Urgent - shore power not charging batteries!

[Morich]

BobC has pointed to a problem we often have in many areas,not just RV. We are often not really accuratein the terms we use!
In this case the online infodoes show this RV has and "inverter -charger 2000 Watt. So the OP was callingit inverter like many of us would but it also has to be on and working right to charge the batteries as it has the charger partion in the same unit.

[creativepart]

Complicating things more… he has a Magnum inverter/charger and it depends on which “remote” he has on this RV - remote is Magnum’s word for controller or display on the wall.

Mostly, Winnebago installs the most rudimentary remote, the ME-MR. This remote has a switch to turn the inverter function on and off, but does not have the a switch to turn the charger on and off. The higher level remote, the ME-ARC does have an on/off switch for each, the charger and the inverter.

So if the OP has the expected 3-button ME-MR remote he couldn’t have turned off the charger. So when he says he turned the inverter on it’s likely that that was all he did and had no effect on the charging function.

[MattyA]

Yes I was sloppy with my terms! Inverter/charger indeed. I read all about it in the supplement manual when this situation started to happen. As for the control panel in the coach, it appears to show the charging state, but unclear if I can toggle the charging on/off like I can the inverter. The reason I can't know for sure is that many of the buttons dealing with electrical are disabled at the moment. For example I was unable to toggle the inverter on/of until I ran the coach engine. In any case, coach is stored now with hose and chassis battery cutoff switches thrown and a service appointment on May 26. I'll report back!!

[Wayne M]

MattyA,

With both those switches turned off, if you open the door do the steps still function?

If so, and I expect they do, there is a constant drain on the batteries from the current limiting switch for the steps, along with other parasitic drain. Solar panels and/or trickle charges cannot keep up with the constant drain on the batteries.

Also, if you have it plugged in to charge the batteries, many if not all, Winnebagos need to have both those switches in the on position in order for the batteries to charge. That is something you will have to call and ask Winnebago about.

[Wayne M]

Thanks to all for the inverter/converter information.

[creativepart]

Originally Posted by Wayne M

With both those switches turned off, if you open the door do the steps still function?

Yes, they pretty much have to or you couldn’t get in. There is some battery drain in storage even with the disconnects off. Steps are powered off of the chassis battery.

Originally Posted by Wayne M

Also, if you have it plugged in to charge the batteries, many if not all, Winnebagos need to have both those switches in the on position in order for the batteries to charge.

Yes, to charge when plugged into shore power the battery disconnects need to be on.

[Morich]

On those
I have looked at but not necessarily all, the steps are left on as part of the safety items like the CO and propane detectors.

If you think about why, it probably looks real important to the design to be sure you can't jump up and try to run out the door whie the switches have the steps turned off. Lawsuit city?
One of the things I found in trying to work on batteries in the step well, is that it is nearly impossible to keep them in and have the door open. They are just "driven" to fly out and bang your shinns!

[Wayne M]

My previous coach and my present coach have a step switch. When in the ON position the steps open and close with he door.

When I put the steps out I put the switch in the OFF position. The steps stay out and there is only the other parasitic drain on the batteries. I have never had a problem with battery drain after going to the OFF and steps out.