Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > MOC Technical Forums > Solar, Charging Systems, Batteries and Electrical
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-23-2021, 10:39 AM   #1
jsb5717
Montana Master
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,447
M.O.C. #23668
12 volt systems surging?

All of a sudden all of our 12 volt lights are dim. They surge from dim to a little brighter. We've been in some hot weather with hotter weather to come. If I lose 12 volt I lose the TStat so no AC. My first suspicion is the power converter but thought I'd ask y'all to see what the broader wisdom is.


Any thoughts? Thanks
 
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 11:01 AM   #2
BB_TX
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,122
M.O.C. #6433
Might be your battery(s) going bad. Brighter when converter running. Dim when not.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
BB_TX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 11:07 AM   #3
jcurtis934
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Pensacola (mail forward service)
Posts: 3,198
M.O.C. #13740
Put a voltmeter on a battery to see what the reading is. I would expect it NOT to read 13.4 vdc since you say the lights are dim. And a reading of less than this would say the converter has died or getting there.
__________________
2012 F350 6.7 L dually, 2013 3800RE with 6 pt leveling, Sumitomo 17.5" load range h tires, Samsung 18 cu ft residential fridge, 8k Morryde I.S. with disc brakes. Full timing since 2012.
jcurtis934 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 12:00 PM   #4
Mokeman
New Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Cameron Park
Posts: 2
M.O.C. #29010
Generator connection

I have a 2021 3121RL with Legacy generator prep. I wand to connect to a Generac 3500W that I will put in the bed of the truck. Any advise or cautions will be appreciated.
Mokeman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 12:01 PM   #5
jsb5717
Montana Master
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,447
M.O.C. #23668
Thanks, yes, both batteries are less that 12v - one at 10v, other at 7v. I put a meter on the leads going to the batteries and get zero volts. I'm assuming that means the converter isn't putting out any voltage to the system.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 12:09 PM   #6
jsb5717
Montana Master
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,447
M.O.C. #23668
I have my battery charger with me and connected it to the batteries. The 12v systems came back online. Lights are bright, TStat is working along with the AC.

However, the panel on the fridge and interior light are both working but the fridge isn't running. The compressor won't kick back on. Is there a reset?
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 09:04 PM   #7
Carl n Susan
Site Team
 
Carl n Susan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,315
M.O.C. #4831
Quote:
Originally Posted by jsb5717 View Post
Thanks, yes, both batteries are less that 12v - one at 10v, other at 7v. I put a meter on the leads going to the batteries and get zero volts. I'm assuming that means the converter isn't putting out any voltage to the system.
Where did you test? The end of the cables in the battery box area or at the converter output posts? The converter posts are the place to determine if it is actually working or not. There are circuit breakers along the path to thhe batteries which do fail and make it look like their is no 12V.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jsb5717 View Post
However, the panel on the fridge and interior light are both working but the fridge isn't running. The compressor won't kick back on. Is there a reset?
I take it you have a residential refer on you MHC 305RL?

.
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB

Carl n Susan is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 09:26 PM   #8
jsb5717
Montana Master
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,447
M.O.C. #23668
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl n Susan View Post
Where did you test? The end of the cables in the battery box area or at the converter output posts? The converter posts are the place to determine if it is actually working or not. There are circuit breakers along the path to thhe batteries which do fail and make it look like their is no 12V.

I take it you have a residential refer on you MHC 305RL?

.

Thanks for the info. I did check at the end of the cables. The converter is offline so I'll have to re-check. I didn't know if a bad converter wrecked the batteries or vice-versa so didn't want to risk it. I have a new converter on order but I guess I should re-check the current one before replacing.


The fridge is an RV fridge. It is currently running on propane.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 11:24 PM   #9
Carl n Susan
Site Team
 
Carl n Susan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,315
M.O.C. #4831
You wrote earlier "The compressor won't kick back on." RV refers don't have a compressor. They use a heater to boil the ammonia instead of the propane gas flame.

Also, did I read on another forum that you found the batteries are bad, not the converter?
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB

Carl n Susan is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2021, 09:38 AM   #10
jsb5717
Montana Master
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,447
M.O.C. #23668
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl n Susan View Post
You wrote earlier "The compressor won't kick back on." RV refers don't have a compressor. They use a heater to boil the ammonia instead of the propane gas flame.

Also, did I read on another forum that you found the batteries are bad, not the converter?
Thanks, again. I misspoke about the fridge. When it's running I can usually hear it. After I was playing with the electrical for a bit it didn't seem to run on AC, but it would run on LP so I've just let it do so for now. I haven't tried it back on AC now that we've got good batteries.

Yes, I did have the batteries tested and they were both bad. I was surprised since the batteries were marked 2/19 and we bought this rig 3/19. I've never had batteries fail like that...especially both of them. I disconnect them in the winter so they don't over charge. But now I've got new ones. I plan to test the converter again today at the converter, as you suggested, rather than at the battery cables...just to make sure. If I've got power at the converter but not at the battery then I'll need to figure out what else has failed.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2021, 02:09 PM   #11
laverdur
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Albany
Posts: 406
M.O.C. #11972
Have you checked all the fuses in the converter, especially the reverse polarity fuses? If they are blown, the converter will not deliver 12v to the batteries.
__________________
2012 3150RL. G614 tires. Hardwired surge protector. Level-Up Hydraulic leveling.
2013 F-350 Lariat 6.7 PSD SRW SC LB 4X4 OEM hitch, air self-leveling on rear. 57-gallon replacement fuel tank. DieselSite water separator/fuel filter.
laverdur is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2021, 02:43 PM   #12
bcrvman
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Qualicum Beach
Posts: 665
M.O.C. #26399
Quote:
Originally Posted by jsb5717 View Post
All of a sudden all of our 12 volt lights are dim. They surge from dim to a little brighter. We've been in some hot weather with hotter weather to come. If I lose 12 volt I lose the TStat so no AC. My first suspicion is the power converter but thought I'd ask y'all to see what the broader wisdom is.


Any thoughts? Thanks
Do you have REAL deep cycle batteries? Do you use a Bogart or Victron battery monitor to make sure they stay above 50%? If not, then batteries may be dying. To check, REMOVE + lead, leave sit for an hour then measure the voltage. If they are supposed to be fully charged they will read 12.6V. At 12V it's almost completely depleted.
BTW, real deep cycle batteries do not have the word crank anywhere on the battery, or the initials CCA, MCCA. Gold standard is Trojan T105. 6V golf cart batteries so you need to buy in pairs. Not expensive but require monthly checking. Or go AGM for double the cost or Lithium for higher upfront cost but over 10 years cheaper. Good luck.
__________________
2018 Keystone Montana 3811MS
2017 Ford F450 diesel dually
600AH Battle Born Lithium Batteries, 1,080 watts solar
3,000 watt hybrid inverter with 120A charger
bcrvman is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:51 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.