Lights Dim then Bright.

Moose509 · 02-25-2015, 09:41 PM

2011 Palamino Sabre 31RETS.

We are camping and the lights will go dim for a couple minutes, then they will brighten for short time. The furnace does the same thing - when lights are dim furnance runs slow - when brighten furnace works the way it should.
Have check the power from shore line good, check the power in the battery - 13.8 volts, check the 120 lines all had 121 volts. What else can I check?
Can someone give some help.

Crockett · 02-26-2015, 01:21 AM

You have a heavy draw, then a circuit breaker(12v) is tripping and reducing the load allowing the lights to brighten momentarily. Possibly a battery with a bad cell or reverse polarity to a battery. Maybe a stuck relay on a 3 way refer. Try to find the breaker that is tripping, it will be warm and noisy when tripping. Look for a voltage drop across the posts of the breaker...

Makoto · 02-26-2015, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moose509

2011 Palamino Sabre 31RETS.
Have check the power from shore line good, check the power in the battery - 13.8 volts, check the 120 lines all had 121 volts. What else can I check?
Can someone give some help.

I would pull the battery and have it checked and load tested. A good and fully charged battery should only read about 12.8 volts dc. I would bet the battery it at the end of its life and has some internal shorts giving you that abnormally high reading. I think the dimming tthen brightening is caused by the power center kicking in to try to compensate for the incorrect voltage from the battery.

Just my two cents.

Witch Doctor · 02-26-2015, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makoto

I would pull the battery and have it checked and load tested. A good and fully charged battery should only read about 12.8 volts dc. I would bet the battery it at the end of its life and has some internal shorts giving you that abnormally high reading. I think the dimming tthen brightening is caused by the power center kicking in to try to compensate for the incorrect voltage from the battery.

Just my two cents.

X' 2 here, Makoto is correct or your converter is going out. Has to be one or the other.

caper · 02-26-2015, 05:32 AM

This is how a converter acts before it finally stops working.

TURBS · 02-26-2015, 07:38 AM

Converter fan has likely took a crap allowing the converter to over heat "lights dim" then the converter cools down "lights bright"
Have your battery fully charged from another source then have tested.
If battery is ok then suspect the converter.
Please consider replacing with a progressive dynamics converter with charge wizard.
The wfco that is in your sabre is a piece of crap.
Cooling fan is the weak link.
I added an additional fan to my sabre when It went out of warranty hoping to prolong it's life.
I've replaced numerous wfco converters for this reason and all with a progressive dynamics.

Turbs

**wmtire** · 02-26-2015, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caper

This is how a converter acts before it finally stops working.

That's my guess too, Do you have a WFCO converter?

TURBS · 02-26-2015, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmtire

That's my guess too, Do you have a WFCO converter?

Sabres all had wfco converters.

**KyDan** · 02-26-2015, 08:02 AM

Get a volt meter and check incoming 120V AC to see if it's pulsing.
If it's steady then check 12v side of converter.

Pipeman · 02-26-2015, 08:22 AM

TURBS, what size progressive dynamics converter with charge wizard would you recommend? I have a Silver Back and don't really know what converter I have and the 5er is in storage. It's a 2009 model.

TURBS · 02-26-2015, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pipeman

TURBS, what size progressive dynamics converter with charge wizard would you recommend? I have a Silver Back.

Most likely you have a 55 amp I'd put in a 65 or 70
I had a 55 amp wfco in my flagstaff that went out a week after warranty was up and I replaced it with a 70 amp progressive dynamics with charge wizard.
I had it 5 more years with no issues.

TURBS

Crockett · 02-26-2015, 08:46 AM

wasnt aware PD was making those sizes. id go the 9160 with a charge wizard. not fully trusting the 9200 series yet. the 9180 is quite pricey and overkill if you just have 2 or less batteries.

TURBS · 02-26-2015, 08:48 AM

9200 series is just fine.

TURBS · 02-26-2015, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crockett

wasnt aware PD was making those sizes. id go the 9160 with a charge wizard. not fully trusting the 9200 series yet. the 9180 is quite pricey and overkill if you just have 2 or less batteries.

You can only use a 9180 if you change your electrical requirements. As it requires 20 amps vs. 15 to power it.
And you loose 5 more amps in your total system draw.

OldCoot · 02-26-2015, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crockett

You have a heavy draw, then a circuit breaker(12v) is tripping and reducing the load allowing the lights to brighten momentarily. Possibly a battery with a bad cell or reverse polarity to a battery. Maybe a stuck relay on a 3 way refer. Try to find the breaker that is tripping, it will be warm and noisy when tripping. Look for a voltage drop across the posts of the breaker...

12V dc does not have a breaker, just a fuse. 110/120v ac have breakers.

**KyDan** · 02-26-2015, 11:55 AM

You and the OP are all guessing without a meter check to see what is
really going on!!!

BigTJohn · 02-26-2015, 12:07 PM

As OC says, and a breaker will not (normally) reset with just a dimming of lights. Most auto reset breakers are an OFF, cool to operating temp then ON. Most likely, as Turbs mentioned the WFCO is going out. Battery (depending on age and care) would follow quickly if the WFCO is not replaced soon.