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06-10-2014, 07:47 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 289
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Have no lights when plugged into shore power....
Hate to ask this question since the last time I asked an electrical question I wished I hadn't but here goes. Why is it when my coach is plugged into shore power and the battery switch is turned off I don't have inside lights? The electrical plugs work fine but most of the lights won't come on. The couple that do are very dim. Wonder if converter has gone bad ? Or is it suppose to work this way ? We discovered this by trying to save our old batteries from draining by turning off the switch. Thanks for your help and be nice !
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06-10-2014, 08:02 PM
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#2
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Your converter's output is not getting to the camper (wiring) or is not working properly.
You should measure the voltage at the converter output terminals and see if you are making at least 13 volts. If not you have some troubleshooting to do.
Do you know what model you have? This photo is from the WFCO manual.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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06-10-2014, 08:03 PM
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#3
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Professional Texan
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 366
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blevinseve
Hate to ask this question since the last time I asked an electrical question I wished I hadn't but here goes. Why is it when my coach is plugged into shore power and the battery switch is turned off I don't have inside lights? The electrical plugs work fine but most of the lights won't come on. The couple that do are very dim. Wonder if converter has gone bad ? Or is it suppose to work this way ? We discovered this by trying to save our old batteries from draining by turning off the switch. Thanks for your help and be nice !
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It's best to leave your battery on. Is there any good reason to have it off when hooked to shore power?
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Texas Bob
2015 Chevrolet Silverado HD2500 Z71
2013 Prime Time Tracer Executive 2640 RLS
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06-10-2014, 08:09 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 289
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Have always left the switch on but it go to where the batteries would not stay charged...turning the switch off is when the light issue was discovered. Evidently the converter is not keeping the batteries charged either. Thanks for the help.
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06-10-2014, 08:13 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 289
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Herk7769 We are about 1500 miles from home. No way to check. Hope we can make due until we get home the end of the month.
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06-10-2014, 08:17 PM
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#6
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blevinseve
Herk7769 We are about 1500 miles from home. No way to check. Hope we can make due until we get home the end of the month.
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Any home store (Lowes-Home Depot) will have a CHEAP (less than 10 bucks) digital voltmeter. You can check everything you will need with one.
Harbor Freight gives them away as door warmers.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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06-10-2014, 08:46 PM
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#7
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Professional Texan
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 366
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So this is your 2nd electrical question and you still don't have a multimeter? Good luck.
__________________
Texas Bob
2015 Chevrolet Silverado HD2500 Z71
2013 Prime Time Tracer Executive 2640 RLS
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06-12-2014, 03:55 PM
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#8
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Commercial Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Bristol, IN
Posts: 18,971
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In many cases its simply a breaker issue.
I find at RV shows, dealers will hit the disconnect expecting the lights to go out, but they are plugged in so they don't. So then they go inside and flip the breakers (lights go out). The next day when they come, they hit the disconnect switch and voila...they have lights, so they move on. However they are now only running on battery power. I see the lights go dim. Check the plug, then check the breaker. Might not be the problem...but its the first place I would look.
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06-12-2014, 04:00 PM
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#9
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blevinseve
Herk7769 We are about 1500 miles from home. No way to check. Hope we can make due until we get home the end of the month.
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I'd recommend buying a volt ohm meter and leaving it in your camper.
You'll need it in times like these.
I'd also charge batteries and have them checked.
TURBS
"Sabre owners united"
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06-13-2014, 07:29 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 289
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Called our dealer. Told us it was the converter. We are going to make due until we get back home in a couple of weeks. Batteries recharge while driving and I bought a couple of small table lamps. Wanted to make sure it was nothing too serious until we get home. As always thanks for your help.
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06-13-2014, 07:47 PM
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#11
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blevinseve
Called our dealer. Told us it was the converter. We are going to make due until we get back home in a couple of weeks. Batteries recharge while driving and I bought a couple of small table lamps. Wanted to make sure it was nothing too serious until we get home. As always thanks for your help.
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Battery takes a loooooong time to charge via vehicle.
Your fridge requires a full 12 volts to operate on gas.
TURBS
"Sabre owners united"
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06-13-2014, 08:42 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 11
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If it is indeed your convertor not charging the batteries or supplying 12VDC power to the coach you can always buy a cheap battery charger as an emergency stop gap replacement. Connect it to your coach battery and plug it into shore power. It will recharge your battery and supply enough power to the coach for the lights and fridge circuit board etc.
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06-13-2014, 09:16 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 289
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Yes that what my dealer told me. The batteries recharge when driving or when we use the generator.Tks.
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07-08-2014, 07:17 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 289
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Just back from shop. It was indeed the converter.
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