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04-23-2017, 01:37 AM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Fl
Posts: 4
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All coach electric dead. Help!
All my 12 volt power went dead, I installed a new battery and the lights and appliances worked for 24 hrs, today it is dead again, generator won't start either... seems like something is draining the system, what should I check?
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04-23-2017, 02:18 AM
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#2
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Platinum Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: East
Posts: 2,483
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Davidhu
All my 12 volt power went dead, I installed a new battery and the lights and appliances worked for 24 hrs, today it is dead again, generator won't start either... seems like something is draining the system, what should I check?
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YOu can use a volt meter to go through each fuse one by one...
Do a search on youtube, there are lots of video on how to trace an electrical short.
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04-23-2017, 03:49 AM
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#3
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: CA
Posts: 1,668
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BBQ
YOu can use a volt meter to go through each fuse one by one...
Do a search on youtube, there are lots of video on how to trace an electrical short.
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How do you think that testing voltages at the fuses will pinpoint this problem?
Why assume there is a short rather than valid load?
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04-23-2017, 03:54 AM
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#4
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 12,476
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Yep, needs to use an ammeter.
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04-23-2017, 03:55 AM
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#5
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: CA
Posts: 1,668
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Davidhu
All my 12 volt power went dead, I installed a new battery and the lights and appliances worked for 24 hrs, today it is dead again, generator won't start either... seems like something is draining the system, what should I check?
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You need to fill in some blanks.
What amp hour battery was replaced and what battery replaced it?
Were you hooked up to shore power or driving during the 24 hour period?
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04-23-2017, 04:06 AM
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#6
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Platinum Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: East
Posts: 2,483
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cruising7388
How do you think that testing voltages at the fuses will pinpoint this problem?
Why assume there is a short rather than valid load?
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Nope... you are making the assumption. Not me. This is only the first step in trouble shooting.
Maybe I should say multi-meter instead of volt meter.
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04-23-2017, 04:41 AM
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#7
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: CA
Posts: 1,668
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BBQ
Nope... you are making the assumption. Not me. This is only the first step in trouble shooting.
Maybe I should say multi-meter instead of volt meter.
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I'm making the assumption regarding a short?
Hey Youngblood, read your own post!: 
" Do a search on youtube, there are lots of video on how to trace an electrical short."
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04-23-2017, 05:01 AM
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#8
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Platinum Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: East
Posts: 2,483
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04-23-2017, 02:33 PM
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#9
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Virginia
Posts: 147
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"The lights and appliances worked for 24 hrs" - were you connected to shore power? If you run your fridge and a few lights off of a battery for 24 hours, it may very well go dead. This is where the Amp-hours question comes in. 120 Amp-hours means the battery will sustain a 1 Amp draw for 120 hours or a 30 Amp draw for 4 hours or whatever Amp X hours = 120. I would never count on more than 2/3 of the rated Amp-hours being available, though. Your fridge will draw 5-8 Amps, so 2/3*120/8 = 10 hours of running your fridge (+/-).
Did your generator start when you first installed the new battery? If you don't know, how much fuel do you have? What is the minimum for your generator to run? Some generators won't run off of less than 1/2 tank.
Does your chassis alternator charge your house battery? If so, crank up your van and let your batteries charge a bit. Check all of your fuel sources - for example, can your fridge run on propane? Do you have propane? Then, start figuring out where your energy is going!
I hope this is helpful. Good luck to you.
__________________
*****************************
1999 American Cruiser
2003 Club Car GS
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04-23-2017, 03:41 PM
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#10
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New Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Fl
Posts: 4
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Thanks everyone, have not been hooked to shore power...battery is same size...the gen not starting was first sign of problem, then noticed nothing worked, propane works
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04-23-2017, 07:34 PM
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#11
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New Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Fl
Posts: 4
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All the appliances work when plugged into Shore power, except the generator will not fire... seems like the alternator is not charging the coach battery... I was plugged into Shore power for about 30 minutes and the lights work for a while now or starting to dim
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04-23-2017, 08:42 PM
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#12
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: CA
Posts: 1,668
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Quote:
Originally Posted by booster
Yep, needs to use an ammeter.
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Well, technically you could employ a voltmeter measuring across the fuse terminals but even then you're measuring voltage drop, not system voltage but which would permit calculating current and power delivered. Seems like a convoluted process compared to troubleshooting it this way:
30 Amp Automotive Fuse Circuit Tester
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04-23-2017, 09:58 PM
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#13
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: CA
Posts: 1,668
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Davidhu
All the appliances work when plugged into Shore power, except the generator will not fire... seems like the alternator is not charging the coach battery... I was plugged into Shore power for about 30 minutes and the lights work for a while now or starting to dim
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What year and model is your coach?
What model number is on the converter/charger?
Did this problem just develop or has it been a chronic condition?
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