Quote:
Originally Posted by Oneilkeys
If the BIRD and Trombetta are operating correctly, the voltages on the house batteries and Chassis batteries should read the same whether you are running the engine (alternator) or you are on shore power or the generator.
From the voltages you are reading:
Shore power - nothing is charging. This is not a Trombetta/BIRD problem..
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Hmmmm.....just went out and measured while on shore power...house batteries are now showing 13.3....so it looks like they are charging. Wonder if the batteries are not holding a full charge charge.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oneilkeys
Generator - The house battery is charging but the chassis battery is not. This could be a BIRD/Trombetta problem but (to be honest) I do not understand how the house batteries are being charged while on the generator but not on shore power? If the 100 amp breaker at the left hand corner of your house battery box is closed (and I think it must be because the house batteries are being charged under generator) then my best guess is the transfer switch. Again, I do not fully understand the workings of the transfer switch. Maybe someone else can explain how the transfer switch works and if it is possible for it to work while on generator but not on shore power. You do not need the Trombetta to close to charge the house batteries while on shore power or generator. On shore power or generator the Trombetta must close to charge the chassis battery. The opposite under the alternator.
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Exactly what I was wondering. Kind of an odd situation....doesn't make sense. But as I mention above they appear to be charging now. With regard to the 100 amp breaker, I did test it before we moved today and reset it. But it didn't appear to impact the alternator charging.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oneilkeys
Finally, on the alternator, the chassis battery is charging, but the house batteries are not. Could be a BIRD or Trombetta problem.
I assume from the voltages, that you hooked into shore power first, then ran the generator for a bit and then the engine?
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Not quite. We moved today, before I started the engine I took the shore power readings. Before we traveled and after running the engine for 15 minutes or so) I took the alternator readings. Took the same readings after about 2 hours of travel. More or less the same - chassis at 13.96v, house at 12.2. The house batteries had not charged.
Ran the generator at the new campground and took readings at that point.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oneilkeys
I also do not understand why under the generator the BIRD is putting out 13.14v to the Trombetta and the Trombetta is not opening (indicating that the Trombetta is not operating) but that the BIRD is only putting out 12.4v to the Trombetta while the alternator is running? I would check and see if the BIRD is wired correctly and if the Trombetta is working.
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As I mentioned earlier we had the inverter replaced the first week in Aug. I'm wondering if something wasn't installed correctly at that time. But for over a month and several thousand miles I had no problems. So that doesn't seem likely.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oneilkeys
It appears to me that you have one problem (possibly with the transfer switch) involving the generator and shore power and another problem either with the way the BIRD is installed or a bad BIRD or Trombetta.
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A bad transfer switch may be the problem. I bough an extended warranty when I purchased the MH. If replacing the BIRD and Trombetta don't resolve the issue, I'll take it in when we return home in 12 days. I may just have to run the generator when driving.
Thanks for the help and the patience.
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