low voltage

[djnash]

Been awhile but have an issue only this forum can answer. My lippert auto level is always saying low voltage. It reads 12.4 and book says it needs to be 12.7 or you get low voltage and can only manually level the rv. Replaced the house batteries but have a feeling that it is the engine battery. Help!!!!

[C WITT]

Mine always shows low voltage on engine start up But when the alternator kicks up the voltage (about 10 seconds) its OK Check you're alternator

[be happy]

To use my leveler I have to have the engine running or I will get low voltage.

[djnash]

Always have the engine running. I'll put money on it that the engine battery isn't putting out enough voltage to operate that system.

[gmc]

Originally Posted by djnash

Been awhile but have an issue only this forum can answer. My lippert auto level is always saying low voltage. It reads 12.4 and book says it needs to be 12.7 or you get low voltage and can only manually level the rv. Replaced the house batteries but have a feeling that it is the engine battery. Help!!!!

The jacks are typically on the engine/chassis battery - and not the house.
As stated below - check the chassis battery and alternator output (many auto parts stores can do so - on the hurricane should be reasonably accessible to get to battery terminals.)
Generally run jacks with engine on - seems to be common practice and should avoid low voltage conditions (assuming batt/alternator are good.)

[djnash]

Thanks for the input. I believe you are correct as I always do it that way. The house batteries are brand new and everything on them operate great. What has me confused is I called lippert yesterday and they said the jacks are on the house batteries. I tried doing it manually but the system is not user friendly. The jacks kept raising the tires off the ground and couldn't lower them individually. Hate this system. Argggg::

[Laco]

I believe in most installations the jacks do work off the house batteries, but the control panel off the chassis battery, so it can be controlled by the ignition switch. I know that's the way the leveling system I had added to the Gemini is wired.

[gmc]

Originally Posted by djnash

...
I tried doing it manually but the system is not user friendly. The jacks kept raising the tires off the ground and couldn't lower them individually. Hate this system. Argggg::

The systems I have had have always worked the jacks in pairs... I would expect moving individual jacks could result in some interesting twisting/stresses on rig.

The way I was shown on my first rig (which was only manual) - was to lower the front jacks till both touch... lower the back jacks till both touch... then follow the arrows on the panel to lower pairs as needed.
Worked pretty simply and with minimal raising to get level... and ending up with all four jacks firmly down.

Current rig has both manual and automatic. Both work, but manual often leaves the rig a little lower to ground.

[Laco]

Yes they should always work in pairs to avoid torqueing the frame.

[djnash]

Will give it a shot thanks

[tnedator]

Originally Posted by Laco

I believe in most installations the jacks do work off the house batteries, but the control panel off the chassis battery, so it can be controlled by the ignition switch. I know that's the way the leveling system I had added to the Gemini is wired.

Correct. My ACE is wired this way.

Power to the brains/control box that's in a right side storage compartment, comes from the chassis battery and the ground comes from the emergency brake (there is a switch that activates when the brake is depressed). The low voltage warning comes from this connection.

Then, there is a about 8 wires that run from the brains to the actual hydraulic pump.

The pump itself gets power from the coach batteries and have a high amp breaker in line.

From what I've read, and experienced, when you get the low voltage warning, you can put it in manual mode and level manually (which I always do anyway, due to the violent nature of the LCI leveling).

I have not been able to really pin down when/why I get the low voltage. I have checked at the control box when it's occurred, and it the voltage was around 11.4. My suspicion is a questionable ground. Maybe the switch on the emergency brake isn't working correctly. I checked the at the chassis battery at was getting the 14.2V or so that you would expect with the engine running, so I don't think it's an alternator problem, which is why I expect a ground.