JDCrow

Lots of builders go with Renology. I’m super partial to Victron for reliability, expansion, connectivity to other components and monitoring Go power is coming on strong in the market as a lot of new rv are coming with 300-400 watts solar and a 3000 inverter mostly for the 12v refers most manufacturers are using as standard equipment.

Good morn (almost 3 am, can’t sleep, wife threw on my goto sleep movies, Oceans 12) Anyway, sorry this thread is evolving. What I thought was simple might be more complicated. So on my system: Got rid of old mod sign wave Xantrax and replaced with A Multiple plus 2 from Victron. I rewired the coach to all run through the Victron. I wanted lithium was the reason for this upgrade, and that we have our phones, computers, and other stuff that likes clean power. I had to add Victron DC/DC charger for the batteries preferred charging. I have only a shunt and a Bluetooth dongle to read the Multiplus. A Cerbo sits in the box till I find some time to get data cable back down out of inside of Coach to the electrical bay.( I have 40x40 shop in trying for permits, yeah! A place to work on my coach) I currently have a single Chins 200ah smart battery (smart is just heated) I went with it because it was the only heated battery at the time. This all went into service in Aug 2021 and has been trouble free up to this, well minus the wiggle when DC/DC charger is on and genny is on. So both trying to charge the battery and the Multiplus doesn’t like it. One thing I just caught that John said was derating the breakers. If my memory is right, the main reason I ditched the block heater, other than I can just plug Coach into an outlet. Was wires were short in length so one set of receptacles is on the old microwave circuit. And thus microwave is now on the old block heater. I believe that the wires coming out of old inverter matched the breakers in the panel on amps, but will double check. I had the Multiplus in “normal” mode on the actual unit, and charger only on the app. After the first shut down, I went out and put her unit in charger only physically. The unit had zero faults on it or in the app. The Victron showed no power coming in when the shutdown was occurring, while like mentioned the watchdog showed only volts. I tried the 30 amp plug in the ped, turned the Victron down to 30 o the input, but same thing happened. Talked to the Host again. As I mentioned when we first showed up, the watchdog wouldn’t let us use the 50 amp receptacle, just the 30. He replaced the breaker. Our last conversation was not productive as I mentioned the new issue, and that my coach was freaking on both receptacles. He mentioned he replaced the 30 receptacle and the ped is fine and telling me we need to get a longer cord and run it to a different site to check it out. I said well it’s not “fine” because the previous guy who wintered in the site caught the ped on fire. He claimed it was just his power cord from his Trailer to the ped had melted because the tenant had his wiring wrong. I knew enough after reading that an open circuit had occurred and that’s when we decided to leave our coach unplugged until resolved. I texted him yesterday to let him know it might be on my coach, and not to get too heated up on the ped. Plan currently (pun intended) is to go back up late Sunday and tighten everything up in the Watchdog and ATS, probably take the both out and open them up and look inside for damage that has been talked about on this thread. Sorry I haven’t had time to read through everyone’s posts, I really appreciate everyone’s help. Anyway, back to trying to sleep and off to work

Thanks very much. This thought is where I started. The Row I’m in is full. The guy next to me now when I pulled in is on fire with tech! A sprinter pulling a travel trailer both Victroned up to the hilt. He’s got Starlink, couple pep waves and drawing lots of current for a 30 amp service, but who knows. This row shared the same distribution panel. The park is old, the power poles for when it was overhead to each site are still there The Victron is picky. I mentioned before it freaks when I run the genny going down the road with the DC/DC charger in. I get the power ripple/wiggle whatever they call it. But again zero issues when we left.

I’ll read this latter, when I can slow down, but I re-wired it all. I need to go back and follow my work. I pulled out the 2 runs from the old inverter (1 circuit of plugs the other microwave). Everything runs from the transfer switch to the Multiplus 2 and out to breaker box. So both legs go straight to the 50 amp main and out to everything. Got rid of block heater and that run goes to microwave now. I’ll be able to Sit down and go through pics. I posted all my work on here under the upgrades topics. I’ll look through that as well

I’ll have to go back, that’s a good question. My Victron isn’t just the outlets, it runs everything now. I didn’t have anything on other than the tv,microwave, fridge, washer which like you mentioned are on plugs.

Yeah there is always voltage shown on the watchdog, no matter what’s going on. The coach goes dead, it shows voltage but no amps, then comes “back to life” and the amps are back up showing. I’ll tear into the ATS and see what’s loose or nasty. I appreciate your insight and help

Right around the corner from me. Great people . They weren’t around when I did mine so I have the steel one

All good, it just didn’t sound like me. I don’t get shook about things like I used to.

Will do, I’ll take pics as I’m digging into it. BTW Did someone change the title of my topic? 😂 I don’t recall writing such a dramatic post title

Wow, many thanks! I’m am reading and re-reading. I just woke up and off to work, I’ll try and sort through your points. We are headed back up Sunday eve to diagnose and I’ll tear into the ATS. It would be a bummer as it’s only a few years old. It has to go then it will go. Thanks again everyone. Thanks again to John and Tom. When 2 smart guys say go this way, you should go. At the time I was putting this all together, I knew I should have thrown the Esco in, but thought the money saved could have gone elsewhere. Anyway, I ordered one up and when it gets here it will go in.

I understand what you saying, but forgive my ignorance in asking how the watchdog (circuit protection) would read no Amps coming in when it’s before the ATS? Again my understanding of electrical could use a lot of improvements. I can’t wrap my head around a “backfeed” of electrical output from the Coach to the Ped through the watchdog when the Coach isn’t producing any power. I need to wrap my head around all this. Just when I thought I had a good grasp after the out of whack charging from DC/DC charger and Genny running at same time.

Yes before transfer switch . This is brand new issue here at the park, so haven’t had time to fire up Gen. Will try that. When we leave we are going to unplug the Coach till it’s sorted. Given the history with the pedestal, I’m pretty confident its the problem Many thanks, I don’t have the time or tools with me at this point. Headed home this eve. We are going to unplug it and shut it all down till we come back. Right now we are using the coach as a “summer” home. It’s at the park for a few months as a getaway from work

Ok I’ll try and elaborate a bit. I get Tom’s drift, and my thoughts on reading were exactly, open circuit. What was running in coach, TV, refer, and Victron in absorption/float. Of course the microwave, washer/dryer and phones charging. So I had load in the Coach. I have a hard wired Watchdog, ahead of the go power transfer switch, and thus ahead of Genny. I still have the intellitec installed as well, it wouldn’t goto to 50 amps while this was happening. It was 20 or 30c showing a 7 amp draw. The whole coach would just go “dead” everything went off, fridge switched to gas then 1-2 mins it would all come back on. My Victron said no power coming in, so wasn’t worried to much, but then realized the watchdog wasn’t kicking off like it does when you hook up to a plug. So I turned on the app and waited, and sure enough, the Coach would die, and you saw the read out in the one pic. There was voltage, which the watchdog monitors, but no amps, so it wouldn’t kick off. So no error codes because voltage is fine Again, right now, we are issue free for a few hours. We are drawing the same amps as before. I’m going to talk with host and let them go through ped again and tighten/inspect Thanks all

Will do, it’s been fine the last 2 hours now, go figure

Moderator edit Based on the most recent post, the Vitron Multiplus II is a combination of an “autoformer, UPS, and also inverter/charger. This is nit a conventional system as was originally thought. Title has been edited to reflect such. End of edit. Just rolled up to the coach last night and it had no power. So went outside and cycled the 50amp at the Pedestal and it flipped back on. However, all night, and currently, the coach loses power for about 30 seconds and flips back on. I can see no input with my Victron, and my watchdog won’t kick off because it has voltage. But the watchdog also shows no amps. Any thoughts? I’m leaning towards the pedestal as it had an issue when we got here a few months ago. My watchdog wouldn’t let power in because of a fault. Host put in a new breaker and it was fine last time I was here. Anyway I was able to screen shot when there was no amps coming in on the watchdog. I am no electrician, so go easy on me as I try convince the host I believe there is an issue in pedestal

There are some “cutting” chemicals that most paint manufacturers sell that you put in and thin the clear to do a clear blend. It’s not easy, at all. I did a few when I owned an auto reconditioning shop. Results were always so/so.

Yeah, that is clear coat flaking. You can pour over many threads here, most will point to the same outcome, repaint. I’ve see a few YouTube videos with Xcote. Not sure how it will work, but maybe worth pursuing Please report back anything you decide to do as this is an ongoing discussion with our older coaches

Got pics?

I had an official with the state give me this phrase when I was applying for a driveway permit: Alternative Facts We can’t just tell people they are wrong, or off base. It’s sad. This site is an island in the sea of stupid

So I’ve been on Facebook for the market place, and fell into the rabbit hole of the groups. I’ve stayed off Facebook since it came out, didn’t want to waste the time. Anyway, I’m flat amazed at the lack of knowledge/common sense, and flat out rude AH in these groups. Everyone here needs to be commended for their knowledge, overall civility and readiness to share their knowledge and experience. Hats off to everyone

Got a picture?

How hot is it? Coolant level? We had a 525 Cummins in one of our Semis and If the coolant was down even slightly, it would just shut off from a low level coolant. I had it happen to me coming down a Pass (Ochoco) and thought I was a goner. Barely found a place to get over before air ran out and locked her up.

Sticky Turbo? Anyway to check the boost?

Bumpin Subwoofer

That’s a thought. I haven’t priced that set up. Do you use your diesel frequently? We gel here from cold and it can get waxy as well.