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Combiner Test [message #370862] Tue, 20 December 2022 13:41 Go to next message
Tom Katzenberger is currently offline  Tom Katzenberger   United States
Messages: 399
Registered: June 2019
Location: Kingsville, MD
Karma: 4
Senior Member
Merry Christmas all,

Guys,

I have situation where the shore power when plugged in is not charging the house or Chassis batteries.

I used a separate battery charger connected to the house battery and it charged the house battery as expected but did not cross the combiner to the chassis battery.

I currently have a PD9260C with charge wizard, a Victron Energy Blue Power, Cyrix-CT combiner connected to the the OEM isolator.

Any help is greatly appreciated as I am very electronically challenged.

Thanks in advance and again Merry Christmas,
Tom K.

Tom & Oki Katzenberger, Kingsville, Maryland, 1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D., Micro Level, Howell EBL-EFI Spark Control, Macerator, York Air Compressor, 6 Wheel Disc, Quadra Bag, Onan W/Bovee Ignition

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Re: Combiner Test [message #370863 is a reply to message #370862] Tue, 20 December 2022 16:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
Senior Member
Tom,

As I read this, you have:
1- A PD9260 that should charge the house bank from shore or generator power
2- A Victron Energy Blue Power charger that gets power somewhere (Solar?) I am assuming it is charging the house bank.
3- A Victron Cyrix-CT (assumed 12-120A version)

You say that when you have shore power on that it seems nothing is charging the house bank or the main engine start battery?
You have also tried with a stand alone battery charger and still nothing?

First, check the the Cyrix-CT is a 12V version. If not that is your problem.....
If yes, go on.
Get out a decent meter and the Cyrix manual.
Unlike the less expensive combiners, this version has a table of delay times to connect based on the terminal voltage of either battery.
You will have to compare what voltage you have available to the table and wait at lease the specified time to see if you get connection.

If you get through this, you will have more information to pass along. When you come back, that is a better chance that we can figure this out for you.

Matt

Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit

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Re: Combiner Test [message #370864 is a reply to message #370862] Tue, 20 December 2022 16:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
lqqkatjon is currently offline  lqqkatjon   United States
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Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
Senior Member
Time to get out the volt meter and report back whaf voltages you see.

Plugged into shore power and not shore power.

1. At each battery

2 at isolator lugs(assuming same lugs as combiner)

Also is the combiner have the ground hooked up?

Jon Roche 75 palm beach EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now. St. Cloud, MN http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/

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Re: Combiner Test [message #370865 is a reply to message #370862] Tue, 20 December 2022 16:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
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Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
Senior Member
There is a “charging present” threshold voltage that needs to be exceeded on either side, as well as a time delay that needs to be satisfied. I have a little Yandina and if memory serves it’s around 13.6VDC ??? Specs on their cut sheet. Not sure what yours requires but readings are your diagnostic friend as others have stated.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II

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Re: Combiner Test [message #370866 is a reply to message #370862] Tue, 20 December 2022 16:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bill Van Vlack is currently offline  Bill Van Vlack   United States
Messages: 419
Registered: September 2015
Location: Guemes Island, Washington
Karma: 14
Senior Member
Tom Katzenberger wrote on Tue, 20 December 2022 13:41


I have situation where the shore power when plugged in is not charging the house or Chassis batteries.

I used a separate battery charger connected to the house battery and it charged the house battery as expected but did not cross the combiner to the chassis battery.

I currently have a PD9260C with charge wizard, a Victron Energy Blue Power, Cyrix-CT combiner connected to the the OEM isolator.
There are two problems here....
1. Shore power doesn't charge the house battery.
>>a. When on shore power, do the 120V outlets have power?
>>b. On the PD, does the AC input measure 120V?
>>c. On the PD, is the DC output voltage the same as the house battery voltage (measured at the battery terminals)?

2. A charger on the house battery doesn't charge the chassis battery.
>>d. Are the voltages on the house battery side of the combiner and the house battery itself the same?
>>e. Are the voltages on the house battery side of the combiner and the chassis side the same?
>>f. Are the voltages on the chassis battery side of the combiner and the chassis battery itself the same?

Bill Van Vlack '76 Royale; Guemes Island, Washington; Twin bed, full (DS) side bath, Brazilian Redwood counter and settee tops,455, 6KW generator; new owner a/o mid November 2015.

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Re: Combiner Test [message #370870 is a reply to message #370862] Wed, 21 December 2022 16:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Tom Katzenberger is currently offline  Tom Katzenberger   United States
Messages: 399
Registered: June 2019
Location: Kingsville, MD
Karma: 4
Senior Member
Guys,

Thank you all. I will be in the shop tomorrow. I will collect all the data and get back. I thought with the progressive dynamic inverter and the combiner connected to the isolator both batteries would be getting charged when plugged into shore power. It appears I may be wrong.

Thank you all for the help. I will gather the request information.

Take care all,
Tom K.

Tom & Oki Katzenberger, Kingsville, Maryland, 1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D., Micro Level, Howell EBL-EFI Spark Control, Macerator, York Air Compressor, 6 Wheel Disc, Quadra Bag, Onan W/Bovee Ignition

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Re: Combiner Test [message #370871 is a reply to message #370862] Wed, 21 December 2022 18:11 Go to previous message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
Senior Member
Your assumptions are correct. Sounds like convertor is not working from your post. The combiner may be fine, but not seeing charge voltage so not latching, which is correct.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II

[Updated on: Wed, 21 December 2022 18:12]

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