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Electrical Issues [message #323614] Fri, 08 September 2017 22:39 Go to next message
Krfjkm is currently offline  Krfjkm   United States
Messages: 8
Registered: July 2017
Location: Charlotte
Karma: 0
Junior Member
I have a new problem that I would love your advice ---

I have a 78 Palm Beach and have it in my driveway plugged into a 50 amp receptacle. Things have been great, but just before some company came over I noticed the fantastic fans moving slower and the lights a bit dimmer--- the overhead AC works fine and the 110 receptacles work fine. I have an Intellipower charger (model PD 9155)-- i unplugged it as I wasn't sure what was up--

We had company over tonight and we hung out in the coach--- I kept it unplugged as i wasn't sure why it was having her power issues--- later in the evening I plugged it back in and everything worked--- fans were strong and the lights were bright---- after it was on for a while (10-15 mins) the lights dimmed and the fans started to slow down

Why is it doing this and what can I do? Thanks in advance for your help!


KRFJKM Jim Morgan Charlotte NC 1978 Palm Beach Also have a 1965 Corvair Corsa
Re: [GMCnet] Electrical Issues [message #323615 is a reply to message #323614] Fri, 08 September 2017 23:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
JIm,

The first place I'd check, with the power UNPLUGGED, and the inverter, if
fitted, turned OFF, is the circuit breaker panel. It sounds to me as if
some the connections inside that panel are loose. It's a common problem,
the simple solution for which is to take a good screwdriver and tighten
every screw you can find.
A bit more complex but, probably longer lasting, is to acquire some
electrical contact anti-corrosive agent like NoLox. Then disconnect each
wire, clean it, and coat it with that agent before reconnecting it TIGHTLY.

​There are lots of other possibilities, but the heating of loose
connections can cause your symptoms. ​

Ken H.


On Fri, Sep 8, 2017 at 11:39 PM, Jim Morgan wrote:

> I have a new problem that I would love your advice ---
>
> I have a 78 Palm Beach and have it in my driveway plugged into a 50 amp
> receptacle. Things have been great, but just before some company came over
> I
> noticed the fantastic fans moving slower and the lights a bit dimmer---
> the overhead AC works fine and the 110 receptacles work fine. I have an
> Intellipower charger (model PD 9155)-- i unplugged it as I wasn't sure
> what was up--
>
> We had company over tonight and we hung out in the coach--- I kept it
> unplugged as i wasn't sure why it was having her power issues--- later in
> the
> evening I plugged it back in and everything worked--- fans were strong and
> the lights were bright---- after it was on for a while (10-15 mins) the
> lights dimmed and the fans started to slow down
>
> Why is it doing this and what can I do? Thanks in advance for your help!
> --
> KRFJKM
> Jim Morgan
> Charlotte NC
>
> 1978 Palm Beach
>
> Also have a 1965 Corvair Corsa
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Electrical Issues [message #323617 is a reply to message #323615] Fri, 08 September 2017 23:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
johnd01 is currently offline  johnd01   United States
Messages: 354
Registered: July 2017
Location: Sacrameot
Karma: -1
Senior Member
Jim,
The one thing I would check is the house battery voltage. Ken is
probably correct that the battery would not go down that quickly. But
just to make sure you have good house battery as a base to start. I would
then try to find the bad connection by measuring the voltage at screws Ken
is saying to work on. If you get the data before you do anything you can
then tell what you fixed.
It sounds like you are having a problem on two circuits if the fan is not
on the same line as the fan. If that is the case the line between the
battery and the distribution panel could be the problem.


On Fri, Sep 8, 2017 at 9:32 PM, Ken Henderson
wrote:

> JIm,
>
> The first place I'd check, with the power UNPLUGGED, and the inverter, if
> fitted, turned OFF, is the circuit breaker panel. It sounds to me as if
> some the connections inside that panel are loose. It's a common problem,
> the simple solution for which is to take a good screwdriver and tighten
> every screw you can find.
> A bit more complex but, probably longer lasting, is to acquire some
> electrical contact anti-corrosive agent like NoLox. Then disconnect each
> wire, clean it, and coat it with that agent before reconnecting it TIGHTLY.
>
> ​There are lots of other possibilities, but the heating of loose
> connections can cause your symptoms. ​
>
> Ken H.
>
>
> On Fri, Sep 8, 2017 at 11:39 PM, Jim Morgan wrote:
>
>> I have a new problem that I would love your advice ---
>>
>> I have a 78 Palm Beach and have it in my driveway plugged into a 50 amp
>> receptacle. Things have been great, but just before some company came
> over
>> I
>> noticed the fantastic fans moving slower and the lights a bit dimmer---
>> the overhead AC works fine and the 110 receptacles work fine. I have an
>> Intellipower charger (model PD 9155)-- i unplugged it as I wasn't sure
>> what was up--
>>
>> We had company over tonight and we hung out in the coach--- I kept it
>> unplugged as i wasn't sure why it was having her power issues--- later
> in
>> the
>> evening I plugged it back in and everything worked--- fans were strong
> and
>> the lights were bright---- after it was on for a while (10-15 mins) the
>> lights dimmed and the fans started to slow down
>>
>> Why is it doing this and what can I do? Thanks in advance for your
> help!
>> --
>> KRFJKM
>> Jim Morgan
>> Charlotte NC
>>
>> 1978 Palm Beach
>>
>> Also have a 1965 Corvair Corsa
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>



--

*John Phillips*
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Johnd01 John Phillips Avion A2600 TZE064V101164 Rancho Cordova, CA (Sacramento)
Re: Electrical Issues [message #323621 is a reply to message #323614] Sat, 09 September 2017 01:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
Senior Member
I would blame the Intellipower. Get out your meter. If you have 120 volts in to it and less than 13.5 out, the converter is bad. It probably has a heat related failure. Runs cold and fails after it warms up. Colonel Kens suggestions should also be checked.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: [GMCnet] Electrical Issues [message #323623 is a reply to message #323621] Sat, 09 September 2017 06:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Jim,

John & Ken B. read more carefully than i did: I thought you were having
120 vac problems, not 12 VDC. Certainly the PD9155 is highly suspect. But
while you're waiting for the replacement will be a good time to do what
everyone needs to do anyway -- check those screws in the CB box. :-)

Ken H.


On Sat, Sep 9, 2017 at 2:34 AM, Ken Burton wrote:

> I would blame the Intellipower. Get out your meter. If you have 120
> volts in to it and less than 13.5 out, the converter is bad. It probably
> has a
> heat related failure. Runs cold and fails after it warms up. Colonel Kens
> suggestions should also be checked.
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: Electrical Issues [message #323626 is a reply to message #323614] Sat, 09 September 2017 07:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pzerkel is currently offline  pzerkel   United States
Messages: 212
Registered: September 2007
Location: Salisbury, IL
Karma: 0
Senior Member
I have a PD9245, so not sure if the 9155 is different. But my understanding is that the smart chargers such as these will vary the output voltage somewhat, depending on the state of charge of the battery, and whether the charger goes into "de-sulferization mode".

It is possible that the charger is sensing the low battery, outputting a higher charge voltage, and when the battery has reached a sufficient charge, the charger goes into a lower voltage "float charge" mode.

I know that I have noticed occasional dimming (or increasing) brightness of lights in my coach. I have always just written it off to the smart charger doing what it is supposed to do.

It is still always a good idea to check for loose connections though.


Paul Zerkel
'78 Eleganza II
Salisbury IL (near Springfield)

[Updated on: Sat, 09 September 2017 07:53]

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Re: Electrical Issues [message #323627 is a reply to message #323614] Sat, 09 September 2017 08:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
Senior Member
If the house battery is failing, the smart charger may be going into protect mode. All answers easily found with a meter and simple diagnosis on the AC and DC sides. You could run an extension cord to the house and plug the intellepower into that if you don't want to get into diagnosing the AC side for now. Also if you start the engine and lights and fans pickup that pretty much rules out the DC branch circuits. You could also use a portable charger on the house battery for 24 hours to see if it behaves then if you have a digital battery tester determine the health of the battery once it is fully charged(if)

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: Electrical Issues [message #323674 is a reply to message #323614] Sat, 09 September 2017 20:17 Go to previous message
Krfjkm is currently offline  Krfjkm   United States
Messages: 8
Registered: July 2017
Location: Charlotte
Karma: 0
Junior Member
Thanks for all the advice! I got it figured out today--

The converter/charger is intellipower and is intelligent--- when it senses something bad it shuts itself off---I went to the house batteries and together in series they showed 5.63 and then I disconnected them-- the front one read 1.2 and the back on read 5.6--- I pulled the front one and it is dry as a bone--- I think my front battery crossed the rainbow bridge--- I bought 2 new batteries and think we have it solved---


KRFJKM Jim Morgan Charlotte NC 1978 Palm Beach Also have a 1965 Corvair Corsa
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