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05-02-2024, 12:00 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Joliet
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #28616
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2015 Montana 3402RL 12 volt not chatging
Good afternoon! Late in the season last year we had a problem with the 12 volt battery not maintaining a charge. I suspected the battery & replaced it but it still did not maintain a charge. I now assume it is the 12 volt charging system. A friend of mine mentioned that there may be a reset switch located on the wall in the batter compartment but I do not know what to look for.
I am in the process of opening up our RV for the summer and if anyone can guide me to where I can check to see if something needs a simple push button reset or replacing the (inverter)<--- I do not know if this is the proper terminology... Thanks in advance!!!
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05-02-2024, 12:23 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,696
M.O.C. #4831
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You wrote the battery is not maintaining a charge. I am not sure what that means exactly. Does the battery lose voltage over a period on non-use? Or does it drop voltage while being used and it doesn't get re-charged?
Periods of non-use can cause voltage drop due to parasitic loads even if the Red Disconnect Switch is used (it doesn't disconnect all 12V devices).
How old is the battery and have you had it load tested?
The battery is charged by a converter (takes 120V AC and outputs 12V DC). An inverter is a device to produce 120V AC from 12V DC
The 12V flow from the converter to the batteries is pretty straight forward. Here are the places to look. All connections should have 13.5 +/- Volts if the converter is working.
- The converter is part of the power distribution panel -Ensure the CB for it is On
- There are Reverse Polarity Fuses on the converter which protect against connecting a battery backwards. - Ensure they are not blown.
- Check the output voltage at the converter. - it should be in the 13.5V DC range.
- The power then runs to the Disconnect Switch in the Convenience Center. - Ensure the Red Key is in the position where it can *NOT* be removed. If removed, this interrupts the power charging the battery. The Disconnect Switch is not know to fail, but you can remove it to check there is power in and out of it just to be sure.
- The power next flows to the group of 50 amp self-resetting CBs behind the battery. We all know about the one that hiccups and interrupts the hydraulic system. That one also passes power to/from the converter and batteries. You want to check it and it's brother (it is in the current flow to the battery) to ensure there is 13.5V on *EACH* side of the CB.
- The last connection is the one from the 50 amp CBs to the batteries. Ensure you have clean connections and the cables are not corroded (watch out for internal corrosion under the shrink wrap).
Somewhere along this path there will be the problem. A simple VOM should find it. I hope this helps.
The most common causes are :
o - the Battery Disconnect Switch in the convenience center is in the wrong position (the Red Key should be in the position where it can't be removed)
o - The red plastic covered self resetting 50 amp circuit breakers behind the battery have failed.
__________________
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
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05-03-2024, 05:43 AM
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#3
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Established Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Joliet
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #28616
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Thanks! The battery is new so I have not performed a load test on it but I would hope it is fine. Then again, hope is not a good strategy.
I will look into chasing the converter charging power and see where it takes me.
Hoyett
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05-03-2024, 10:19 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,696
M.O.C. #4831
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Did someone accidentally connect the wires to the battery backwards when installing that new battery? It doesn't take much to blow the Reverse Polarity Fuses in the converter if so.
__________________
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
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05-03-2024, 11:25 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,366
M.O.C. #6433
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As Carl noted, you should see 13.5+volts from the converter to the battery when connected to shore power. You can check that at the battery terminals. If you don’t have that voltage then the converter is suspect and would be the next thing to check. Assuming you did check the battery disconnect switch for correct position.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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05-06-2024, 05:48 AM
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#6
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Established Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Joliet
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #28616
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Where is the converter located? Is it in the battery compartment or do I have to remove the panels from the storage area?
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05-06-2024, 09:49 AM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,696
M.O.C. #4831
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The converter is part of the Power Panel (circuit breakers and fuses). The panel has a black cover that opens easily.
__________________
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
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05-06-2024, 10:48 AM
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#8
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Established Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Joliet
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #28616
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My panel is located in the main cabin bathroom about 6 foot off of the ground. Is there a shelf back there that it sits on?
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05-06-2024, 01:32 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,696
M.O.C. #4831
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That's right, you have an older 3402RL model. they used to put the power panel in the bathroom. Can you take a picture of that area. Specifically the power panel? You may have an integrated converter or perhaps a separate box one. There might be a shelf for the separate converter but I can't see Montana spending the extra $$ to do that.
__________________
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
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05-06-2024, 02:55 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Gardnerville
Posts: 1,283
M.O.C. #17163
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Take a volt meter when you are hooked up to shore power.. The reading at the battery should be over 12.8 volts... If you are not getting that then I would check the convertor...
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05-07-2024, 08:52 AM
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#11
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Established Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Joliet
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #28616
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I will take a photo of it when I get back to the campground. Thanks for everyone's help!!!
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05-07-2024, 01:13 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,774
M.O.C. #12947
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This is how the panel is in the bathroom of the 3402. Photos were taken when installing the Progressive EMS. The converter is located behind the vent grill area and the panel does not need to be removed to access the converter.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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05-09-2024, 05:15 AM
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#13
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Established Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Joliet
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #28616
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My power panel looks exactly like the picture previous in this post. I tried to copy it but failed.
I do not have a vent inside of my bathroom.
Hoyett
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05-09-2024, 08:30 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,774
M.O.C. #12947
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoyett
My power panel looks exactly like the picture previous in this post. I tried to copy it but failed.
I do not have a vent inside of my bathroom.
Hoyett
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The vent I described is the vent louver area of your electric panel. Behind that vent is the fans that cool the converter that is behind them.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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05-09-2024, 10:16 AM
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#15
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Established Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Joliet
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #28616
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Hello! I did notice the fan in the bottom right hand corner of the panel. I will remove the panel and investigate. Thanks again for all of the club support.
Hoyett
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05-20-2024, 04:46 PM
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#16
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Established Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Joliet
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #28616
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Our converter is not behind our fuse panel. I assume then that is has to be behind a panel in the pass through?
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05-20-2024, 09:29 PM
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#17
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,696
M.O.C. #4831
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I am still guessing at what you have for a Power Center. A picture of *YOUR* panel would help a lot.
Never the less, you said yours looks like one of the previous pictures. Once again, having the Post # of the picture that matches would help.
I am assuming it looks like this.
Then, the converter location is behind those fins (check the protrusion in the above photo). It is a replaceable unit and looks like this. For more information, here is a link to the Progressive Dynamics web page on Power Centers and Converters. https://www.progressivedyn.com/repla...rter-sections/
__________________
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
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05-21-2024, 05:10 AM
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#18
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Established Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Joliet
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #28616
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I tried to insert the pictures but I do not understand what the URL the insertion icon is requesting.
In my panel it looks like I have two of two of those cooling fins, 1 on the top & 1 on the bottom. I assume one of those should be labeled as the converter.
I will go to the RV on Friday and dig into it more. This stuff just scares me a bit...
TBC...
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05-21-2024, 08:07 AM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,366
M.O.C. #6433
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To insert a picture, first you must have that picture on your computer or phone. Then go to the message box and below that box, click on Go Advanced. That will open a larger message box. You can type in your message in the box. Then scroll down and you will see Manage Attachments. Click on Manage Attachments and it will open a new dialog box and you will see four Browse boxes. Click on the first Browse box and find the picture you want to insert. Select that picture and click Upload. You can load up to four pictures. When it finishes uploading, click Close This Window. Now you have the file uploaded and it will appear in your post when you click Submit Reply.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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05-21-2024, 12:11 PM
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#20
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,696
M.O.C. #4831
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Posting pictures on the MOC isn't too difficult once you know the process. Lots of members do just that. Be sure to take the photo in Landscape mode.
Go to https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...ad.php?t=70323 and read posts #8 and #25.
If you upload the pictures to the MOC, subsequent viewers can blow them up to a larger, more viewable size. And you will avoid the problem where the picture hosting site decides to no longer allow web forum access (Tinypic, Photo Bucket, etc.)
__________________
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
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