Electric only works on "offshore" hookup

[InsistOnLiveMusic]

Perplexed. Upon spring "opening" I install freshly charged battery and find no electric power - no lights, TV, fan etc, but, all acts normal upon hooking up extension cord (shore source). My E-Pro has no battery "cut-off" disconnect. Electric panel look normal. I replaced couple fuses. I find no vermin damage. Any thoughts?

[Iwannacamp]

Circuit breaker on battery positive line. Should be a foot or two away and mounted. Trace the positive battery wire and you will find. It usually has a red boot and a tiny reset tab on one end or side. Press that and try again.

Did you check your polarity fuses? Prolly 30 or 40 amp ATC type? They could easily be blown.

[bikendan]

This happens often when the wires are crossed, during battery installation.

[CHICKDOE]

you are not getting 12vdc power from the battery but you are getting it from the converter.
1. double check and make sure the battery is installed properly
2. find the resettable circuit breaker on the battery line as was posted in post #2.
3. it is possible that a battery cable has a loose terminal or is corroded so it is not conducting.

measure voltage from both terminals of the resettable circuit breaker to ground. you should get a reading of greater than 12vdc from both terminals. if you do the breaker is ok. if you do not the breaker needs to be reset.

[InsistOnLiveMusic]

Thanks for suggestion. I was totally UN-aware there are in-line fuses on positive battery cable(about 16"away from terminal point).

Unfortunately, the in-line fuse appears good and does not fix problem.

Could it be? Trailer is deliberately engineered to disable electrical features while detached from tow vehicle?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I'm reminded of unrelated conundrum wherein battery was "dead" and connecting wiring harness to tow vehicle would NOT activate the "power" jack.

[wmtire]

Although you may be confusing what is a fuse, what many are telling you to check is the 12 volt DC circuit breaker (commonly referred to as a resettable fuse). This thread will explain what it is and what to do:


http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...et-154141.html

[InsistOnLiveMusic]

Originally Posted by bikendan

This happens often when the wires are crossed, during battery installation.

Appreciate "brain-storming". Here's photo of hookup. Believe all well. (apparently, this forum won't allow JPEG).

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by InsistOnLiveMusic

Appreciate "brain-storming". Here's photo of hookup. Believe all well. (apparently, this forum won't allow JPEG).

It does allow you to post pics. This may help:


http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...html#post49621


Did you find a 12 volt DC circuit breaker and push the reset button? This is what causes your symptoms many many times.

[InsistOnLiveMusic]

Originally Posted by wmtire

Although you may be confusing what is a fuse, what many are telling you to check is the 12 volt DC circuit breaker (commonly referred to as a resettable fuse). This thread will explain what it is and what to do:


http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...et-154141.html

WMTire,
Beautiful explanation. Nice hyperlink. Right on! Yes, I did view a similar "junction" box attached underneath carriage and will look / engage further. Darkness has set in right now. 8:35PM

[rockfordroo]

Double check the two reverse polarity fuses:

[funfyzics]

Just a suggestion I own a e pro 14 fk and there is a battery disconnect attached under the tongue of the trailer on the driver’s side

[5picker]

The OP has said they have 12v when connected to shore power. That eliminates the converter and the reverse polarity fuses.

[InsistOnLiveMusic]

Thank you WM Tire: there's a rectangular junction box (~2 x 4"), and a smaller one (1/2 x 2 ") but no "reset" switch found on either. I should add my TT wired for 2 batteries but using only one. Related topic, I didn't think there was a battery disconnect switch but another contributor suggested . . . look under tongue jack- driver side", and YES - there is one! Thank you found it! Unfortunately it doesn't seem to have any affect whether removed or turned off - on. Seems odd. Adding photos of both battery wiring and "disconnect" switch.

Update: Electric only works from "shore" source or tow vehicle.

[InsistOnLiveMusic]

To WM Tire: Again, thanks for your patience with this "newbie". YES! I had to use a mirror to view all sides of small (apparent) switch box and YES there is a [reset button] there. Unfortunately pressing reset button has no correcting affect on my dilemma but DOES help diagnose problem. I greatly appreciate learning something new.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by InsistOnLiveMusic

To WM Tire: Again, thanks for your patience with this "newbie". YES! I had to use a mirror to view all sides of small (apparent) switch box and YES there is a [reset button] there. Unfortunately pressing reset button has no correcting affect on my dilemma but DOES help diagnose problem. I greatly appreciate learning something new.

Well, this is actually a good point to be at. Do you own a multimeter and know how to check for 12 volt DC voltage with it?


If so, checking both sides of the 12 volt DC circuit breaker you just found the reset button on, will help us see where the problem may be or not be.


You want to make sure you are getting 12 volt DC voltage on both sides of the circuit breaker.



You will place the red probe of your multimeter on the circuit breaker terminal going TO the battery, and the black multimeter probe on a good ground somewhere, like the trailer frame. If you have 12 volt DC power there, then you know it's good from that point TO the battery.


Now change the red multimeter probe over to the other circuit breaker terminal. If you have 12 volt DC power there too, equal to your first one you tested, then you know to start tracing the problem, going AWAY from the 12 volt DC circuit breaker back towards the RV.

[CHICKDOE]

it still appears you are not getting 12vdc from the batteries. please learn one more thing and that is how to use a multimeter. they are maybe $15 at walmart or hardware stores.

i'd like to know if voltage is actually passing through that resetable circuit breaker and disconnect switch. looks like there is a fair amount of corrosion on the terminal studs. also you say wired for two batteries but only using one. could it be as simple as an open circuit where the 2nd battery would go?

[InsistOnLiveMusic]

Thank you. YES. There is battery disconnect there. I didn't notice before. Thanks for mentioning it. Not sure what "position" it's currently "in" because turning it 90 degrees seems to have no affect, nor, removing it.

Kindly, share HOW you use it on your rig and for what reason? Prevent parasitic discharge during storage?

[dward51]

The switches like that I've seen are "ON" when the big side of the switch handle is pointing over the "ON" wording. In your photo it appears to be "OFF". Also you can take the switch out of the housing (pulls out) when it is "OFF", but not when they are "ON".

Also X2 on the "wired for 2 batteries, but only using 1". Photos would help us there also.

[InsistOnLiveMusic]

WM Tire: Short answer . . . yes, I get uniform 12 volt readings both sides of reset switch. (not well acquainted with this basic analog multi-meter & read owners manual intently to do anything). Your instructions were "SPOT on". Tks! Truly believe deeper electrical troubleshooting will be over my head.

[InsistOnLiveMusic]

Short answer . . . yes, I get uniform 12 volt readings both sides of reset switch. (not well acquainted with this basic analog multi-meter & read owners manual intently to do anything).