that was causing intermittent tank monitor panel operation.

[joe rv guy]

I mistyped should have been power buss next to the "positive terminal" of the sprinter battery, located under the drivers foot rest. this buss is connected to the positive terminal. It's the best I can do to describe its location

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by joe rv guy

I mistyped should have been power buss next to the "positive terminal" of the sprinter battery, located under the drivers foot rest. this buss is connected to the positive terminal. It's the best I can do to describe its location

Thanks - now I know what was loose. It's just the other end of the wire that was loose on my battery isolator (BIM) that caused erratic behavior of the tank monitor panel.


- - Mike
2013 Lounge EXT on 2012 Sprinter

[don000]

Originally Posted by joe rv guy

I mistyped should have been power buss next to the "positive terminal" of the sprinter battery, located under the drivers foot rest. this buss is connected to the positive terminal. It's the best I can do to describe its location

Connections here were loose also on my 2017, also disclosed by intermittent operation of the tank fill level indicator. This was corrected by Colonial as I was taking delivery in October. I think Airstream knows about the problem.

[Titus]

I am puzzled by how that tank level indicator is affected by the power cable leading from the chassis battery to the BIM. On mine the level indicators are powered by 12 V fuse #6 of the coach batteries (at least per the wiring diagram!).

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by Titus

I am puzzled by how that tank level indicator is affected by the power cable leading from the chassis battery to the BIM. On mine the level indicators are powered by 12 V fuse #6 of the coach batteries (at least per the wiring diagram!).

Yes Fuse #6 provides coach battery power to Monitor Panel. But there is also power coming from the Sprinter Chassis battery via wire "BAT1a" (18ga. RED/wht). See the attached clips 1) from Main 12V Schematic; 2) from drawing 953058S6; and 3) from drawing 953058S7.

Without the power from the chassis battery the monitor panel does not function properly.