No 12-volt coach power in 2006 Newmar Kountry Star
KY Old Folks said
08:48 PM May 30, 2017
Generator starts. Engine starts. Have 110-volt power, but no 12-volt coach power.
We have checked circuit breakers and battery connections. We read about a main breaker to the 12-volt system, but we don't know where that might be. Owner's manual is no help.
Battery Disconnect Panel does not work.
MH is in storage lot, no access to shore power. Everything worked two days ago.
Suggestions?
Thank you.
Barbaraok said
09:12 AM May 31, 2017
What do you mean "Battery Disconnect Panel does not work"? Did you throw the disconnect switch (ours is a heavy lever) when you left the coach?
KY Old Folks said
12:43 PM May 31, 2017
Thank you for responding Barbaraok.
The "Battery Disconnect Panel" is located overhead. above the passenger seat. That's the label on the panel. I don't have a clue what it does. I am sure DH knows, but I don't.
Anyway, when we went in this a.m., we have 12-volt power in the coach! We are super relieved on one hand. On the other hand, we would like to know what happened and why.
DH thinks maybe he left the AC on when he turned off the generator the last time we were in it. And when we went in yesterday and turned on the generator, that's when the 12-volt power shut off temporarily to give the generator time to build power without the AC being on. Hope that makes sense to you, because I don't understand any of it.
All I know is everything works today.
KY requires a fire inspection before we can get the MH licensed. The fire inspector covers 23 counties so it takes a while to get an appointment. After that, we will be ready to roll.
Again, thank you for respoinding. This is a great group.
Linda
Barbaraok said
01:06 AM Jun 1, 2017
Yup, you'll soon learn the order with the generator. Nothing on while you turn it on, then load up, then everything off before you shut it down. Generator runs off house batteries.
MikkiNJay said
01:30 PM Jun 1, 2017
we had a reset button on the inverter next to the battery bay that resets our 12 volt...we are in a dutch star...might be similar?
KY Old Folks said
02:15 PM Jun 1, 2017
Thank you MikkinJay. We will look for that. We figured there had to be a reset button somewhere.
Today's first problem: jack alarm wouldn't go off. All of the jacks were up, but a light indicated the rear passenger jack was not up. We googled it and a few rver's said they removed the jack alarm fuse until they could take it in for service. We did that.
At the end of today's problem: red light on battery indicator panel stays on when button is in store position. Is that right? I called Newmar and they said it stays on, but based on my google research, I don't think it should stay on.
We bought this MH in April. Brought it home from Ringgold, GA, 2 weeks ago. We have been working every day to get ready to hit the road. Right now we are waiting on the fire inspection. We thought that was our last hurdle, but these other things keep popping up.
Surely it gets better. LOL.
Thank you for your help. We hope to be able to pay it forward someday.
NorCal Dan said
06:58 PM Jun 1, 2017
Some rigs have what is affectionately known as the "salesman switch". What it does it control a relay that disconnects the house batteries. The relay may be failing or intermittent. I had one go bad on me and I used my jumper cable to bypass the relay until I could get it replaced. Would be a good thing to find the relay on your rig, just in case it happens again. On my Monaco rig it was located in the compartment outside below the drivers seat.
Check the fluid level in the jacks...had that problem also and discovered low fluid would cause an jack alarm. IIRC, you check the fluid level with the jacks retracted but the owners manual for your rig should explain how to do it on your rig.
-- Edited by NorCal Dan on Thursday 1st of June 2017 07:00:43 PM
Barbaraok said
11:49 PM Jun 1, 2017
Jacks also very sensitive to battery charge level.
I'd suggest getting a mobile tech familiar with your coach and pay him to come and provide instruction on operations and maintenance
KY Old Folks said
10:09 AM Jun 2, 2017
Thank you again, Barbaraok.
The service tech at Parkway RV went over a lot of things when we picked up the MH, but at that time, we didn't know what we didn't know, so we didn't absorb everything we needed.
We have read every manual and watched several DVD's, but they just tell you about ordinary things. They don't cover the weird little things that happen, such as jack alarms that won't shut off.
Our plan is to go on a short two-day trip to check out and see if things work, such as dishwasher, icemaker, washer/dryer, etc. Once we've done that, our next plan is to drive to Nappanee, IN, and go to the Newmar factory, with a LONG list of questions.
That's the plan, if we ever get out of the storage lot. LOL.
We appreciate all of the responses.
Barbaraok said
03:45 PM Jun 2, 2017
Whenever you get someone to go over systems with you, video tape them. You are learning knew things and often will miss important steps in trying to get it all down. Replaying the tape helps to 'hear' all those tips that you missed on the first time through.
Generator starts. Engine starts. Have 110-volt power, but no 12-volt coach power.
We have checked circuit breakers and battery connections. We read about a main breaker to the 12-volt system, but we don't know where that might be. Owner's manual is no help.
Battery Disconnect Panel does not work.
MH is in storage lot, no access to shore power. Everything worked two days ago.
Suggestions?
Thank you.
The "Battery Disconnect Panel" is located overhead. above the passenger seat. That's the label on the panel. I don't have a clue what it does. I am sure DH knows, but I don't.
Anyway, when we went in this a.m., we have 12-volt power in the coach! We are super relieved on one hand. On the other hand, we would like to know what happened and why.
DH thinks maybe he left the AC on when he turned off the generator the last time we were in it. And when we went in yesterday and turned on the generator, that's when the 12-volt power shut off temporarily to give the generator time to build power without the AC being on. Hope that makes sense to you, because I don't understand any of it.
All I know is everything works today.
KY requires a fire inspection before we can get the MH licensed. The fire inspector covers 23 counties so it takes a while to get an appointment. After that, we will be ready to roll.
Again, thank you for respoinding. This is a great group.
Linda
Today's first problem: jack alarm wouldn't go off. All of the jacks were up, but a light indicated the rear passenger jack was not up. We googled it and a few rver's said they removed the jack alarm fuse until they could take it in for service. We did that.
At the end of today's problem: red light on battery indicator panel stays on when button is in store position. Is that right? I called Newmar and they said it stays on, but based on my google research, I don't think it should stay on.
We bought this MH in April. Brought it home from Ringgold, GA, 2 weeks ago. We have been working every day to get ready to hit the road. Right now we are waiting on the fire inspection. We thought that was our last hurdle, but these other things keep popping up.
Surely it gets better. LOL.
Thank you for your help. We hope to be able to pay it forward someday.
Some rigs have what is affectionately known as the "salesman switch". What it does it control a relay that disconnects the house batteries. The relay may be failing or intermittent. I had one go bad on me and I used my jumper cable to bypass the relay until I could get it replaced. Would be a good thing to find the relay on your rig, just in case it happens again. On my Monaco rig it was located in the compartment outside below the drivers seat.
Check the fluid level in the jacks...had that problem also and discovered low fluid would cause an jack alarm. IIRC, you check the fluid level with the jacks retracted but the owners manual for your rig should explain how to do it on your rig.
-- Edited by NorCal Dan on Thursday 1st of June 2017 07:00:43 PM
I'd suggest getting a mobile tech familiar with your coach and pay him to come and provide instruction on operations and maintenance
The service tech at Parkway RV went over a lot of things when we picked up the MH, but at that time, we didn't know what we didn't know, so we didn't absorb everything we needed.
We have read every manual and watched several DVD's, but they just tell you about ordinary things. They don't cover the weird little things that happen, such as jack alarms that won't shut off.
Our plan is to go on a short two-day trip to check out and see if things work, such as dishwasher, icemaker, washer/dryer, etc. Once we've done that, our next plan is to drive to Nappanee, IN, and go to the Newmar factory, with a LONG list of questions.
That's the plan, if we ever get out of the storage lot. LOL.
We appreciate all of the responses.