Battery charging on solar NOT shore power

[rmroy]

We have a new 2018 Classic. Towed it to a new camp 2 days ago. Set up to 50 amp shore power. Turned on 2 AC to cool things down for about an hour while we were out. Came back and smelled a slight burning wire stink. Everything seemed fine, later noticed that the 120 v outlets were dead. GFCI outlet had tripped, re-set it all worked.

Noticed that the solar display said battery level was 80%, usually after towing it is 100%, the voltage was dropping to about 12.3.

Next day in the bright sun the level went to 100%, then in the evening drained down to 60% and went into the red zone.

I reset the breakers inside and at the shore power, still not charging.

Any suggestions for this rank newbie?

[pcskier]

Be sure that your battery is in 'use' setting not 'store' on your firefly. It seems to be hit or miss on whether some trailers are wired to take the batteries offline from the charger when in 'store' mode. Earlier model years, definitely. 2018, supposedly the charger is online even if batteries are in 'store' more--or they are supposed to be. Yours might not be. Might not be your issue but worth trying.
TEST: When plugged in to shore power and batteries are charging, voltage should always show 13.Xv, as the monitor is reading the charge from the charger, not the batteries themselves. Are you getting that 12.3v reading when plugged in to shore power? If so, try switching to 'Use' mode and see if the voltage jumps to 13.x.

[rmroy]

I'm getting 12.1 on the Firefly monitor on 50 Amp shore power. I can't find a "Use" mode anywhere. Am I missing something?

[pcskier]

Originally Posted by rmroy

I'm getting 12.1 on the Firefly monitor on 50 Amp shore power. I can't find a "Use" mode anywhere. Am I missing something?

There is a battery disconnect setting somewhere in the firefly menus. There should also be another switch (a red one) on the control panel by the door. On 2018, it isn't supposed to matter if the batteries are disconnected or not...but I'd test it anyway. If you unplug your shore power...do all the lights and other 12v items go off? This would confirm that your battery is in "disconnect' or 'store' mode. With shore power unplugged, and you press the red switch by the door, multiple times, the lights should go off and on as you press the switch each time. Then the lights are "on", the batteries are in 'use' mode. Then plug the shore power back in and the voltage should jump to 13.X.
If you confirm that your batteries are in "use" or 'connected' mode, and still not charging...then obviously it's another issue. Make sure the 120v (home style) breaker for the converter/charger in your power center is not tripped. If all checks out, warranty time...the 'burning' smell might indicate a failure of the converter/charger.

[rmroy]

I don't see one in the Firefly menu but there is a red one buy the door. Tested the switch as suggested several times. Voltage still at 12.1.

[pcskier]

Originally Posted by rmroy

I don't see one in the Firefly menu but there is a red one buy the door. Tested the switch as suggested several times. Voltage still at 12.1.

There's one in the Firefly menu...but I can't remember where. Maybe a fellow Classic owner will chime in. But anyway, you pressed the switch at the door, and the voltage didn't change? It's time for the dealer, sorry to say. And to reconfirm, with 2018, the batteries should charge if plugged in to shore power *whether or not* the batteries are in 'use' or 'store'. Assuming your breaker for the converter/charger is not tripped, and the batteries aren't charging...then there is likely an issue with the converter/charger. There are ways to test that if you have a multi-meter and comfortable doing so. If not...on to the dealer.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Do you have a surge protector on your trailer? Better yet, do you have an EMS ( = super surge protector)? It sounds a bit like you took a surge "hit" from the campground power post.

Bob

[Paprika]

Seems to me these replies are ignoring a key factor: "Came back and smelled a slight burning wire stink." That says to me there's something seriously wrong, and it needs to be found and corrected ASAP.

[pcskier]

Originally Posted by Paprika

Seems to me these replies are ignoring a key factor: "Came back and smelled a slight burning wire stink." That says to me there's something seriously wrong, and it needs to be found and corrected ASAP.

Originally Posted by pcskier

Tthe 'burning' smell might indicate a failure of the converter/charger.

It's always worth going through a basic testing protocol that can help confirm the culprit though. In this case, it does sound like the charger is toast.

[rmroy]

The battery is now below 12 Volts. How low can it go before I do damage? We aren't able to have it serviced for at least a week. Can I run just on shore power some way?

[Bill M.]

You are already in the area of battery damage. You need to get a charger on it ASP. Maybe just buy a battery charger from Walmart and hook it up to buy time to trouble shoot the problem. Are you camping or living in it now. If flooded cell batteries you will damage them. If AGM you might go so low a normal charger will not see them.

I think your converter is blown or cut off in some fashion. My guess is blown.

You may be able to disconnect the batteries and just run the 110 stuff. But the refergirator will not work nor will the gas alarm, fans, water pump, and the 12 volt lights.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by rmroy

The battery is now below 12 Volts. How low can it go before I do damage? We aren't able to have it serviced for at least a week. Can I run just on shore power some way?

Unhook the neg cable(s) and stay plugged in. Your converter will supply the 12v you need.

Bob
🇺🇸

[Bill M.]

I think If the converter was working he would not be at 12 volts.

[rmroy]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

You are already in the area of battery damage. You need to get a charger on it ASP. Maybe just buy a battery charger from Walmart and hook it up to buy time to trouble shoot the problem. Are you camping or living in it now. If flooded cell batteries you will damage them. If AGM you might go so low a normal charger will not see them.

I think your converter is blown or cut off in some fashion. My guess is blown.

You may be able to disconnect the batteries and just run the 110 stuff. But the refergirator will not work nor will the gas alarm, fans, water pump, and the 12 volt lights.

We are living in it. I'm going to rush our now and get a charger. They are AGM. 2 of them, not sure how to charge them. We are in panic mode!

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

I think If the converter was working he would not be at 12 volts.

Well, disconnect and find out. 👍 It may be the battery that was the stinker. If the converter is working it should supply 12v & AC w/o batteries in the loop.

Bob
🇺🇸

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by rmroy

We are living in it. I'm going to rush our now and get a charger. They are AGM. 2 of them, not sure how to charge them. We are in panic mode!

Hi

Do you have a surge suppressor on the trailer?

Since this is the second time I've asked, I'm guessing you don't have one. Get one. They will keep you from having these problems in the future.

The surge blew your converter and possibly other things in your trailer. It should be carefully gone through to figure out what was damaged. It may be unsafe to be in until you do so. It could catch fire and kill you.

Hopefully that caught your attention ...

Bob

[ChicagoPhil]

We experienced similar issues. After checking out batteries and converter, it turned out to be a faulty breaker - 4th one from the left, 15 amp. Although it wasn't tripped all the time, it had an internal failure.

[Fair_Enough]

A casual observation... if switching from USE or STORE and thus charging via the converter... and expecting and instantaneous change is not reality. It could take a minute or three for converter / charger to bring voltage up a noticeable value.

However as was pointed out, investigate what was burning. Could be a converter bit the dust or even a hot or neutral wire was not tight and burned in two at breaker or the busbar in the power center. Or one of several other things.

I hope you have found the problem and are back up by now.

Clint

[rmroy]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

Do you have a surge suppressor on the trailer?

Since this is the second time I've asked, I'm guessing you don't have one. Get one. They will keep you from having these problems in the future.

The surge blew your converter and possibly other things in your trailer. It should be carefully gone through to figure out what was damaged. It may be unsafe to be in until you do so. It could catch fire and kill you.

Hopefully that caught your attention ...

Bob

We don't have a surge suppressor but will get one soon. Any recommendations?
We tried to get Coachnet to come out and have a look and repair but they wouldn't, so it will have to wait till we get back to a city.

[rmroy]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Well, disconnect and find out. 👍 It may be the battery that was the stinker. If the converter is working it should supply 12v & AC w/o batteries in the loop.

Bob
🇺🇸

Doesn't the battery disconnect switch do the same thing, disconnect the battery?