Running on generator - no inverter outlets

[gln826]

Plugged in the generator, all AC circuits working fine. Both TVs and recliner not working. Thoughts? Yes I need propane.

[OTRA15]

Have seen recent posts on the inverter having its own reset button to check IMO.

https://www.google.com/search?q=inve...=airforums.com
https://www.airforums.com/forums/f44...et-220420.html
https://www.airforums.com/forums/f44...ng-218675.html

. . . in addition to checking all 120-volt and 12-volt circuit breakers, of course. Your inverter's mfg. manual in the AS briefcase may have more details IMO.

How did the trip to Shinnecock East work out? Cedar Point today? Okay! How is the cell reception there? We got our rig on the road the other day . . . hoping for a short trip soon.

Good luck,

[gln826]

Shinnecock East went well enough, 20-30 mph winds for most of the weekend. At Cedar Point this weekend.

I don’t understand why the 12v leg of the shore power connection would stop working. It was fine at home before we left. Also, when the sun comes up, I am able to run directly off solar. At night, the trailer is dead with the generator off. Does that make any sense?

The cell reception here is poor, but amazingly the trailer cell receiver works great so we have “wifi”.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by gln826

. . .
I don’t understand why the 12v leg of the shore power connection would stop working. It was fine at home before we left.
. . .

Not sure I understand this . . . is there a "typo" above? Maybe you could clarify . . .

If your batteries have gone "dead" one or more times, they may be shot IMO, and a weak link in the chain? What type of batteries do you have? Is there a solar controller etc. involved here? Sorry most of this is above my pay grade . . . just guessing.

Did you find a reset button/switch on your inverter?

FWIW this "Battery School" is good background reading on RV battery care: http://www.batteriesnorthwest.com/batteryschool.cfm

[gln826]

I can’t find my inverter currently. Frustrated. My solar controller is working. Just took my sofa apart to get to the 12v box. Running on generator I get no voltage to 12v bar.

[OTRA15]

A 120-volt breaker may be tripped [the converter/battery charger is on its own breaker IMO], disrupting power to that 12 volt bar? Loose wire someplace, like at the inverter? Probably should find the inverter IMO.

All 120-volt functions working OK on gen?

[gln826]

Yes they are. The items not working are the TVs, recliners, USBs and refrigerator. I’m pulling my hair out trying to find the inverter.

[OTRA15]

In one of those threads, there is a situation like you have I think. Guessing that the inverter reset may be key here IMO.

Any hints in the AS owner's manual? I will look.

Page 5-8 [PDF p. 36]
https://www.airstream.com/wp-content...ers-Manual.pdf
_______________________________

"A 50-amp breaker feeds the battery disconnect relay� The current leaves the relay and travels to the 12-volt distribution panel, located in the converter, and then to the rest of the trailer."
____________________________________

Do you see your 50-amp 120-volt circuit breaker?

Maybe your disconnect relay is bad? Is there a switch to turn the battery disconnect/relay on and off? [PDF p. 39] Try clicking it a few times to see if the relay will reset OK?

[gln826]

Searching now for both inverter and 50 amp relay breaker

[gln826]

Interesting side note, my battery disconnect switch near the door doesn’t seem to work. The blue led light is always on. Pushing it, nothing happens.

[OTRA15]

Good clue . . . those relays do go bad sometimes. Turn it off/on a bunch of times IMO.

Can you manually isolate your batteries, and get a direct voltage reading from each one, after waiting an hour after removing the shore/gen feed? If battery voltage is too low [< 8 volts?], certain 12-volt control circuits may not work right, even if the converter is pumping out 12 OK?

Still need to find the inverter reset IMO.

[gln826]

I’ll be able to **** off generator and isolate batteries at 1:00. I’ll try that. Still searching for inverter

[OTRA15]

Thanks . . . nice sunny day anyway!

[gln826]

Found it behind the drawer under the microwave. Pulled the plug for 30 seconds, plugged it in and tada!

The inverter is installed sideways so that you can’t read the led screen. Makes no sense.

Now on to the main problem. Running off battery power. In 15 minutes I’ll be shutting the generator and let’s see what happens with the batteries after an hour.

Casted for bass for an hour. Two sea robins 🤷🏼*♂️

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by gln826

Found it behind the drawer under the microwave. Pulled the plug for 30 seconds, plugged it in and tada!

The inverter is installed sideways so that you can’t read the led screen. Makes no sense.

Now on to the main problem. Running off battery power. In 15 minutes I’ll be shutting the generator and let’s see what happens with the batteries after an hour.

Casted for bass for an hour. Two sea robins 🤷🏼*♂️

Hi

Also under that same section of drawers is a giant fuse. It's in series with the input to the inverter. If for some reason it blows .... no 12V to the inverter.

Use / store switch is (obviously) in that same general area. It's cable plugs into the panel on the cabinet. If the cable comes loose .... no use/store. The rest of the use/store stuff should be under the rear dinette seat.

Bob

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by gln826

. . .
. . . In 15 minutes I’ll be shutting the generator and let’s see what happens with the batteries after an hour.
. . .

With no connection to the solar charging, right? Sorry about the sea robins . . .

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

Also under that same section of drawers is a giant fuse. It's in series with the input to the inverter. If for some reason it blows .... no 12V to the inverter.
. . .

Thanks . . . that is what I was trying to remember, from the other threads linked before.

Originally Posted by OTRA15

In one of those threads, there is a situation like you have I think. Guessing that the inverter reset may be key here IMO.
. . .

[Al and Missy]

I think I have read on here that if the batteries are dead, the battery disconnect switch will not function and a poster had to charge the batteries with a separate charger to restore normal operation.


That design doesn't make sense to me. I thought the disconnect switch could draw power from either the converter of the batteries. I think there are inline fuses connected to each of the large terminals on the solenoid. Check those. If all else fails, plug in a battery charger and charge the batteries directly, at least until the disconnect switch works.


This is all from memory of reading posts - I have the caveman disconnect switch - a manual rotary switch. It has never failed me.

[OTRA15]

Same vague recollection here. Too many new-fangled electronic tools in this production line IMO!

Originally Posted by OTRA15

. . .
. . . If battery voltage is too low [< 8 volts?], certain 12-volt control circuits may not work right, even if the converter is pumping out 12 OK?
. . .

[OTRA15]

Just happened to see this photo of an inverter fuse in another thread -- click on the orange arrow to go directly to the following post:

Originally Posted by jeffmc306

. . .
There’s also a fuse on the inverter itself so check that too.

Not sure if this is exactly like your setup . . . uncle bob refers to a "giant" inverter fuse being "in series" . . . FWIW.

Hope you were able to rescue your weekend at Cedar Point . . . great weather for beach walks and more fishing!

[uncle_bob]

Hi

If the battery voltage gets down to 8V ( or some other magic number ) the converter charger may not come on at all. Many of them need to "see" at least X volts before they will put anything out at all. Since this is AS, who knows what is in this or that trailer .....

Bob