NO DC power, unless connected to tow vehicle

[papiocamper]

I can't figure out why I don't have power to my camper from the battery, but power when I am connected to my truck.

Tested battery- Meter says. 12.70
Checked fuses in the convertor - all are ok.

Can someone help explain this junction area under the trailer.
The metal box brings in the power cord from the tow vehicle. The top black wire on right comes out of metal junction box connects to what appears to me two small breakers with a little button at the bottom. The bottom wire is connection from the battery. The white wire on the left is the ground.

If I put the meter on the ground and touch either black line. It reads 2.44

Not sure what the small breakers are and if they should read a higher voltage, then 2.44.

Any insight would be appreciated.

[Schvarak]

You have a serious corrosion problem.

[papiocamper]

I'll clean up the wire connections and see if that helps.

[Flybob]

Try resetting the small breakers you see there, Small button on one end.

[llr]

Do both ends of the breakers read the same to ground?

[papiocamper]

Yes. Both read the same. I have tried to press small buttons to reset. No luck.

[papiocamper]

The trailer came with a quick disconnect. I check the switch. With it on, the meter read 12.7. Off the one side read 2.0. Which I thought was strange.

[Scrapper]

Disconnect your battery and any 120 volt power cord if you have one. Use a wire brush on the terminals. Being sure to write down where each wire goes, remove all the wires from the 4 terminals. Clean all the rust off the terminals and lugs. Apply WD-40 or silicone grease (dielectric grease) to the lugs and terminals and reconnect.

[llr]

I assume the quick disconnect is the battery disconnect. With it on are you getting 12v to ground from both terminals? Off 12v on one side is normal. The breakers ready the same from all terminals to ground tells me the are not tripped.
The connections look bad but if they have always been tight it is probably OK.
Can you trace from the disconnect to the breakers?

[donanddona]

I would start at the relay. They cost about $10.00. Totally agree with cleaning terminal connectors.

[Bama Rambler]

Originally Posted by papiocamper

The trailer came with a quick disconnect. I check the switch. With it on, the meter read 12.7. Off the one side read 2.0. Which I thought was strange.

Is that 12.7 from the battery, or with the tow vehicle hooked up?
Your disconnect switch needs to be on in order for the unit to get power when not hooked to shore power.

Reading 2 volts with the disconnect switch off isn't odd. You're probably getting bleed thru from some device that the disconnect switch doesn't disconnect when it's off.

[Schvarak]

I'm also concerned that both red and black cables (normally ground) look like they're attached to the same terminals. I can't see how the connections are set up very well

[papiocamper]

The camper is at storage site. So I'll go over and clean the terminals in next day or two. The 12.7 was from battery, not connected to tow vehicle. I snap a couple more pictures of disconnect. Thanks for the reply.

[papiocamper]

Ok. I figured it out. I pulled quick disconnect apart to check connections. One was slightly loose and the cables were close to touching. Tightened and straightened connection. Tested with meter and pulled same reading as what was at battery. Worked no problem. Thanks for everyone's advice.

[Schvarak]

Originally Posted by papiocamper

Ok. I figured it out. I pulled quick disconnect apart to check connections. One was slightly loose and the cables were close to touching. Tightened and straightened connection. Tested with meter and pulled same reading as what was at battery. Worked no problem. Thanks for everyone's advice.

Well done!!!

[cmac7203]

Thank you for your persistence. Now I am tempted to go look over my terminals!