12 volt circuit at fuse panel only 3 volts
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Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
Forum Discription: Perplexed/need help with a problem - ask here
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15791
Printed Date: 09 May 2024 at 2:35am
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Topic: 12 volt circuit at fuse panel only 3 volts
Posted By: GCRicker
Subject: 12 volt circuit at fuse panel only 3 volts
Date Posted: 30 Jul 2023 at 6:56pm
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My RPod 190 started having an electrical problem when disconnected from shore power. None of the 12 volt systems work after being disconnected from the shore power. The batteries are fine, proven by 13.5 volts within the converter as well as I can hook up lamps to the inverter. The crazy thing is all the fuses are giving me 3 volts. I believe the problem is in the reverse polarity circuit, because when I pull the reverse polarity fuse, instead of dropping to 0 volts, the voltage actually raises to 4 volts. Has this ever happened to anyone before? Thanks in advance for your reply.
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Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 30 Jul 2023 at 8:08pm
What is the condition of the battery? If it is working when connected, the converter is likely not the issue. Verify the voltage at the battery with a voltmeter/multimeter.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: GCRicker
Date Posted: 30 Jul 2023 at 9:34pm
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Voltage at the battery is 13.5. Solar panel says it’s fully charged.
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2023 at 6:37am
Also, check the ground connection between the negative battery terminal and the frame. That could be corroded. There should be two reverse polarity fuses. Check both of them. Did you have the battery disconnected? Are the battery connections tight with the correct polarity? Do you have access to another battery to set in temporarily to check (such as a 12V lawnmower or a car battery?
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: GCRicker
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2023 at 11:27am
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No luck. How does the reverse polarity circuitry work? Is it controlled from the 2nd positive wire routed along the driver side of the RPod?
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2023 at 12:36pm
The reverse polarity fuses are there to protect the converter if you connect the battery backwards, even for a moment. If one or both are blown, then somebody reversed the positive and negative connections at the battery. If they are intact, then the battery was connected properly. The second positive wire is likely from your solar controller. I am afraid I can't do much else from here. You may need to make an appointment with your dealer to get it checked out or find someone local to you who can do some diagnostics there. We are too far away for me to come and take a look at it.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2023 at 7:03pm
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I'm not very familiar with the converter wiring, but the best idea I've heard so far is a bad ground somewhere. I'd suggest you take apart all the connections you can find, main ones first, clean them, and reconnect firmly. A little dielectric grease on the connections wouldn't hurt.
Bad connections can be really insidious. You can test positive for continuity but the connection isn't good enough to let all the volts or amps through. Ask me how I know. It's worth checking before doing anything more drastic.
TT
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2010 176
FJ Cruiser
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2023 at 7:22pm
+1 !!! I had that exact thing happen to me about 5 years ago. Battery tested out at 12.72v (100% fully charged. Fuses and everything else checked 'good.' Even cleaned the battery terminals and connections. Still had a problem with the lights barely coming on, as well as the 12v water pump was dismal at best. Did as TT wisely suggests above and checked the ground from the battery to the frame, AHA, corrosion city! Cleaned that up, put on a new end piece, as well as dielectric grease, no problems since.
Thanks for bringing that up Tars!
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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2023 at 10:51pm
+2 on checking the ground connection at the frame (mentioned in my previous post, #4 above). I expect that will end up being the problem.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: poohbill
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2023 at 3:21pm
My neighbor suggested a tap into the ground wire then a connection to the frame in a second location.
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2016 179 Gastropod
2017 Ridgeline
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Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2023 at 8:18pm
Originally posted by poohbill
My neighbor suggested a tap into the ground then a connection to the frame in a second location. |
Assuming the problem is with the ground, that would almost certainly work, but there's hardly any connection that can't be cleaned up and made like new. Worst case, maybe a new cable from the battery to the frame would be called for, along with wire-brushing the frame, maybe a new bolt, and some dielectric grease. Connections need cleaning from time to time.
TT
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2010 176
FJ Cruiser
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Posted By: GCRicker
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2023 at 8:30pm
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The ground connection to the chassis appears to be fine, and I even connected another ground connection to the battery to under a screw on the chassis. Same results. I'm taking the RPod to the dealer next week for them to take a look. I'll post what the fix is. Thanks all for your replies.
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Posted By: poohbill
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2023 at 3:50pm
Although the connections at the batteries and frame looked OK, I cleaned everything today and added dielectric lube. My pump settled back to being the workhorse its been until recently. Thank you PHP.
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2016 179 Gastropod
2017 Ridgeline
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Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2023 at 6:49pm
Originally posted by GCRicker
The ground connection to the chassis appears to be fine, and I even connected another ground connection to the battery to under a screw on the chassis. Same results. I'm taking the RPod to the dealer next week for them to take a look. I'll post what the fix is. Thanks all for your replies. |
Depends on what you mean by "appears to be fine". If you just eye-balled it without taking the cable off, wire-brushing it, the frame, and the bolt holding everything together, it simply doesn't count. The other ground should have helped, but what size wire was it and are you sure it was connected to bare metal.
Hopefully the dealer will be able to figure it out. I know several of us will be very interested to hear the diagnosis.
TT
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2010 176
FJ Cruiser
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