no 12 volt power

[Brit Road Trip]

Hello folks, hoping to receive some troubleshooting assistance with my inverter. I have a 2021 3121RL 5th wheel. I have complete power when connected to shore power. When I disconnect there is no power coming in to run the Fridge, water pump, interior lights. Before my road trip, I purposely ran the fridge and lights to test how long the battery power would last. I stopped after 4 hours feeling satisfied. During my 2nd leg of the trip I noticed the CSW inverter was not displaying any voltage when we stopped in a rest area. When I connected to shore power later that night at the campground, the display had to be turned on and showing 12.9 volts. I have checked the batteries before and after the disconnect and at the input of the inverter, showing 12.9 -13.0. Why is there no power inside to run the fridge, pump and lights ? thank you, hoping for a simple fix to avoid taking it in for the repair.

[rohrmann]

The symptoms you are describing are very likely caused by having your battery disconnect switch OFF. Your CONVERTER, not your INVERTER is what charges your batteries and provides 12 volt DC power. If the batteries are dead, and the disconnect switch is OFF or open, no power gets to the batteries and none comes from the batteries when not connected to shore power. When you are connected to shore power with the disconnect switch OFF, you will see power to the 12 volt system, but that is coming directly from the converter. Turn your disconnect switch to the ON position. Hopefully your batteries are not damaged from being discharged. Your INVERTER uses 12 volt DC to make 120 volts AC, and that is what would be powering your fridge when not on shore power, but dead batteries will not work and when not on shore power your fridge will not work. Your water pump and most interior lights work off of 12 volts DC.

[Foldbak]

Welcome to the MOC

If it's a Dimensions it's a common problem. Recycle the inverter battery disconnect. I have seen and experienced them lose their programming. Check to make sure it didn't reset to disabled.

[Brit Road Trip]

thank you, I'll let you know if this is the issue.

[imolared]

My original post was a year ago.
The issue has occured two additional times.
What I determined was in preparation to leave on a trip I move the "rig" from the back to the front and plug into a different house outlet to turn run the refrigerator. In both cases the house circuit breaker had a reason to stop power. I reset the breaker. That is when power to the rig is missing. I then started the generator. Let it run for 30+ seconds. Turn it off and Ta-Da the rig now has power. Not knowing how all this works it appears to me that when the circuit breaker shuts-off the "transfer switch" does its thing, which stops shore power. Starting the generator somehow "resets" the transfer switch. At least that is my story for now. I willing to learn. Please share.

[rohrmann]

Instead of replacing the 50 amp auto reset breaker with the same thing, do what Lippert says to do, and replace it with an 80 amp auto reset breaker, and you likely will have no more problems. The hydraulic pump motor on these systems can draw over 70 amps, and the breaker can't handle that too long. You can install either a manual reset breaker or an auto reset one. I'm not sure whether you are losing power on the 120 volt side or the 12 volt side, but this solution is for the breaker issue you have had.

https://manuals.heartlandowners.org/...ippert0058.pdf

[imolared]

I like that!!!
Thanks

[BB_TX]

There are two separate discussions going on in this thread. That by the OP, imolared, and a subsequent poster, Brit Road Trip. Somewhat similar issues, but also different. Getting confusing on when a response is given as to which person it is meant for.

[Brit Road Trip]

I did the code reset, battery disconnect, tested each battery individually, disconnected from shore power for more than an hour, still no power from batteries when disconnected from shore power. The CSW Inverter display shows the battery voltage while connected to shore power. As soon as I disconnect the power cable, all is dead inside.

[Brit Road Trip]

my issue is with no power when disconnected from shore power. I have the 2400 watt CSW2012 POWER inverter. did the code reset, disconnected from battery power for an hour, batteries are charged, no power inside when not connected to shore power.

[Daryles]

Brit Road Trip,

Carl wrote the perfect 12vdc troubleshooting flow chart:
https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...ad.php?t=86323

[Brit Road Trip]

I believe I found my issue, it is the 50 Amp circuit breaker that is connected to the battery and receives power back from the inverter. I have 12-7 volts battery side and 13-4 inverter side. the inverter power is not going through to the battery side. I took a jumper wire across the 2 post, that put the battery power to the inside of the RV, everything works off the battery power. I watched the inverter charge the batteries upto 13-6. question, is the CB that was changed upto the 80 Amp CB by Keystone ? thank you for the assistance

[BB_TX]

Originally Posted by Brit Road Trip

I believe I found my issue, it is the 50 Amp circuit breaker that is connected to the battery and receives power back from the inverter. I have 12-7 volts battery side and 13-4 inverter side. the inverter power is not going through to the battery side. I took a jumper wire across the 2 post, that put the battery power to the inside of the RV, everything works off the battery power. I watched the inverter charge the batteries upto 13-6. question, is the CB that was changed upto the 80 Amp CB by Keystone ? thank you for the assistance

The circuit breaker typically changed to an 80 amp is the one that feeds power to the hydraulic pump since that pump draws a lot of power. But some have also changed the breaker to the converter to 80 amps also. Not sure I would do that unless the wire size is adequate to handle that many amps. And it should not need an 80 amp breaker any way.


The converter (not inverter) is what charges the battery. A converter changes 120 vac to 12 vdc. An inverter changes 12 vdc to 120 vac.


Another way to verify that circuit breaker is the problem is to shut off 120 vac to your converter, either by turning off shore power or turning off the breaker to the converter. With the converter off, that circuit breaker should have 12 vdc (or whatever the battery voltage is) on both terminals. Those things are nothing more than a piece of bimetal.

[Daryles]

Brit Road Trip,
Years ago, Lippert put out a TSB to put the hydraulic system on its own 80A circuit breaker.
Copy in the files section.

[Brit Road Trip]

thank you for your assistance, I have learned a lot from this

[wed]

It probably in them transfer switch

[Brit Road Trip]

Daryl , I confirmed it is the small 50 amp CB. when I was removing the wires, I discovered the CB came apart. The 2 studs are in the plastic cover, the cover was separated from the wall attached case. the separation wasn't much, enough to lose contact with the BI-metal strip inside the casing. I plan to get a new replacement, hopefully it is better quality. Again thanks for your help. I have a much better understanding

[Daryles]

Buy Blue Sea or Bussmann circuit breakers.
While you are at it, put the hydraulic system on its own 80A circuit breaker.

[Brit Road Trip]

Daryl, thank you for the CB manufacture suggestions, my HYD system came with the 80 amp CB from Keystone .