BAC Forum

General Boards => Technical Support => Topic started by: LaMonte Monnell on January 19, 2021, 03:16:34 PM

Title: Charging system
Post by: LaMonte Monnell on January 19, 2021, 03:16:34 PM
I am having issues with my charging system on our 2001 Contessa.

In the past my batteries would charge to 13.4 volts, now I get some low readings on the chassis batteries.

When the monitor shows that they are low, when turning the charger to on I am getting all three warning lights blinking every few seconds on the Prosine control panel.

When reading the CMP II when I turn the prosine on to charge batteries the voltage levels go back to a good 13.1 reading. Once I turn the prosine off the battery voltages drop back down.

Where should I LOOK FIRST.
Title: Re: Charging system
Post by: Frank Bergamo on January 19, 2021, 04:13:05 PM
LaMonte,

Have you checked the batteries? Are they full of water? Then do a load test on each battery to confirm they are good. Hope this helps.
Title: Re: Charging system
Post by: Eric Maclean on January 19, 2021, 04:49:50 PM
LaMonte

As Frank said check your batteries for electralyte level and do a load test on each individually also check for corrosion at any connections which could be causing your problem .
Take voltage readings at either end of the inverter cables ( at the batteries and at the inverter ) . Also check to see if the voltages are reaching the chassis's battery bank you may be experiencing a problem with your echo charger or one of the fuses at the echo charger.
Or it could be as simple as bad batteries the load tests with confirm that.
Good luck Eric
Title: Re: Charging system
Post by: LaMonte Monnell on January 19, 2021, 04:56:24 PM
Checked the four house batteries, they are all at 6.3 v

Two chassis batteries are at 12.7 v

I check the water levels a lot, they are good.

All 6 batteries are just a few months old.

I'm going to pull the prosine control out and check wires there. (only one phone cable on the back , unplugged it and replugged and went through a system check, seems fine)

I replaced the echo charger a month ago thinking that was the issue, no change doing that.

Could the sequencer controller  have anything to do with that issue. I have a new one but didnt change that yet,...
Title: Re: Charging system
Post by: David T. Richelderfer on January 19, 2021, 07:34:13 PM
Fully charged batteries should read about 6.3v and 12.6v, respectively, for 6v and 12v batteries when they are at rest and not being charged.  If you're seeing over 13v on the coach systems' batteries' readout when they are being charged, then what you're seeing is the charging voltage coming from the charger, be that an Echo charger, Big Boy/BIRD charging system, or standalone trickle charger attached to the batteries.

I don't see that you have a problem unless I am misinterpreting your posts.
Title: Re: Charging system
Post by: LaMonte Monnell on January 19, 2021, 08:27:09 PM
David, the only issue I have is that the fault lights flashing and beeping when the charging is on, but the batteries are at the correct voltage.

Everything is correct with the charger on also as far as voltage also.

Just the constant beeping from the fault indicator, and I can't figure out why......
Title: Re: Charging system
Post by: Steve Huber Co-Admin on January 20, 2021, 12:16:01 AM
La Monte,
Have you reset the inverter? The Prosine in my 01 Contessa had a reset switch on the inverter itself.
Steve
Title: Re: Charging system
Post by: Gene Obie on January 20, 2021, 09:38:26 AM
Have you checked your  AC line voltage coming in, and the low AC voltage setting on your inverter?

I have a different inverter but had a similar problem just the other day. Turns out the inverter was tripping on low VAC coming in. So it would connect to shore power fine (with no load), then once charging started the AC input voltage would dip and it would reset and do it all again. Eventually the batteries charged as they got a bit each time and eventually charge current dropped enough the inverter did not trip...but took me a bit to figure out what was going on.
Title: Re: Charging system
Post by: Keith Moffett on January 20, 2021, 10:09:37 AM
Had a similar problem involving  a different inverter but the same CMP 20.  Charger was sensing over load or hot batteries and so would shut down.  The short version was to replace the temp sensor on the batteries.  About $35 and some  elbow grease and doing a complete shut down and restart all power.  The CMP read fine after.
Title: Re: Charging system
Post by: Fred Brooks on January 20, 2021, 01:09:48 PM
   LaMonte,
I would do as Steve suggests, slide the "reset " on the side of the Prosine. If you can't access that switch, you can perform a "hard reset" by removing the positive battery cable from the Prosine for 10 minutes. If that does not resolve your issue you may be looking at some internal issue in the Prosine that can't be addressed. Another thought would be to isolate your chassis battery and take that out of the Echo charger loop while diagnosing your issue. Fred