1989 Pace Arrow Electrical issue.

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tcradiodj

tcradiodj

Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2019
Posts
20
Location
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Hello all.  I had new batteries installed in my pace arrow and it wasn't done correctly and shorted out part of my rv.  None of the 110v volts works EXCEPT the roof ac unit when plugged into power.  The generator works but does not charge the batteries or allows the 110v to work.  I found the inverter (I believe it's an inverter) under the fridge behind the fuse panel.  Is this what I need to replace to get my 110v  working again? OR what can I do to get 110 working?  i'm so mad at the guy I hired to swap batteries for me and he did them parallel instead of series.  I just want my furnace, fridge,  other 110v to work and any help is very much appreciated.

 
It is almost surely a CONverter rather than an INverter. A CONverter makes 12vdc power from 120vac (shore/genset power), while an INverter does the opposite. The converter is also the battery charger. 

If the guy installed 6v batteries in parallel, it would not damage anything. Certainly not the converter.  However, if he reversed the polarity on the battery terminals it may have affected something, e..g blown a fuse.

You didn't say anything about 12v power, e.g. lights, fridge in LP gas mode, furnace, etc. Are those working ok? On both battery and shore power?  And it is only the 120v wall outlets that don't have power?  If so, your converter is probably not damaged.  Please tell us more about what works and what does not.
 
One of my hosts was converting from a single 12v to 2 6v batteries and momentarily hooked them up backwards.  Apparently his converter had "reverse polarity protection" fuses.  Popped them both.  We replaced them and he's golden.  Oh, he also popped the fuse on the back of the stereo at the same time.
As far as the 120v from the generator, check the circuit breakers on the generator itself, as well as the ones in the breaker box.  Oh, and might check the GFI outlets to see if one of them tripped. 
 
Gary RV_Wizard said:
It is almost surely a CONverter rather than an INverter. A CONverter makes 12vdc power from 120vac (shore/genset power), while an INverter does the opposite. The converter is also the battery charger. 

If the guy installed 6v batteries in parallel, it would not damage anything. Certainly not the converter.  However, if he reversed the polarity on the battery terminals it may have affected something, e..g blown a fuse.

You didn't say anything about 12v power, e.g. lights, fridge in LP gas mode, furnace, etc. Are those working ok? On both battery and shore power?  And it is only the 120v wall outlets that don't have power?  If so, your converter is probably not damaged.  Please tell us more about what works and what does not.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the reply.  I have one side of the rv 110 works. BUT I don't have fridge, furnace powering up.  I started the generator and still nothing on the dead side.  I've checked all the fuses and they all show good,  there was no polarity protection in the 89 series.  I haven't tried the hot water heater because i'm not needing water but I would love to have the generator actually charge the batteries and have everything working properly.  i'm just scratching my head trying to figure this out

 
Old_Crow said:
One of my hosts was converting from a single 12v to 2 6v batteries and momentarily hooked them up backwards.  Apparently his converter had "reverse polarity protection" fuses.  Popped them both.  We replaced them and he's golden.  Oh, he also popped the fuse on the back of the stereo at the same time.
As far as the 120v from the generator, check the circuit breakers on the generator itself, as well as the ones in the breaker box.  Oh, and might check the GFI outlets to see if one of them tripped.
Click to expand...

Thank you!  I will try to check the fuses again
 
The furnace runs strictly on 12vdc, so not related to 120v power except as the background source for battery charging & converter power.  The fridge requires 12v too, even in 120v AC mode (the circuit board is 12v only).

You need to go to the place where shore power and generator power come together and start tracing from there to see what power is reaching that point and, if ok, where one side gets lost.  Does the '89 {Pace have an auto transfer switch, or do you manually plug in to use genset power?  The problem isolation process needs to be very methodical and requires at least basic understanding of 120v power and use of a voltmeter.
 
Gary RV_Wizard said:
The furnace runs strictly on 12vdc, so not related to 120v power except as the background source for battery charging & converter power.  The fridge requires 12v too, even in 120v AC mode (the circuit board is 12v only).

You need to go to the place where shore power and generator power come together and start tracing from there to see what power is reaching that point and, if ok, where one side gets lost.  Does the '89 {Pace have an auto transfer switch, or do you manually plug in to use genset power?  The problem isolation process needs to be very methodical and requires at least basic understanding of 120v power and use of a voltmeter.
Click to expand...

Yes I am not very knowledgeable about these things.  I have two master switches that are working properly.  When I plug into 110v power my a/c kicks on.  When I turn the generator on, nothing happens.  I have two battery led monitors that do not change at all when the generator is running. 
 
Old_Crow said:
One of my hosts was converting from a single 12v to 2 6v batteries and momentarily hooked them up backwards.  Apparently his converter had "reverse polarity protection" fuses.  Popped them both.  We replaced them and he's golden.  Oh, he also popped the fuse on the back of the stereo at the same time.
As far as the 120v from the generator, check the circuit breakers on the generator itself, as well as the ones in the breaker box.  Oh, and might check the GFI outlets to see if one of them tripped.
Click to expand...

Well I believe I found the Converter which has both 12v power and 110v power.  I have removed it as best as I can but part still works the other part seems dead and i'm kinda over my head with this issue.  I can still drve it and everything with that is all good thank god.
 
12 volt side of life Even a 1980 would have a fuse either in the converter (Usually accessable from outside but may be around on the back where you can't see 'em (Mine are on a 2005) Or on the main fuser panel. LOOK For 30 amp fuses.  If not fuses there is a main circuit breaker. may be a manual reset type.. Follow the battery lead (Positive)

120 volt. IF you have an INVERTER it will have a circuit breaker or two. on an 89 this is not likely but it will have a breaker or 2.. The Generator also has a breaker or two.. And it sounds like at least one of the above is tripped.

Then we get into the expensive issues. (In this case "Expensive" means more than $0.00)
 
When I turn the generator on, nothing happens. 
Click to expand...
There is a strong chance that your 1989 RV requires that you plug the shore cord into the generator's own outlet in order to get power from it. That power would be identical to shore power, i.e. 120v. 
 
John From Detroit said:
12 volt side of life Even a 1980 would have a fuse either in the converter (Usually accessable from outside but may be around on the back where you can't see 'em (Mine are on a 2005) Or on the main fuser panel. LOOK For 30 amp fuses.  If not fuses there is a main circuit breaker. may be a manual reset type.. Follow the battery lead (Positive)

120 volt. IF you have an INVERTER it will have a circuit breaker or two. on an 89 this is not likely but it will have a breaker or 2.. The Generator also has a breaker or two.. And it sounds like at least one of the above is tripped.

Then we get into the expensive issues. (In this case "Expensive" means more than $0.00)
Click to expand...

Yes I have found 30A circuit breakers and none are tripped.  I've also checked all fuses that I can find and none are popped.
I'm hoping it's not going to be spendy but yea i'm about at the end of my knowledge with it.

 
Gary RV_Wizard said:
There is a strong chance that your 1989 RV requires that you plug the shore cord into the generator's own outlet in order to get power from it. That power would be identical to shore power, i.e. 120v.
Click to expand...

I have looked at the generator and there is no plug in off of the generator.  it's hard wired.
 
tcradiodj said:
I have looked at the generator and there is no plug in off of the generator.  it's hard wired.
Click to expand...
To where?? There are only two choices, to an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) or by plugging in your shore cord as mentioned above. Look for an unused inlet/outlet nearby that would accept the shore cord's male plug.

There is a circuit breaker right on the generator or its console as well, check those. (Any ATS may be skillfully hidden and not always obvious but....)
 
Alfa38User said:
To where?? There are only two choices, to an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) or by plugging in your shore cord as mentioned above. Look for an unused inlet/outlet nearby that would accept the shore cord's male plug.

There is a circuit breaker right on the generator or its console as well, check those. (Any ATS may be skillfully hidden and not always obvious but....)
Click to expand...

Ok ill look.  I did find the fuse and it looks good but im going to replace it.
 
tcradiodj said:
Yes I have found 30A circuit breakers and none are tripped.  I've also checked all fuses that I can find and none are popped.
I'm hoping it's not going to be spendy but yea i'm about at the end of my knowledge with it.
Click to expand...

I have all 110v power working now.  I have a  few12v things not working yet however but at least Its better now then it was.
 
tcradiodj said:
I have all 110v power working now.  I have a  few12v things not working yet however but at least Its better now then it was.
Click to expand...
What did you find to correct the 110V power??? Both the generator and the plugged-in power are now ok??
 
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