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Voltage Charge problem
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Marvin View Drop Down
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Posts: 45 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Marvin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Voltage Charge problem
    Posted: 18 Mar 2023 at 7:08pm

I installed a new WFCO Power Converter Panel WF-8735 AD for my new Lithium battery that I relocated under the front Dinning seat.  I only had 4 wires to hook up 3 Hot and 1 Ground.    The hookup all went well.

Short story, I'm only getting 4.64 Vdc to battery, everything else is getting 13.4 volts.  Ran extensive testing... appears to be in cable to battery.  There are the two main cables to the battery... the biggest one is connected to the RV Power Supply.  I discovered these 2 connectors/box underneath the trailer (see Photo).  What are they and could they be the problem?   

When I think about it... I always questioned if the car and shore power was charging the battery fully on our trip (traveling or overnight) on the old standard lead acid Battery with the old RV Power supply.

Any ideas appreciated.
Marv

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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6289 		Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Mar 2023 at 9:38pm
3 hot and one ground? That does not pass the sense check.

On the AC side, you would have hot (black), neutral (white), and ground (bare).
On the DC side, you would have positive (black), negative (white), and ground (green)

You can't have 3 hot and one ground. Please check your wiring. See figure 2 in your manual.

I am not saying that the cable to the battery isn't the problem, but make sure the converter is properly wired. Check the reverse polarity protection fuses also.
StephenH
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Marvin View Drop Down
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Posts: 45 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Marvin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Mar 2023 at 11:47pm
Let me clarify that. By "Hot" I meant hooked up to the Battery "+" terminal.   I'm talking DC.  There are 3 "+" wires hooked up to the Battery.   one for the electric tongue jack (which works with and W/O Shore power), one goes to the RV Power converter, and one is unknown.   There is one wire going to the Battery Negative (Ground).  And yes I can have 3 or more hot from the battery as they in this case are tied to "one" common ground.

I'm very well aware of AC and DC.  As I stated in my Post the AC power converter checks out fine... the problem is in the connection wire from the AV Power Converter to the Battery.   The wire is good... but I question those 2 little box things about 3/8" high the wires are connected to.   They might be Diodes or something I don't know... But something is dropping the DC voltage to 4.64 VDC and I question if the little boxes are the problem.   Once I know what they are I can safely test and/or replace them.

Bottom line: 
I ran very extensive tests and trouble shooting from the Factory Manual, and my own extensive Electronic knowledge from one of many past lives.  The RV Power Supply is putting out the speck voltage... but something cuts it way down by the time it gets to the battery 10" away.   Those little what ever they are gismos are in the line and are now the prime suspect.
Marv

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Posts: 6289 		Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Mar 2023 at 6:44am
Okay. your original post was unclear. You said you installed a new panel and had only 4 wires to hook up. You did not say that it was to the battery.

Have you checked the wire from the converter to the connector you pictured? What was the voltage there? 

Also, the picture makes me wonder about the connection on the lower left. The angle of the red wire there looks like it may be only hanging on by a few strands. If so, then that is likely the issue. It is mostly hidden by the black wires running in front of it so that is something to check.
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Posts: 45 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Marvin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Mar 2023 at 9:21am
Sorry for confusing I meant to add "from the battery".   

Good call, Checking the voltage on each side of that connector was going to be my next step... unfortunately I rolled under there way to often in the last 3 days and got vertigo and need to recover.   What the photo does not show is one of those connectors has 2 wires connected on one end and only one on the other.   Makes me think it may be a electronic switch.  

Good call, but all wires going to the 2 connectors are very securely fastened.
I'm also very concerned about the Corrosion on those connectors and exposed wires.   I might just replace and move them inside as they are only a foot from where the regular battery wires now enter their new location, providing I can replace them.

Monday I plan to contact Hood River and see what I can find out.
Marv

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Posts: 144 		Post Options Post Options   Quote SC for Huskers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Mar 2023 at 9:25am
Marv, It is sort of hard to see the item, or items, you are looking at but if I had to guess, they are In Line fuses or ckt breakers.  If so, what is the V drop across them?

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Posts: 45 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Marvin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Mar 2023 at 9:30am
Thanks Tom... I'll try to get back under there today and find out.
What would the 3 pole switch be for?

Have you ever had them go bad?
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Posts: 45 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Marvin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Mar 2023 at 12:22pm

Stephan & Tom... I want to thank you for jumping in here with your ideas.  

Update:

The so called under carriage Circuit Breakers or whatever they are... each lug terminal reads 13.1 VDC.  NOTE Reading was taken at the lug itself... not the wire connector (trying to eliminate the Connection being the problem).

I also found out from a electrical buddy of mine that a charger only puts out about 4.6 VDC when NOT Charging the battery.

The only way to real test a charging battery is to test it with the charger running (should be 13.4+ Volts and then turn the charger off (should be about 12.5 volts.

Problem:

I get no change in readings from the battery charging or not.

I get no RV battery power to run lights etc. when shore power is unhooked.

Can you see anything I have missed?

At this point I question if the WFCO Power Converter see's the battery (It does have a sensor to tell what battery I have installed).

Tomorrow I'll be contacting WFCO.
Marv

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Posts: 45 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Marvin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Mar 2023 at 12:32pm
Tom, Just FYI.
No voltage drop and there are 3 of them, but no wire on the end of one of them.
Marv

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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6289 		Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Mar 2023 at 2:13pm
Look on the WFCO site for the troubleshooting guide for your converter. I think you have the tools to do the testing. That will just tell you what to check to determine if the converter is working properly. If you have no RV power from the battery when the AC shore power is disconnected, that could indicate a problem with the battery, the wiring, or the reverse polarity protection fuses. 
StephenH
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