Not getting enough juice

[lms7174]

Cherokee Patriot 274dbh
Typing on phone so only listing known details....rv working fine, all of a sudden lights dimming and ac compressor no longer running. Eventually power got less and less running less stuff. Checked with voltage meter.... results are

120v @ plug in site
120v @ main breaker
120v @ ac breaker
Zero v to battery

Fridge has worked ntermittently. When power is disconnected from the battery power to the fridge stops.
Shouldn't fridge run without battery power.

Any ideas what else I should check? What could issue possibly be?

[brookstone345sa]

If battery voltage low it could be converter. Check converter for fuses. It converts 110 to 12v to keep them charged. I had same symptoms and converter was bad

[brookstone345sa]

Forgot to mention you could try battery charger to keep charged. Fridge will not run without 12v

[lms7174]

So if converter is bad would cause ac to not work? It's my understanding that the AC does not require the battery.

[jtesta1]

Thermostat runs off the battery.

[Skyliner]

heater/air conditioner Thermostat and control boards, fridge control board, water heater control board and other basic stuff all run off of 12 volt power that is provided either by a charged battery, a converter plugged into 120 volts AC, or both.

Should be easy to track down and repair. Factory converters are pretty much junk.

[Fritiz]

It maybe a short. It happened to my Forest River Sunseeker Mercedez 2017. There was a short and it took a year to find it. The dealer worked on it 4 times and never found it.
We found it last March My son. It was the tow hitch wiring all rusted and wet. WE cut the wires and installed a new one. Greased it with electrical grease Water proofed. All works well now.

[Bluepill]

A bad battery will also pull down the converter. Try disconnecting the negative terminal at the battery and see if the converter works properly and powers your 12 volt circuits.

Video link:

https://youtu.be/4X4fbVTm5pE

[cavie]

Have the battery load tested

[dalford]

If you have one, ensure your battery disconnect switch is not engaged..

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by lms7174

Cherokee Patriot 274dbh
Typing on phone so only listing known details....rv working fine, all of a sudden lights dimming and ac compressor no longer running. Eventually power got less and less running less stuff. Checked with voltage meter.... results are

120v @ plug in site
120v @ main breaker
120v @ ac breaker
Zero v to battery

Fridge has worked ntermittently. When power is disconnected from the battery power to the fridge stops.
Shouldn't fridge run without battery power.

Any ideas what else I should check? What could issue possibly be?

Does sound like a converter not putting out. As explained the converter takes your 120 volt AC and converts it to 12 volt DC to pwer the things that require such, like the lights,pumps, fans, thermostats, CO detector, etc. The converter also recharges the battery.



When you don't have 120 volt AC power, then all these things run directly off the 12 volt DC battery, up until the point it runs down, then they all stop. Your air conditioner has a 12 volt DC thermostat and your fridge may have a 12 volt DC control board, so without a functioning converter or charged battery, these items cannot work.


http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...nt-152813.html



http://rvservices.koa.com/rvinformat...d-amp-draw.asp


No why your converter is not working can be a few things too. Have you recently connected/reconnected any of the battery cables ...which could have possibly blown what is called the reverse polarity fuses to the converter?

[wmtire]

This thread link below will explain what the reverse polarity fuses are, and where they may be located. Hope your problem is something that simple.


http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ml#post1804546

[dalford]

Originally Posted by lms7174

Cherokee Patriot 274dbh
Typing on phone so only listing known details....rv working fine, all of a sudden lights dimming and ac compressor no longer running. Eventually power got less and less running less stuff. Checked with voltage meter.... results are

120v @ plug in site
120v @ main breaker
120v @ ac breaker
Zero v to battery

Fridge has worked ntermittently. When power is disconnected from the battery power to the fridge stops.
Shouldn't fridge run without battery power.

Any ideas what else I should check? What could issue possibly be?

What does “Zero volts to battery mean? Where did you measure this?

[lms7174]

Tested converter....it was bad after testing. Unfortunately all rv shops where we are camping were closed for holiday weekend. Found work around bought cheap car battery charger at Walmart, hooked to battery to charge. All is working again!
Thanks everyone!

[Skyliner]

Car battery charger will eventually overcharge your batteries so be careful with it. A great temporary fix.

For your next converter, strongly suggest a Progressive Dynamics Converter with triple rate charging and get one with charge pendent so you can force it into whatever charge mode you want to be in and know when it is done charging.

Have fun during the remainder of your camping trip!

[brookstone345sa]

After my converter issue I always carry battery charger with me. Have fun Camping