Results for "negative-switching"

Engine Medium 2-4 hours 216 👍 0

Generac 7.5kW Diesel Generator Repair Guide - RV Troubleshooting

Planning to ignore the weird noises from our Generac 7.5kW diesel generator backfired when my wife pointed out I definitely made things worse during my repair attempt. I have a 2007 Monaco with a Generac 7.5kW diesel generator, and yesterday when I tried starting it, the battery was really weak. I probably held the starter button too long - maybe 15 seconds or so - because it was cranking so slowly and I kept hoping it would catch.

Now when I try to start it, I just get a single click and nothing happens. I'm worried I damaged something by cranking it so long with that weak battery. Should I be looking at the starter solenoid or starter motor? Is there anything I can check myself before I have to take it to a repair shop? I'd really appreciate any guidance on troubleshooting this. …more

Read answer

Engine Easy N/A 164 👍 0

Ford V10 Triton Engine Maintenance Guide: EGR Delete vs Regular Service Tips

Spent years doing regular EGR maintenance on my old gas motorhome without issues — but this 2007 Fleetwood 31' Tioga with Ford V10 Triton has me second-guessing everything. I keep reading conflicting information about EGR delete procedures on V10 engines, and I'm worried I might make things worse if I mess with it.

Is the EGR delete modification actually necessary on this 2007 3-valve V10, or am I overthinking this? I don't want to void any warranties or create problems that weren't there before. Would I be better off just sticking to regular maintenance instead of modifications? I'm looking for reassurance that I'm taking the right approach to keep this engine running reliably for years to come. …more

Read answer

Electrical Medium 30 min read 132 👍 0

RV DC Electrical System: Expert Guide to 12 Volt Systems

Opened my RV this morning to find the 12V system going haywire — lights dimming randomly, fans slowing down, and the inverter shutting off despite full batteries.

Specifically, I need to understand the fundamentals of RV batteries - different types, proper sizing, charging requirements, and maintenance. I'm also confused about DC wiring best practices, what gauge wire to use for different applications, how to properly route and protect circuits, and where fuses and breakers should go. Voltage monitoring is another area where I'm lost - I see all these battery monitors and don't know what I actually need or how to interpret the readings.

I'm also planning some system upgrades down the road like adding solar or upgrading to lithium batteries, so I'd love to understand how all these components work together and what I need to consider for future modifications. Is there a comprehensive resource that covers all aspects of RV DC electrical systems from batteries and wiring through monitoring and upgrades? …more

Read answer

Product Ranking 8 compared

Best RV Solar Panel Kits

4.5 (12,700 reviews)

Ac Refrigeration Medium 2-3 hours for diagnosis, professional repair likely needed 122 👍 0

Coleman Mach AC Fuse Blows With Battery On - Rockwood Fix

Found out the hard way that the previous owner of my 2019 Rockwood Minilite 2509s left me with a Coleman Mach AC that blows fuses instantly when I flip on the battery. The AC fuse blows instantly when I turn on the battery disconnect, before the AC is even activated. The fuse literally blows before it's completely seated in the panel.

This began two weeks ago without warning - the system had been functioning normally prior to this. Initial fuse replacement provided temporary operation, but the problem returned on the next trip with the fuse already blown upon arrival.

Given the immediate fuse failure with just battery power connected, what type of electrical fault would cause this symptom pattern in a Coleman Mach unit, and what's the most likely location of the problem in the AC circuit? …more

Read answer

Solar Batteries Medium 45 minutes 120 👍 0

RV MPPT Solar Controller E1 Error Code: Causes & Fixes

Halfway through troubleshooting my MPPT solar charge controller's E1 error — would this be covered under warranty, or am I stuck paying out-of-pocket? The controller was working fine for months, but now it's completely stopped charging my batteries and just displays this E1 fault code on the screen.

From what I've read, this could be related to battery over-voltage conditions or possibly some kind of wiring fault, but I want to make sure I understand all the potential causes before I start troubleshooting. I'm comfortable doing basic electrical work myself, but I also want to know when this might be something that requires professional attention for safety reasons.

Can someone provide a detailed breakdown of what the E1 error specifically indicates, walk me through the proper diagnostic steps to identify the root cause, and explain the repair process? I'd especially appreciate guidance on how to safely approach this troubleshooting and what warning signs would indicate I should call in an expert instead of attempting the fix myself. …more

Read answer

Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 113 👍 0

How to Upgrade Your RV Converter Charger for Lithium Batteries with Gentle Care

Halfway through planning our three-week cross-country trip next month, I realized my PD4560 60-amp converter/charger won't properly handle the lithium batteries I'm installing. My existing Progressive Dynamics unit obviously isn't designed for LiFePO4 batteries - I can use boost mode to charge them up, but I know that's not ideal for battery longevity.

I just purchased a 30 amp generator and I'm wondering if it will have enough capacity to handle not just my current charger, but potentially a larger lithium-compatible unit. I'm considering upgrading to a 75 or even 90 amp charger to reduce charging times, but I need to make sure my generator can handle the load. I'm trying to figure out the actual AC amp draw of these higher-capacity chargers and whether my 30 amp generator will be sufficient.

What are the best lithium-compatible converter/charger options that would work with my generator setup, and how do I properly size the charger capacity to match my lithium battery bank? …more

Read answer

Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 109 👍 0

RV Battery Draining Overnight? Find & Fix Parasitic Drain

The day after I installed that new solar charge controller last month, my RV batteries started mysteriously draining from fully charged to completely dead overnight. I've already confirmed that all visible lights, fans, and appliances are turned off, and I've switched off the main interior power, but something is still drawing power continuously. I understand this is likely a parasitic drain where some component or circuit is staying energized when it shouldn't be, but I'm not sure how to systematically track down which specific circuit is causing the problem. I have a basic multimeter but I'm not entirely sure about the proper methodology for testing each circuit individually to isolate where exactly the power draw is coming from. What's the step-by-step process for using a multimeter to methodically work through the electrical system, starting from the main disconnect and testing individual fuses or circuits until I can pinpoint the exact source of this parasitic drain? …more

Read answer

Solar Batteries Hard 4-6 hours 106 👍 0

MagnaSine MS2012 Inverter Replacement Guide - Best Upgrade Options 202

About my 2007 Fleetwood Bounder: the MagnaSine MS2012 manual claims it should handle my loads perfectly, but this inverter keeps failing on me anyway. It's been acting up for months now - the microwave keeps causing it to hiccup and shut off, then it comes right back on. I know it's only going to get worse from here.

I've been looking at upgrading to something more reliable, maybe a Victron or another brand, but I'm honestly overwhelmed by all the options out there. What are the best replacement inverters that other RVers have had success with? I just want something that's going to work consistently without all these random shutdowns.

Before I spend a bunch of money though, could this actually be a battery issue instead of the inverter itself? I'd hate to replace a perfectly good unit if the real problem is somewhere else in the system. …more

Read answer

Engine Medium 2-3 hours 105 👍 0

Onan 4000 Generator Surging: Step-by-Step Fix Guide (2024)

Despite my neighbor's Onan 4000 generator purring like a kitten, mine suddenly developed nasty surging issues yesterday — what's going wrong? It surges when cold, then settles down as it warms up. Under load it surges heavily until the appliance shuts off. Getting worse each day.

What are the main causes of generator surging? Need a step-by-step approach to diagnose and fix this - should I start with the carburetor, fuel system, or something else? …more

Read answer

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

Read answer

Electrical Medium 1-2 hours 104 👍 0

Ford F53 RV Chassis: All Headlights Out - Complete Diagnosis & Repair

Pulled out my multimeter on this dead F53 headlight situation and I'm getting 12.4V at the relay when every Ford manual says it should read 12.6V. My 1999 Mountain High Pinnacle Class A with 76,000 miles on a Ford F-53 chassis has me stumped - ALL four headlights (both high and low beams) just went completely dead, but here's the weird part: every single other light works perfectly. Taillights, brake lights, turn signals, markers - they're all fine.

When the headlight switch is on, there are no headlights at all, and the blue high beam indicator remains constantly lit. I noticed a strange clicking sound from under the hood about every 20-25 seconds, which continued even after disconnecting the coach and chassis batteries.

I've already replaced the headlight switch thinking that was the culprit, but the same problem persists. No headlights whatsoever when I flip the switch, whether I'm on high or low beam. I'm starting to think it might be the combination switch or maybe a relay with a potential dead short, but I don't want to start throwing parts at this thing without some guidance.

Has anyone dealt with this exact scenario on a late 90s Ford chassis? What should I be checking first? I really need to get this sorted out before my next trip. …more

Read answer

Product Ranking 8 compared

Best RV Generators

4.6 (18,900 reviews)

Solar Batteries Medium 45 minutes 103 👍 0

RV Lithium Battery Not Charging: Complete BMS Reset & Troubleshooting

According to the manual my RV lithium battery should charge normally after BMS protection kicks in, but mine's been sitting completely dead for hours. My Battle Born battery is showing 20% charge, but it's not taking any power when I plug into shore power or when my solar panels should be charging it.

I've been reading about BMS protection modes but I'm not really sure what that means or how to deal with it. Is there a way to reset the BMS system? I'm a bit out of my depth here and would really appreciate some guidance on troubleshooting this before I have to call for expensive repairs. …more

Read answer

Engine Medium 2-3 hours 101 👍 0

Ford E450 Inertia Switch Location Guide - Find Your RV's Fuel Cutoff Reset Point

Every Ford E450 I've worked on had the inertia switch behind the driver's panel — but my 2011 Freedom Elite 32r has it hidden somewhere completely different. The engine is experiencing what appears to be fuel delivery issues after a minor fender bender, and I suspect the inertia switch may have been triggered and needs to be reset.

I've already done extensive searching in the typical locations - removed both driver and passenger side kick panels completely, pulled out the glove box, and even partially disassembled sections of the dashboard. Despite checking all these common spots where Ford usually places these switches, I'm coming up empty-handed.

Could the switch be integrated into another component on this particular year and model? Are there any alternative locations specific to the E450 chassis or Freedom Elite configuration that I should be checking? I'm also wondering if some models of this year might not have a traditional standalone inertia switch at all. …more

Read answer

Electrical Medium 2-4 hours 101 👍 0

RV Dash AC Blower Motor Not Working? Check These Hidden Fuses First

Last week I'm trying to decide between shelling out hundreds for an RV tech or tackling this myself after my F53 chassis motorhome's dash A/C blower motor completely died. I've checked all the obvious fuses in the main fuse panels, but nothing seems blown.

I discovered something crucial that might help others: Fleetwood added a hidden 25 amp fuse wire-tied above the emergency brake, not shown in standard Ford chassis diagrams. In my case, this was the culprit. As a temporary fix, I even ran a wire directly from my lighter plug with a switch to get some air movement.

I'm wondering if other RV owners might have similar hidden electrical components that aren't in standard chassis wiring documentation? Before taking it to a shop, I recommend carefully checking behind panels and tracing wires, especially looking near the dashboard area above the emergency brake for manufacturer-specific fuses. …more

Read answer

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

Read answer

Loading more Q&A...

You've seen all 110 Q&A articles!