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RV Battery Boiling and Sulfur Smell: Emergency Fix Guide (2024)
Electrical Medium 1-2 hours for diagnosis 81 👍

RV Battery Boiling and Sulfur Smell: Emergency Fix Guide (2024)

The storm that rolled through our campground this weekend left my RV house batteries boiling and releasing that terrifying sulfur smell. After a long road trip, I discovered one of my deep cycle batteries was actually boiling and giving off a strong sulfur smell. This isn't the first time - I've had two different house batteries do this exact same thing over the past year, including one that was less than a year old and another that was about two years old. Both times when I found the boiling battery, my RV wasn't connected to shore power, so I don't think it's related to being plugged in. The sulfur smell was really strong and concerning - is this dangerous? What actually causes a battery to start boiling like this, and what should I do when I find a battery in this condition? I'm worried about safety and also want to prevent this from happening again with my next battery replacement. …more
How to Fix Parasitic Battery Drain in 2006 Damon Challenger RV: Complete Troubleshooting Guide
Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 77 👍

How to Fix Parasitic Battery Drain in 2006 Damon Challenger RV: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

I found three different "experts" telling me three different causes for my 2006 Damon Challenger's parasitic battery drain - neighbor blames the converter, dealer says bad fuse, YouTube points to inverter. I've traced it to the instrument cluster fuse, and Thor doesn't have schematics for this model due to its age.

I'm not even sure if it's actually the instrument cluster itself or something connected to it - could it be the transmission temp sensor, engine temp sensor, or other wiring? I really don't want to damage anything expensive or create a safety hazard. What's the safest way to diagnose and fix this without causing more problems? I'd feel much better with a step-by-step approach that won't leave me stranded or worse. …more
Outback VFX2812M Inverter No AC Power: Complete Troubleshooting Guide for RV Owners
Solar Batteries Hard 1-2 hours 73 👍

Outback VFX2812M Inverter No AC Power: Complete Troubleshooting Guide for RV Owners

Our 2017 Prevost coach's Outback VFX2812M inverter/charger died completely and my wife keeps asking why nothing electrical works anymore. The unit appears to be getting power since the cooling fan kicks on and runs, and when connected to shore power, 120VAC passes through just fine. However, when I disconnect from shore power and shut down the generator, the inverter completely fails to produce any AC power output.

What's particularly concerning is that the MATE digital controller inside the coach never powers on - the display remains completely blank with no indicator lights whatsoever. I have a brand new 12VDC battery bank, so I don't believe it's a battery issue. I've already tried disconnecting both AC and DC connections and reconnecting them, but aside from the fan running for about a minute during startup, nothing else happens.

I'm wondering if there might be internal fuses within the VFX2812M that I should be checking, and also whether the blank MATE controller display might be related to the same underlying problem. What are the most likely culprits when you have fan operation but no inverter function and no controller display? …more
How to Fix Magnum ME2012 Inverter 50 Amp Fault Code and Breaker Tripping Safely
Solar Batteries Hard Professional diagnosis 72 👍

How to Fix Magnum ME2012 Inverter 50 Amp Fault Code and Breaker Tripping Safely

Replaced the DC connections on my Monaco Cayman's Magnum ME2012 inverter per the manual, but I'm still getting 50 amp fault codes and breaker trips. The remote console is consistently showing a 50 amp reading, which I know isn't normal operation. When I watch the unit go through its self-test sequence, it connects initially but then flashes several times before failing completely. The fault light starts flashing on and off intermittently, and eventually the shore power breaker trips entirely.

What's really concerning is that my batteries aren't charging at all during this process. I've read through the manual and it mentions that the inverter might need a reset to clear fault conditions, but I'm not sure if that's the right approach here or if there's something more serious going on. The combination of the 50A fault display, failed self-test, and the shore power breaker tripping makes me think this could be a significant electrical problem.

What steps should I take to diagnose whether this is a simple reset issue or if my ME2012 inverter has a more serious internal problem that needs professional attention? …more
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