Heart inverter/charger question

Topic: Heart inverter/charger question (Read 1125 times) previous topic - next topic

Heart inverter/charger question

July 08, 2011, 05:56:37 am

I finally got my 95 U320 home so I can begin restoring it.
First obstacle I encountered was the power cord, or lack of.
I was not prepared for the purchase of a Marinco 50 amp twist lock connector to get power to the coach and charge the battery's.
I settled for a 50 amp Marinco connector on a 15 amp household plug. I will buy a 50 amp cable when I need it.

The house battery's are shot, the 3 Optima red top engine battery's are good.

I finally got the coach plugged in. The 110 outlets worked as did the 12 volt system. After a hour or so I could smell the house battery's cooking, they were very hot to the touch as was the inverter.

I unplugged and let everything cool down. I then disconnected the 2 8D house battery's and removed them. I will replace them this weekend with 4 GC 145 6 volts.

After I removed the house battery's I no longer had 110 power in the coach when plugged in to 110 shore power.
Do the Coach battery's have to be hooked up to receive 110 shore power?

I don't have the manual for the Heart inverter. I have tried the Inverter switch on and off.

I checked the breakers in the panels under the bed. Nothing was tripped. Is there another location for 110 power interrupt?

What do you recommend I check or change?

Thanks for your help.

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #1 – July 08, 2011, 07:58:02 am

lframke,
Do you still have power coming from house/pedestal? tripped breaker in house.
Check to see if you burned the adapter up from over load.
What size extension cord are you using? Check to see if it is burnt up.
Could be your transfer switch is hung as to only supply power from generator side,does generator produce power?
If it is just some of the plugs could be GFCI tripped. Usually in bathroom

By the way welcome to the Foretravel family.
What is your name we are friendly people and would like to address you properly by name.
Pamela & Mike

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #2 – July 08, 2011, 08:43:28 am

Iframke,

Oh dear, hope you didn't mess up something. There is a lot to learn about the electrical system. Here is something I wrote that may help. Coach Electrical System Explained There are other articles on Barry's website.Technical Help - Electrical You really need the 50 amp cable properly wired, a 30 amp adapter, then a 20 or 15 amp adapter for things to work properly. Consider installing a 30 amp RV outlet at the house.

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #3 – July 08, 2011, 10:49:42 am

Quote

I finally got my 95 U320 home so I can begin restoring it.
First obstacle I encountered was the power cord, or lack of.
I was not prepared for the purchase of a Marinco 50 amp twist lock connector to get power to the coach and charge the battery's.
I settled for a 50 amp Marinco connector on a 15 amp household plug. I will buy a 50 amp cable when I need it.

Sounds like you a have project going. Nice thing about FT's is that the structure is usually sound and the rest can be fixed with Patience, money and input from others that have been there.
Curious... There was a 320 in Woodstock, GA that had been neglected and I lost track of it, Is this perhaps what you bought ?
Good luck and ask questions, we are all glad to lend what expertise we have.
Gary B

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #4 – July 09, 2011, 05:10:09 am

Thanks for the advice.

My name is Lon and my wifes name is Cheryl.
We live in the Chicago area.

I had 110 power from the generator. I also had 110 power from the shore power. After I removed the coach battery's I no longer had 110 shore power. Thats why I wondered if they need to be in the electrical chain for all to work. I do have 12 volt power from the shore power. Saturday I will replace the house battery's and see what happens. I will also read the recommended reading materials and try and locate a Heart manual.

The 95 U320 originally came from Alabama.
I talked to the original owner. He bought it new from Foretravel in 95. It was the second 95 made. The original owner used it to travel his work territory until he retired. He never used it for camping in the usual meaning.
After he retired he planned to go on a trip to Alaska with his wife, He plugged the coach into power in the shed he kept it in and powered up the refrigerator so it would be cold in a few day when they planned to leave on the trip. He said he happened past the coach and saw a wisk of smoke coming from the refrigerator area. He called the fire dept. but the fire took off before they got there.
The fire was caused by a rodent nest in the refrigerator vent. The fire traveled up the vent and burned a hole in the roof. It also burned the wiring behind the refrigerator and burned the pantry door across from the refrigerator. Most of the damage was smoke.
The Insurance Co. totaled the coach. It was then sold at auction in Texas. A rebuilder here in the Chicago area bought it and drove it back from Texas. They planned to fix it then sell it for a huge profit.
They puled all the carpet and replaced with gorgeous real hardwood flooring in the living room and bedroom. In the bath they used a simulated wood Allure. The roof was fixed and the wiring was repaired. They then lost interest when they realized that they were NOT going to make a fortune on the remodeled coach, certainly not in this market. They pulled the headliner and the cabinet doors.
Thats the state of repair its in now.
I'm trying to get it back together.
I will replace the refrigerator with a counter depth household unit. I also have to replace the Microwave/convection oven. All the living room furniture has been removed and is now in the cargo bays.

After talking to the original owner and hearing how well he had maintained the coach up to the fire I was confident that he took great care of it. He truly loved his Foretravel, he paused several times while we talked because he began to cry when talking about it.
After our chat I was convinced it was worth bring back to life.
I hope someday to either drive it to Alabama to show it again to the original owner or ask him if he would like to take it on a trip sometime.
He emphatically told me " if your serious abut a Motorhome you buy a Foretravel!"

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #5 – July 09, 2011, 08:29:00 am

Lon, Quite a story, glad that are resurrecting the coach, it is a shame when one of these fine coaches get scrapped. Don't be afraid to ask here for any info you need.
If you need a 50 AMP cord call COLAWS SALVAGE in Carthage,MO. They probably have one in stock, the price of copper will probably dictate price.
Good Luck
Gary B

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #6 – July 09, 2011, 08:34:32 am

Wow...
Sounds like you have a transfer switch issue. Or an issue with the GFI in the bathroom.
When you had the Heart inverter charging did you see what voltage and current was being sent to the batteries? The current/voltage value would read out just below the Heart remote.

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #7 – July 09, 2011, 08:40:09 am

They are also pretty cheap on ebay - although made in China, they are built very well!

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #8 – July 09, 2011, 02:31:17 pm

Lon,

I think this is the manual for the inverter/charger you have. http://www.xantrex.com/documents/Discontinued-Products/Freedom%20series%201.pdf The inverter/charger should not be powered when the house batteries are removed. There is a breaker for the inverter/charger on the main panel. Tripping it also kills all the power to the subpanel which powers most of the outlets. The GFCI outlet in the bathroom powers most of the other outlets so if it is tripped those outlets are dead. The Heart inverter/charger has programming for several types of batteries. DIP switches on the back of the remote panel have to be set for the type of battery and expected temperature.

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #9 – July 09, 2011, 06:09:10 pm

Thanks so much for all the help!

I just brought the 4 T145 battery's home and will install. I will also check all the recommended areas that you all have brought up.

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #10 – July 14, 2011, 03:44:52 am

Thanks Jerry for the link to the Heart.

All systems are operating ( 12V, 120 inverter, 120 shore power). I checked the electrical supply boxes. There is 120v going to all breakers.

As Dave mentioned the problem is from the bathroom ground fault. I do have power at all the outlets except the bathroom, Cabinet on the other side of the bathroom wall in dining area, and the outlets in the dining area table pedestal. I changed the ground fault plug outlet in the bathroom but still no power to outlets.
I know its me. I'm not wiring the outlet properly. I thought I was replacing wire for wire from the original ground fault outlet. But still no power with the new outlet.
I DO have 120v when I check the incoming black and then ground on the outlet box. I believe my problem is with a ground at that outlet.

I have the white and black supply coming in, then a white and black feed through to the other outlets. The supply cables all have a bare ground wire that is grounded to the rear of the box.

I feel I must be close to solving this problem. I will next run a ground wire from the outlet to the bare ground wires on the box.

This outlet did originally work. The ground fault button does not react to re-set.

HELP!

Thanks.
Lon

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #11 – July 14, 2011, 07:54:21 am

Quote from: lframke – July 14, 2011, 03:44:52 am

Thanks Jerry for the link to the Heart.

As Dave mentioned the problem is from the bathroom ground fault. I do have power at all the outlets except the bathroom, Cabinet on the other side of the bathroom wall in dining area, and the outlets in the dining area table pedestal. I changed the ground fault plug outlet in the bathroom but still no power to outlets.
I know its me. I'm not wiring the outlet properly. I thought I was replacing wire for wire from the original ground fault outlet. But still no power with the new outlet.
I DO have 120v when I check the incoming black and then ground on the outlet box. I believe my problem is with a ground at that outlet.

I have the white and black supply coming in, then a white and black feed through to the other outlets. The supply cables all have a bare ground wire that is grounded to the rear of the box.

I feel I must be close to solving this problem. I will next run a ground wire from the outlet to the bare ground wires on the box.

This outlet did originally work. The ground fault button does not react to re-set.

Strange that power is available from the downstream outlets, but not at the GCFI outlet itself. If the outlet is defective, it is possible that someone changed the wiring to get current past the outlet. There should be instructions with a new outlet on how the wiring is connected. GCFI outlets are sold in 15 and 20 amp versions, you want the 20 amp, costs a little more. Normally with 120 vac wiring the black (or other color) wire is the hot wire, white is neutral, green or bare is ground. Normally current is flowing in the hot and neutral. The GCFI senses flow in the hot and neutral, if they are not equal it trips. If a person touches the hot wire and is grounded, flow in the hot is more than the neutral, tripping the GCFI. Current only flows in the ground when there is a problem such as a short . GCFI's can trip from current surges, and other minor faults. You can buy a small plug in tester for a few dollars that will check for correct wiring. It has 3 lights and a button to test the GCFI.

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #12 – July 14, 2011, 09:29:10 am

Lon,

Take a tester and find the hot wire at the bathroom outlet take it and the neutral that is in the same cable with it and install them on the line side of the outlet should be marked on back of outlet line and load black on brass, white on white, the other cable will go on the load side turn on power and hit the reset button. A GFI outlet will not work if you get the power source connected to the load side, also you do not have to have a ground wire for a GFI to work correctly. PM if it don't work.

Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 13, 2025 ...

Heart inverter/charger question

July 08, 2011, 05:56:37 am

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #1 – July 08, 2011, 07:58:02 am

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #2 – July 08, 2011, 08:43:28 am

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #3 – July 08, 2011, 10:49:42 am

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #4 – July 09, 2011, 05:10:09 am

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #5 – July 09, 2011, 08:29:00 am

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #6 – July 09, 2011, 08:34:32 am

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #7 – July 09, 2011, 08:40:09 am

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #8 – July 09, 2011, 02:31:17 pm

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #9 – July 09, 2011, 06:09:10 pm

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #10 – July 14, 2011, 03:44:52 am

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #11 – July 14, 2011, 07:54:21 am

Re: Heart inverter/charger question

Reply #12 – July 14, 2011, 09:29:10 am

Affiliate Notice