Converter/charging problem

[booster]

Originally Posted by graywolfkayak

Yeah, I get 13.5 on the bench. In the RV I get whatever the current voltage of the battery is.

It's been suggested that, although rare, it could be the battery disconnect (red) key. I'm going to check that out next.

Check that the PD negative cable is connected to the chassis properly and with low resistance. What you are seeing just doesn't really make a lot of sense in several ways.

[mkguitar]

this PD uses a "white" marked cable from the terminal on the side to a common van chassis ground



the black "dc -" runs to a buss bar on the house fuse box


Mike

[booster]

Originally Posted by mkguitar

this PD uses a "white" marked cable from the terminal on the side to a common van chassis ground



the black "dc -" runs to a buss bar on the house fuse box


Mike

I just looked at the PD 9100 series manual and they show the typical negative 12v lead to chassis and a required separate converter chassis to vehicle chassis ground wire as a safety ground.


I t doesn't matter is the negative 12v line goes to a bussbar and then to chassis as long as it gets to the vehicle chassis. Of course the battery, alternator and all the 12 load negative also need to go to chassis in some way. I can't imagine that Pleasure-way would you a hardwired negative 12v system instead of the chassis.

[mkguitar]

yes


the DC buss bar has a chassis ground strap


mike

[booster]

If the battery is also tied to the buss bar so connected to the PD negative, but the bussbar has a weak chassis connection, it might do as the OP is seeing.


I don't know how the PD internals are setup, but it is likely that the output DC voltage is referenced to the earth ground/neutral through the chassis. If it doesn't see that reference it may not accurately regulate voltage. Power supply style chargers like this work differently than units that just connect to battery so I really can't say how it would work with poor ground for certain. The OP says it works on the bench so something is different in the connections in the van that is causing the issue.

[mkguitar]

Booster, great observations


loosen, re-tighten the connections ( red switch off), and shore power ( AC source) disconnected


else where the OP mentioned this occurred in the midst of a trip, could be some jouncing of jostling


BTW start checking cables for tightness and brightness of connection.


some years ago a pal had spent over a thousand at a dealer on stators, regulators, batteries- and in less than 10 minutes I found that his negative battery cable was rotted under the insulation it was just a weird corroded grey/green paste of mush.
it would meter ok, but apply any current draw and resistance would rise and heat would build and power was reduced to the load

Mike

[graywolfkayak]

Originally Posted by mkguitar

Booster, great observations


loosen, re-tighten the connections ( red switch off), and shore power ( AC source) disconnected


else where the OP mentioned this occurred in the midst of a trip, could be some jouncing of jostling


BTW start checking cables for tightness and brightness of connection.


some years ago a pal had spent over a thousand at a dealer on stators, regulators, batteries- and in less than 10 minutes I found that his negative battery cable was rotted under the insulation it was just a weird corroded grey/green paste of mush.
it would meter ok, but apply any current draw and resistance would rise and heat would build and power was reduced to the load

Mike

Just got back from a 45 minute drive in the rig, the first since the end of our trip. On our return, just for grins I hooked up the shore power and...the 12 volt is working without showing a drain on the battery when I run the roof fan or use other 12 volt appliances.

I'm going to leave it plugged in overnight as a test. The battery was draining down to 93 to 94% overnight just maintaining the LP & carbon monoxide detectors (and who knows what else), so it will be interesting to see if it stays at 100% due to the shore power maintaining the battery charge.

Sure sounds like a loose connection to me.

[mkguitar]

Jeez.


If you take it to a shop, they are going to do pretty much the same as you can if you are feeling nimble


disconnect power and battery ( completely) and start following all the wiring through to make sure that each connection is clean, tight and secure.
I'd pay attention to that ground strap and also the buss bars under the fuse box.


the worst thing is if it starts working and you don;t know why...


mike

[graywolfkayak]

Yup, that's my next project.