11-25-2020, 03:50 PM
A ha!
As disconcerting as the warning light is, you do not really have a problem. As guessed earlier, when the charger sees a power interruption, it goes automatically into the charge mode. Depending on how the charger is setup, the first stage could be as high as 14.4 volts. As the charger is charging the house batteries at 14.4 volts, the echo charger sees that the house battery voltage is higher than the chassis battery voltage, so it sends amperage/voltage to the chassis batteries. The trickle charger is working exactly as it should. The only problem is that now the chassis batteries are at a voltage slightly higher than what the alternator regulator thinks they should be. So, the alternator regulator does what it is supposed to do, and it doesn't excite the alternator to produce any current.
I think that as soon as the house batteries finish their charge cycle, then the situation will correct itself. If it annoys you, then you can turn the charger off,
If you want to double confirm that this is what is happening, then with the coach plugged into shore power, crank the engine. You should not get the warning light. Unplug the coach from the pedestal. Wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. If the power interupption idea is the true culprit, the charger will go into charge mode when the coach is plugged back in, and you will get the warning light.
As far as turning off the inverter charger in the summer, and letting the alternator charge the house batteries, I am NOT a fan of charging the house batteries with the alternator. One, on some Newells with the triangular belt setup, it is a recipe for burning up an alternator/AC belt. Two, in my opinion, it is rough on the alternator to charge the house bank even if they are AGM. When I installed the lithium, setup I removed the isolator. I can use the merge switch and charge the house bank manually if I chose, but I would only do that in an emergency.
As disconcerting as the warning light is, you do not really have a problem. As guessed earlier, when the charger sees a power interruption, it goes automatically into the charge mode. Depending on how the charger is setup, the first stage could be as high as 14.4 volts. As the charger is charging the house batteries at 14.4 volts, the echo charger sees that the house battery voltage is higher than the chassis battery voltage, so it sends amperage/voltage to the chassis batteries. The trickle charger is working exactly as it should. The only problem is that now the chassis batteries are at a voltage slightly higher than what the alternator regulator thinks they should be. So, the alternator regulator does what it is supposed to do, and it doesn't excite the alternator to produce any current.
I think that as soon as the house batteries finish their charge cycle, then the situation will correct itself. If it annoys you, then you can turn the charger off,
If you want to double confirm that this is what is happening, then with the coach plugged into shore power, crank the engine. You should not get the warning light. Unplug the coach from the pedestal. Wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. If the power interupption idea is the true culprit, the charger will go into charge mode when the coach is plugged back in, and you will get the warning light.
As far as turning off the inverter charger in the summer, and letting the alternator charge the house batteries, I am NOT a fan of charging the house batteries with the alternator. One, on some Newells with the triangular belt setup, it is a recipe for burning up an alternator/AC belt. Two, in my opinion, it is rough on the alternator to charge the house bank even if they are AGM. When I installed the lithium, setup I removed the isolator. I can use the merge switch and charge the house bank manually if I chose, but I would only do that in an emergency.
Richard and Rhonda Entrekin
99 Newell, 512
Maverick Hybrid Toad
Inverness, FL (when we're home
)