Batteries do not charge with shore power but does with generator

September 23, 2024, 09:24:00 pm

I’ve been troubleshooting this issue for a while now since we bought the Coach back in July of this year.

When we plug into shore power, no matter if 15, 30 or 50 amps, house batteries do not charge and strangely enough there are always 3 breakers in the house that do not have any voltage to them (front a/c, elec. aqua hot & inverter). Fridge, microwave, outlets etc works.

When we run the generator everything works fine. Charger from inverter does charge batteries.
Electric heat on Aqua Hot works.
Front air conditioner works

Since this problem has existed we have updated AGM batteries to LiFePo4 so batteries are not an issue and in the mean time we have an electric lithium battery charger that we use as a battery maintainer when we are plugged into shore.

The Xantrex inverter/charger works perfect when generator is running so that is not the problem.

The power wire coming into the inverter from the house main distribution panel does not show voltage when plugged into shore, which it shouldn’t due to the breaker not having power to it.

I have tried swapping the breakers with other ones and that did not work either, telling me it’s not a bad breaker issue.

We’re plugged into 30 amp right now and I have attached all voltage readings we have right now. Voltage coming into surge guard from power cord indicates 120 volts on both hot legs, but one leg coming out of surge guard has no voltage. This then goes to the transfer switch and I’ve found just one leg has voltage.

The generator power goes directly into the transfer switch, bypassing the surge guard so I am now leaning toward a bad surge guard. However, Southwire, the maker of the surge guard has informed me that “the contactor inside the relay has all legs ganged together such that one leg can not be individually engaged.” I have since sent them my voltage readings that I’ve attached here and am awaiting a reply. So far they have been willing to help.

Thanks in advance for any help here!

2006 CC Intrigue 40’

Re: Batteries do not charge with shore power but does with generator

Reply #1 – September 26, 2024, 08:47:21 am

Dustin,

I have had better luck on questions being answered on face book Country Coach Owners Group.

My batteries were not charging when using shore power and I had blown fuse on charging system on a 2003 Intrigue.

Good Luck

Re: Batteries do not charge with shore power but does with generator

Reply #2 – September 26, 2024, 09:46:03 am

Larry,

Thanks for the info.

I ordered a new surge guard yesterday so we will see🙏

Southwire and myself both are thinking that is the problem since there is no voltage coming out of one leg from the surge guard.

I’ll report the results after I install just so in case it helps someone else in the future here with similar problem.

Re: Batteries do not charge with shore power but does with generator

Reply #3 – September 26, 2024, 09:36:23 pm

Dustin,

If that does not fix problem look for Echo Charger. That is where fuse was blown.

Larry

Re: Batteries do not charge with shore power but does with generator

Reply #4 – September 29, 2024, 06:23:08 pm

Installed new Surge Guard 35550 and that fixed my issue.

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