Plugged in, batteries not charging...

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Plugged in, batteries not charging...

May 20, 2018, 10:34:16 am

Yesterday, the generator, on auto-start, started... that was weird because we're plugged in at the RV park with AC's running, etc., etc.

Upon checking the display, I find the battery charge dropped to 11.6 V and the Xantrex/ProSine charger displaying "standby" and not charging. This event happened "out of the blue" - - prior to yesterday, everything was normal with the display reading 12-13 Volts.

Any ideas as to why my batteries aren't charging while hooked up to 50 amp power? I ran the generator yesterday for about 30 mins and did not notice any change in voltage -charge.

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #1 – May 20, 2018, 10:41:22 am

Your Xantrex is about the right age for replacement. I have a inverter repair facility nearby and when mine failed last year they told me that the Prosines are disposable, not repairable.

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #2 – May 20, 2018, 11:07:32 am

Quote from: Travelin' Man – May 20, 2018, 10:41:22 am

Your Xantrex is about the right age for replacement. I have a inverter repair facility nearby and when mine failed last year they told me that the Prosines are disposable, not repairable.

I've heard that about Xantrex... unfortunately.

So your take is that the unit is toast? Now I'm worried about my batteries discharging - can't figure out where the draw on them is coming from given we're plugged in.

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #3 – May 20, 2018, 11:14:49 am

Verify 120 VAC in from main breaker box to Xantrex unit.

No first hand experience with your particular unit, but may have an internal fuse. Worth doing a little research.

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #4 – May 20, 2018, 11:21:35 am

My Prosine was locked up in invert which was not charging the batteries but draining them.

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #5 – May 20, 2018, 11:31:51 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – May 20, 2018, 11:14:49 am

Verify 120 VAC in from main breaker box to Xantrex unit. No first hand experience with your particular unit, but may have an internal fuse.

Nope... no internal fuse issue with the Xantrex... just with the one inside my head... can't believe I didn't check this first instead of scampering around under the unit in the bay checking cables, etc...

Checked the main breaker and #8 (battery charger), was tripped. Reset and it's charging just fine now. Not sure why it tripped - will need to monitor. Thanks!

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #6 – May 20, 2018, 11:37:35 am

Quote from: Travelin' Man – May 20, 2018, 11:21:35 am

My Prosine was locked up in invert which was not charging the batteries but draining them.

How'd that happen?

We just replaced our Dometic refer with a residential Samsung and traveling, MOT said to enable the inverter promising it won't be a big draw on power. I try to not drive over 4 hours/day...

We're headed out (from Lubbock), to Ruidoso tomorrow... sure do hate worrying about potential battery issues/12 volts issues...

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #7 – May 20, 2018, 11:42:13 am

reboot your Xantrax I think there is a button on it as I recall to "reset" - may be small and hard to find - get some charge in those batteries!!

your charger is not charging - it doesn't matter what the 110V source is, (generator or utility) your charger is not outputting. Your coach diesel will charge your batteries off the alternator if no other option is available and resetting your inverter does not bring the charge side back to life.

Tim Fiedler

Sure Start Soft Start - home of SureStart soft starters TCER Direct - home of Generac Approved Aluminum and Copper TCER Composite cable generator-gas-prod - home of X-Riser Gas Risers for PE installation Call me at 630 240-9139
Gen-Pro

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #8 – May 20, 2018, 11:48:15 am

No problem while driving. Alternator will well more than keep up with inverter/refrigerator load.

And, if running the generator to power the roof A/C, the inverter is not even involved.

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #9 – May 20, 2018, 11:49:49 am

In the future you may want to carry a small 10-20 amp portable charger just to save your batteries if the prosine does bite the dust unexpectedly. That would allow you to continue your trip without ruining your batteries. Glad it was a aimple breaker trip, and hopefully just a nuisance trip and not a sign of trouble.

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #10 – May 20, 2018, 12:23:24 pm

Quote from: Bill & Kim – May 20, 2018, 11:37:35 am

How'd that happen?

No idea, but had the same symptoms as you're experiencing.

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #11 – May 20, 2018, 12:43:52 pm

Quote from: Tim Fiedler – May 20, 2018, 11:42:13 am

reboot your Xantrax I think there is a button on it as I recall to "reset" - may be small and hard to find - get some charge in those batteries!!
Tim Fiedler

Rebooted as part of my in-the-bay contortions to no avail... turns out if was the breaker that was tripped.

I should always remember, start with the easiest explanation... breaker.

Quote from: Travelin' Man – May 20, 2018, 12:23:24 pm

No idea, but had the same symptoms as you're experiencing.

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #12 – May 20, 2018, 01:33:31 pm

Hi Bill and Kim,

Timing is everything, so Ive heard. This Friday we just experienced the same problem as you. We've been connected to 50 amp shore power for several weeks. Is our Prosine dead? Perhaps. We do have an unusual draw on our engine battery: the hydraulic lift for my wheelchair is connected to it. House batteries are not involved. Unfortunately they are also down on voltage now too.

Have tried to start coach to no avail. Battery boost no help. 10.1 volts at dash voltmeter, 11.3 at Prosine. Seriously down and wish I'd caught this sooner. Coach is parked as we get ready to leave in a week. Verified shore power to Prosine unit and all house circuits, microwave, refer operating normally, so I thought we were good. I wasn't regularly checking the battery voltage level.

My Newbie Question: Where is the breaker for the charging circuit on your coach? I need to check ours. Insurance paying for a jump start later today. I was planing on taking coach in to have inverter/charging system and batteries checked.

Thanks!

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #13 – May 20, 2018, 01:42:57 pm

Mike,

At the foot of the bed is your main 120 VAC breaker box. The breaker that supplies the inverter/charger will be labeled.

Turn it OFF and back ON.

You also have a smaller breaker box next to it but that is on the OUT side of the inverter/charger for those circuits that can be run from shore power, generator or inverter.

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #14 – May 20, 2018, 01:51:27 pm

I also remember from years ago, turning off did not always reset Xantrex units to correct faults and reset unit to work. You actually had to remove negative and positive cables to battery from the unit and then re hook up to reboot and reset to defaults. Shutting off 110 breaker would not always do it. Disconnect the negative battery cable first, then the positive cable. Follow directions in manual to reconnect. Wait a minute, reconnect, and this would reset the unit.

I learned this when a Xantrex unit was earmarked to be replaced. The second tech given the job to replace the Xantrex, reset it as above, and it worked, not needing replacement.

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #15 – May 20, 2018, 04:24:48 pm

Quote from: Mike J – May 20, 2018, 01:33:31 pm

Hi Bill and Kim,
My Newbie Question: Where is the breaker for the charging circuit on your coach?

Quote from: wolfe10 – May 20, 2018, 01:42:57 pm

Mike,

At the foot of the bed is your main 120 VAC breaker box. The breaker that supplies the inverter/charger will be labeled.

Turn it OFF and back ON.

You also have a smaller breaker box next to it but that is on the OUT side of the inverter/charger for those circuits that can be run from shore power, generator or inverter.

What he said, Mike.

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #16 – May 20, 2018, 04:47:21 pm

Bill, the OEM breakers are somewat short lived. I have replaced a couple of mine in the 2001. Get a couple.

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #17 – May 21, 2018, 03:15:09 pm

Thank you all!

Yesterday went to where coach is parked. Got charger breaker location, should have looked there first. Assumed it would be at inverter in basement. My bad judgement. Moving on, charger breaker didn't reset inverter. So, disconnected 50 amp shorepower, and turned off all the main breakers. Got something with ice in it to drink. Came back, hooked up shorepower, confirmed it was reaching inverter/charger, then turned on all mains. Turned battery boost on so charge would get to engine batteries. Prosine started charging at 105-108 amps. 30 minutes later started engine. Just before starting: 3 engine batts were at 11.72-11.98v and 502-734 CCA, cold cranking amps. Guy from AAA had nifty meter that showed the info one battery at a time.

So is our Prosine dead? Well, wife watched it shut down to zero amps out due to high temp at 111-115 degrees. Yet, wife said the charge light was still lit. Could have been reading batt temps!?. I can't get in coach to determine what data she was reading. She prefers I do the tech stuff, but being outside in my wheelchair, I don't want to put additional load on system using lift to get inside coach, (my powerchair with me is almost 500lbs, 340 of that is the chair). Bigger picture: The inverter/charger had acted up several times last summer whenever it was over 80 degrees outside. We'd go to the coach still on shorepower to find voltage on house batteries at 11v, once to 9v! Prosine would display warning and attempt to restart after these temperature events. Sometimes it did. Sometimes everything had to be shut off and disconnected. These are not such a hot days to cause problems. I confirmed that the inverter fan was running and ventilation areas were clean.

Coach is at shop. Ordered new inverter/charger, etc. control panels as needed to replace OEM. Hate spending the $$$$, but electrical issues can be sneaky. Here today and then not. I think we'll be happier the further we get from home not chasing electrical ghosts.

No regrets. Just hoping the coach batts are okay.

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #18 – May 21, 2018, 03:26:37 pm

Mike,

Your statement: " Prosine started charging at 105-108 amps. 30 minutes later started engine. Just before starting: 3 engine batts were at 11.72-11.98v and 502-734 CCA, cold cranking amps. ."

If Prosine was showing a charge rate of 105-105 amps DC, sure sounds like it is working.

11.72 is a dead battery.

Really need to fully charge the batteries and load test them. Don't want bad batteries to give you a false indication of charger function failure.

Re: Plugged in, batteries not charging...

Reply #19 – May 21, 2018, 04:16:49 pm

Hi Brett,

Prosine was definitely charging the batts once we got it reset. Good thing too. Guy from AAA was there and we decided why not try starting coach before going the jump start routine. I was surprised the ISL 400 started up with batts still so low.

Agree with you, "Really need to fully charge the batteries and load test them. Don't want bad batteries to give you a false indication of charger function failure."

My desire to replace inverter/charger is based on how it intermittently stops charging whenever ambient air temp gets around 80 degrees. We have coach about five miles from us in between trips. Been frustrating finding the charger off when we show up a week before departure to pack and do a preflight check.

Just got word from the shop the engine batts (Optima 7 years old) are okay. They fully charged em and did load test. Moving onto check house batts, they are AGM and new in 2014.

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