Results for "alternator protection"

Solar Batteries Medium 1-2 hours 120 👍 0

Xantrex Freedom X 1200 Inverter Low Battery Warning: Critical 11.2V Fix Guide

Walked into my new RV and discovered the previous owner left the Xantrex Freedom X 1200 inverter constantly throwing critical 11.2V low battery warnings. My Xantrex Freedom X 1200 inverter is displaying warning indicators on the panel, and I'm seeing some concerning voltage readings that have me worried about potential damage to my electrical system.

Here's the complete situation: My house battery is reading 11.2 volts, while the chassis battery shows 13.1 volts. The inverter panel is lit up with what I assume are low voltage warnings. I've been noticing the interior lights dimming significantly, especially when trying to run any appliances through the inverter. To make matters worse, it's currently overcast and getting dark, so my solar panels aren't generating any meaningful charge to help recover the battery.

I'm particularly concerned because I know lead-acid batteries can be permanently damaged if they're discharged too deeply. The voltage reading of 11.2V seems critically low to me, but I want to understand exactly how urgent this situation is and what my immediate next steps should be. Should I be looking at shore power connection, generator use, or is there something wrong with my charging system that caused this in the first place? I need to know both the immediate fix and what might have caused this failure. …more

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Electrical Medium 2-4 hours 105 👍 0

How to Protect Your RV Alternator When Charging Lithium Batteries: DC-

Tried everything my neighbor did to charge his LiFePO4 batteries but mine keeps frying the alternator while his works flawlessly — what's different? I want to install a temperature sensing device that can interrupt charging by opening the solenoid between chassis and house charging systems if the alternator gets too hot. I'm looking to spec out components and understand the installation process, and I'm open to hearing why this might not be a good approach. My goal is preventing alternator overheating when these lithium batteries draw high current compared to my old flooded or AGM batteries. I'm looking for technical feedback and am totally open to critique. …more

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Electrical Easy 10 min read 100 👍 0

RV Battery Disconnect Switch Guide: When to Use, What Loses Power & Staying Safe

Wondering if I can skip the $400 shop diagnosis for my electrical issues and just figure out this battery disconnect switch myself, even though I'm getting conflicting advice.

Specifically, I'm concerned about what happens to things like my LP gas detector, carbon monoxide alarm, and refrigerator when I disconnect the battery. Will I lose all my radio presets and clock settings? Are there certain situations where I absolutely shouldn't use the disconnect switch?

I want to use it for storage to prevent battery drain, but I'm also wondering about daily use scenarios. What are the best practices to avoid any problems or safety issues? I really don't want to mess anything up or put my family at risk. …more

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Best RV Batteries

4.5 (15,400 reviews)

Electrical Easy 1 hour 92 👍 0

Best Group 31 AGM Cranking Batteries for Cummins ISB 6.7 Diesel RV

I opened the hood this morning and spotted my 2017 Cummins 6.7 ISB barely cranking over with those AGM batteries that were fine yesterday. I'm pretty sure I need Group 31s but wondering if I should go AGM or stick with regular flooded batteries?

I keep hearing good things about Duracell and NAPA batteries - anyone have experience with these brands on a diesel setup? Also wondering what CCA rating I should be looking for and if I really need to replace both batteries at the same time (one's still cranking okay but the other's getting weak).

Just want something reliable that can handle those cold morning starts without leaving me stranded! …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 4-8 hours 91 👍 0

Lead Acid vs Lithium RV Batteries: Complete Upgrade Guide

Pulled into my favorite boondocking spot with batteries that used to last three days, but now these lead acid units are completely dead after just one night! I've been running two 12V lead acid batteries in my travel trailer and I'm SO tired of dealing with their limitations - slow charging, constant maintenance, and they seem to die at the worst possible times.

I found these Dyness 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 lithium batteries and I'm really hoping they might be the solution I've been looking for. But I'm completely lost when it comes to lithium technology. Will my current converter/charger work with lithium batteries, or am I looking at more upgrades? I keep seeing mentions of something called a BMS - what exactly does that do and why is it important?

I just want a system that actually works reliably and charges properly both when plugged into shore power and while driving. Can someone please tell me if making the switch to these Dyness LiFePO4 batteries is worth it, and what I need to know about compatibility with my existing charging system? …more

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Electrical Hard 4-6 hours 89 👍 0

RV Alternator to Lithium Battery Charging: Complete DC-DC Wiring Guide for Safe Installation

Last week I picked up my 2007 Holiday Rambler and discovered the previous owner left the alternator-to-battery charging system a dangerous wiring disaster that could destroy my new lithium batteries.

I'm upgrading from four 6V lead-acid house batteries to lithium, and I keep reading conflicting advice about alternator charging. Some people say "just connect it directly," others are warning about alternator damage and proper current limiting. I'm planning to add a DC-to-DC charger eventually, but I'm confused about whether I can safely use the alternator to charge lithium batteries in the meantime.

What's the right way to handle alternator charging with lithium batteries? Should I disconnect the alternator feed completely until I get a proper charging system, or is there a safe way to make this work without turning my alternator into an expensive paperweight? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-3 hours 87 👍 0

How to Install a Lithium Battery Manager Relay in Your RV - Complete Guide

Got my weekend planned to install a lithium battery manager relay in my 1999 Fleetwood American Dream Saturday — what should I have ready beforehand? I understand these relays are crucial for protecting lithium batteries from overcharging by managing the connection to the alternator, but I want to make sure I understand the complete installation process before I start.

I'm looking for detailed information on how these battery manager relays function - specifically how they disconnect the batteries from the alternator when charging isn't needed. More importantly, I need step-by-step guidance on the actual wiring process, including how to properly connect the relay between my alternator/converter and the new lithium battery bank. I'm particularly concerned about getting the fusing right and understanding what control circuits are involved in this setup.

This is a significant electrical modification to my RV's charging system, so I want to ensure I have all the technical details covered before I begin the installation. Any comprehensive guidance on the complete process would be extremely helpful. …more

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Electrical Medium 4-6 hours for complete installation 81 👍 0

F53 Triton V10 High Output Alternator Upgrade - 250A Install

Before I drop $800 on having a shop install a 250A high output alternator on my mid-2000s F53 Triton V10, wondering if this is something I can DIY without breaking anything. I need to upgrade from the stock alternator to handle a large inverter battery bank, and I'm looking at high-output units in the 250A range.

I found this Tucson alternator that puts out 190A at idle for under $500, but I'm worried about whether the existing wiring and belt system can handle it safely. Could I damage the engine or electrical system if I just swap it in? What upgrades would I absolutely need to do this safely?

I've worked with high-output alternators on boats before, but RV chassis systems seem different and I don't want to create a fire hazard or burn out expensive components. Has anyone successfully done this upgrade without major issues? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 77 👍 0

How to Convert RV from Lead Acid to Lithium Batteries - Step-by-Step Guide

Despite having perfectly fine lead acid batteries yesterday, it's 11 PM and my RV's two 6v deep cycle batteries just died completely — need to swap them for LiFePO4 lithium before we head out tomorrow morning. Since they're similarly priced, I'm looking to upgrade, but need guidance on system modifications.

Specifically need info on: converter voltage requirements, solar controller settings, inverter cutoff adjustments, and whether I need additional battery management components.

What are the key steps to convert successfully? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 1-2 hours 77 👍 0

How to Prevent LiFePO4 Battery Over-Discharge in RVs: Low Voltage Disconnect Guide

Planning a cross-country RV trip, but my Ecoflow Delta Pro keeps shutting down unexpectedly when running our AC, despite our 400ah LiFePO4 house batteries showing plenty of charge. Problem is the system drains our house batteries to 0% until the BMS shuts everything down.

Need a way to automatically cut power to the Ecoflow charger before the LiFePO4 batteries get too low. What's the best voltage cutoff point and what type of relay or disconnect device works for this application? …more

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Electrical Medium 30 minutes 76 👍 0

2017 Ford E450 Alternator Output: Complete DC to DC Charger Sizing Guide for RVs

Somewhere between installing my DC to DC charger and realizing I don't know my 2017 Ford E450's alternator output, I'm wondering if this setup could be dangerous with my kids living in our RV full-time? I've been down every rabbit hole - VIN lookups, parts catalogs, service manuals - and I keep getting conflicting information or just replacement part numbers instead of actual specifications.

I'm planning to install a DC to DC charger for my LiFePO4 house batteries, but I absolutely need to know the real alternator output before I size the charger. I've seen everything from 120 amps to over 200 amps mentioned for the E450, but nothing definitive for my specific year and configuration.

Can someone please tell me what the actual alternator rating is for the 2017 E450, and more importantly, what size DC to DC charger I can safely run without overloading the alternator? I really don't want to fry anything, but I also don't want to undersize the charger if I have more capacity available than I think. …more

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Best RV Water Heaters

4.4 (6,800 reviews)

Solar Batteries Medium 1 hour 74 👍 0

Victron MPPT Sawtooth Pattern: Normal Charging Behavior or Problem?

Standing here staring at my Victron 100/30 MPPT solar charge controller display, probably a dumb question, but why does this weird sawtooth pattern keep appearing on my lithium battery bank? When monitoring the system through the VictronConnect app, I'm observing distinct sawtooth patterns in both voltage and current readings on the trends page. The patterns show regular oscillations rather than steady values.

The controller appears to be in float charging mode, and the battery voltage is being maintained around the expected level. All connections have been verified and are clean. Is this sawtooth pattern in the instantaneous readings indicative of a controller malfunction, or could this be normal operational behavior during certain charging phases? …more

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Engine Hard 3-4 hours 74 👍 0

1988 E350 Class C 460 EFI Won't Start - Advanced Fix

Got stuck with this 1988 E350 Class C 460 EFI that the previous owner left me — thing absolutely refuses to start. My 1988 E350 Class C with the 460 EFI decided to throw the ultimate tantrum right as we were heading out for a trip - just completely died and refuses to start.

Here's where it gets fun (and by fun, I mean expensive): I've got spark, I've got 40 psi fuel pressure at the rail, timing looks good, and I've already thrown money at fuel pumps, filters, plugs, wires, TFI module, distributor, and even the inertia switch. The thing will occasionally act like it wants to fire but never actually starts. The real kicker? Even when I give it a shot of ether, absolutely nothing happens - not even a sputter!

At this point I'm wondering if there's something more advanced going on that I'm missing. When you have spark, fuel pressure, and timing but even ether won't make it fire, what else could be the culprit on these 460 EFI engines? …more

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Solar Batteries Hard 2-4 hours 73 👍 0

How to Fix Freedom 20D Inverter Circuit Loss and Internal Breaker Repair Guide

Wondering why the manual shows a reset breaker location on my Freedom 20D inverter that doesn't match what I'm actually seeing inside the unit? My 1999 motorhome has a Freedom 20D inverter that was working fine until recently. I was running some heaters during cold weather and when I started the engine, something went wrong and I lost one of the AC circuits completely.

I've reset all the house breakers and checked every GFCI I could find. All the other circuits work fine, but this one inverter circuit has no power at all. When I look at the inverter itself, none of the breakers appear to have tripped - they all look normal to me.

I'm wondering if there might be some kind of internal breaker or component that failed inside the inverter that I can't see? Is this something that can be repaired, or am I looking at replacing the whole unit? Any help would be greatly appreciated since I'm not sure what to check next! …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours research and installation 73 👍 0

Lithium Battery Upgrade for 2018 Georgetown RV - Safe?

Thinking about upgrading my 2018 Georgetown from lead acid to lithium batteries but worried about compatibility with the existing converter and charging system. Don't want to spend $2,000 on batteries only to find out I need another $1,500 in electrical upgrades to make them work. …more

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