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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Travelin' Man (RIP) on August 15, 2016, 08:04:41 pm

Title: Battery/Inverter/Charger Problem
Post by: Travelin' Man (RIP) on August 15, 2016, 08:04:41 pm
I have 3 new AGM batteries (03/16) and a Prosine 2.5.

Lately the 3 fault lights on the monitor panel will start flashing with a temp code after the generator has been on for a while along with the charger. If I leave it alone it will continue to cycle with the lights going out and then coming on again after a few minutes. In this
situation the READY light never comes on.

If plugged up to 50amp shore power the red fault lights never come on,  and after a few hours the READY light comes on.  As long as
we're plugged into 50 amp service it will stay like that, but not on genset.

It's a head scratcher for sure.
Title: Re: Battery/Inverter/Charger Problem
Post by: Michelle on August 15, 2016, 08:26:11 pm
I have 3 new AGM batteries (03/16) and a Prosine 2.5.

Lately the 3 fault lights on the monitor panel will start flashing with a temp code after the generator has been on for a while along with the charger.

If plugged up to 50amp shore power the red fault lights never come on,  and after a few hours the READY light comes on.  As long as
we're plugged into 50 amp service it will stay like that, but not on genset.

So Warning, Fault, and Temp all flash?

What code is it showing as an error code?

When this happens, can you tell if the squirrel fan in in the Inverter bay is running?

Wondering if there is something weird on Generator where your bay cooling fan isn't running, or isn't running properly.

Any chance you have a Progressive EMS hardwired after the transfer switch?  That would help if it was something weird like a generator frequency problem.  The Progressive unit displays AC frequency.
Title: Re: Battery/Inverter/Charger Problem
Post by: Travelin' Man (RIP) on August 15, 2016, 10:32:57 pm
Yes,  Warning, Fault and Temp all flash,  and the code is 011
Title: Re: Battery/Inverter/Charger Problem
Post by: John Duld on August 16, 2016, 08:50:12 am
I would check the generators AC frequency. An easy item to start with.

Title: Re: Battery/Inverter/Charger Problem
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on August 16, 2016, 09:22:47 am
I would check the generators AC frequency. An easy item to start with.
X2.  Here's a good, inexpensive, multi-functional tool for that job.  Highly recommended!  Run the generator, plug into any AC outlet.

Kill-A-Watt Electricity Monitor-P4400 - The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Kill-A-Watt-Electricity-Monitor-P4400/202196386)
Title: Re: Battery/Inverter/Charger Problem
Post by: Travelin' Man (RIP) on August 16, 2016, 09:46:21 am
Sorry if I don't get back to y'all right away but I'm having a tough time staying online.

Michelle..........I tested the thermostat for the
cooling fan in the electronics bay using a hair dryer and the fan came on, but I don't know at what temperature.  Additionally, I don't know if there is an EMS wired in. All I know is what my manual told me regarding a surge protector,  that there is one.

Headed to the Depot now for a monitor.
Thanks C & J.

Title: Re: Battery/Inverter/Charger Problem
Post by: Travelin' Man (RIP) on August 18, 2016, 07:32:42 pm
X2.  Here's a good, inexpensive, multi-functional tool for that job.  Highly recommended!  Run the generator, plug into any AC outlet.

Kill-A-Watt Electricity Monitor-P4400 - The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Kill-A-Watt-Electricity-Monitor-P4400/202196386)

I got the P4400 today and have a question;
The genset puts out 240VAC.  Plugging the monitor into a 120VAC receptacle will tell me the frequency of both legs?
Title: Re: Battery/Inverter/Charger Problem
Post by: Neal Pillsbury on August 18, 2016, 08:00:50 pm
............ Plugging the monitor into a 120VAC receptacle will tell me the frequency of both legs? .........
Yes
Title: Re: Battery/Inverter/Charger Problem
Post by: RvTrvlr on August 18, 2016, 10:36:03 pm
Frequency will be the same on both legs, regardless of load on whichever leg you are testing, as it is a function of genset speed, not load or voltage.
Title: Re: Battery/Inverter/Charger Problem
Post by: Travelin' Man (RIP) on August 19, 2016, 11:00:17 pm
I started the genset and plugged in my new monitor, and it showed 60.7 - 60.8 hz, so I adjusted the speed of the generator to get 60.0 hz on the nose, then shut it off and went back to 50 amp shore power for a couple of hours.

Then we unhooked the 50 amp shoreline power and started the generator and left the RV Park with both rooftop AC's running.  By
the time we got to our destination 7 miles
away the monitor panel showed that the batteries were READY. The READY light stayed lit until I shut the genset off two hours later.

Going into the weekend feeling positive that the problem is finally solved.