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12-07-2018, 01:52 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Northwest Arkansas
Posts: 68
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Where is converter
Hi, I have a 2015 Cedar Creek 36CKTS. Last weekend we had a lightning storm that took the surger protector out on the incoming power for the camper. Replaced it and can’t here the converter running (fan).
Anyone know where the converter is located at?
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Bill & Joy
Daisy & Roxie (our Poms)
2015 Cedar Creek 36CKTS
2014 3500 Ram Laramie Mega Cab DRW Cummins 6.7L Diesel
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12-07-2018, 02:28 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Port Charlotte Fl/Hinsdale Ma
Posts: 4,823
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bturner
Hi, I have a 2015 Cedar Creek 36CKTS. Last weekend we had a lightning storm that took the surger protector out on the incoming power for the camper. Replaced it and can’t here the converter running (fan).
Anyone know where the converter is located at?
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It's with your main AC breaker panel. Check the breaker for the converter.
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12-07-2018, 02:30 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,288
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"Converter" is usually mounted in the lower section of he power distribution/fuse panel. Look for a dark (usually brown or black) rectangular panel under the Refer, under a cupboard or similar place. It will have an access door that you usually just push/release to open and when opened you'll see circuit breakers on one side and fuses on the other.
Before condemning the Converter as "bad" have you checked to see if your lighting works with Shore Power "unplugged". If so that means you are now getting 12v power from at least the batteries. Check voltage at batteries and if it's more then 13 volts your converter is OK. Many converter fans don't run until they get warm or current load is higher than just "trickle charge" for batteries.
BTW, you won't see the actual converter until the Cover/Bezel of the power panel is removed. Usually just a couple screws that you will see when the access door is opened.
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"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
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12-07-2018, 03:29 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Northwest Arkansas
Posts: 68
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Thanks for all of your response. The battery voltage is 12.1. It has 4 6v batteries. I took the cover (with screws) off the power distribution panel but didn’t see anything like the converter. The breaker wasn’t tripped.
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Bill & Joy
Daisy & Roxie (our Poms)
2015 Cedar Creek 36CKTS
2014 3500 Ram Laramie Mega Cab DRW Cummins 6.7L Diesel
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12-07-2018, 06:48 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Northwest Arkansas
Posts: 68
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Found the converter. Access panel in basement next to the vacuum system. Not even warm to the touch.
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12-07-2018, 07:31 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Port Charlotte Fl/Hinsdale Ma
Posts: 4,823
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bturner
Found the converter. Access panel in basement next to the vacuum system. Not even warm to the touch.
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"Breaker wasn't tripped". Was there 120 volts on the breaker? Did you turn it off then back on?
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12-07-2018, 07:41 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,288
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cavie
"Breaker wasn't tripped". Was there 120 volts on the breaker? Did you turn it off then back on?
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Ditto on what cavie said AND:
Be sure to check for blown fuses on the Converter itself. Most have "Reverse Polarity" fuses (usually two) on them that blow instantly whenever battery cables are reversed. Even if the wire just touches the terminal just long enough to spark before one realizes they are backwards.
If the fuses are blown then make sure you have the proper wires connected to their proper terminals at the battery. Usually the positive wire is black or red and the negative is white (can also be a black with a piece of white tape on it.
Quickest way to check if wires are reversed is to check the connection at the converter with a multimeter. If you put red lead on positive terminal of the converter and the black lead on the negative, properly connected battery will just read battery voltage. If you see a "minus sign" when you use test leads as I described your battery connection is reversed.
Do this check before you replace fuses. On my converter the fuses are 40 amp but that varies with converter ratings. When you buy fuses get a spare set just in case. Like bringing an umbrella to work. When you don't it always seems to rain.
FWIW, this is a frequent problem because unlike automobiles that use different sized posts and clamps for battery connections, RV's just use bolt on lugs. Easy to reverse.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
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12-07-2018, 10:27 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Northwest Arkansas
Posts: 68
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The breaker wasn’t tripped but I need turn it off and back on. I’ll verify there is 120vac to the converter.
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Bill & Joy
Daisy & Roxie (our Poms)
2015 Cedar Creek 36CKTS
2014 3500 Ram Laramie Mega Cab DRW Cummins 6.7L Diesel
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12-07-2018, 10:29 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Northwest Arkansas
Posts: 68
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I didn’t disconnect the batteries we took a lightening hit. Killed the surge protector, but I guess it did it’s job for the most part. Looks like all the 120vac electronics, other than the converter, work.
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Bill & Joy
Daisy & Roxie (our Poms)
2015 Cedar Creek 36CKTS
2014 3500 Ram Laramie Mega Cab DRW Cummins 6.7L Diesel
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12-07-2018, 11:55 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,288
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bturner
I didn’t disconnect the batteries we took a lightening hit. Killed the surge protector, but I guess it did it’s job for the most part. Looks like all the 120vac electronics, other than the converter, work.
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have you checked the reverse polarity fuses on the converter. they could have blown during the lightning strike. they are 12v fuses
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
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12-08-2018, 10:33 AM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Northwest Arkansas
Posts: 68
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The converter is a 55 amp model WF-9855. The dealer only has a 45 or a 75 amp model in stock. The 45 amp has the same footprint as the 55 amp.
Would the 45 amp model work as a replacement?
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Bill & Joy
Daisy & Roxie (our Poms)
2015 Cedar Creek 36CKTS
2014 3500 Ram Laramie Mega Cab DRW Cummins 6.7L Diesel
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12-08-2018, 10:57 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kenmore, NY
Posts: 110
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12-08-2018, 11:07 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Northwest Arkansas
Posts: 68
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We leave this Thursday for Florida. The dealer said the 45 amp unit would work fine. The camper has four 6v batteries. Maybe the 75 amp model would be a better choice.
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Bill & Joy
Daisy & Roxie (our Poms)
2015 Cedar Creek 36CKTS
2014 3500 Ram Laramie Mega Cab DRW Cummins 6.7L Diesel
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12-08-2018, 11:45 AM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Grayson County, Texas
Posts: 21,502
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TitanMike
have you checked the reverse polarity fuses on the converter. they could have blown during the lightning strike. they are 12v fuses
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OP, if you haven’t checked those 2 Reverse Polarity fuses on the converter, you should. Hooking the battery cables backward is NOT the only thing that can blow them. A lightning strike might.
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12-08-2018, 11:52 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 4,043
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bturner
We leave this Thursday for Florida. The dealer said the 45 amp unit would work fine. The camper has four 6v batteries. Maybe the 75 amp model would be a better choice.
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sounds like you have a stand alone converter , 75 amp would be better then 45 . it will charge the batteries better and provide and big cushion for 12 volt usage . going to 45 amp will work though
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12-08-2018, 12:34 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Between Pickles Gap and Toad Suck, AR
Posts: 6,070
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75 will work better ONLY IF the cables to/from it are big enough for that.
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"Next to prayer, fishing is the most personal relationship of man" Herbert Hoover
"American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God"Lewis Grizzard
FROG AR-0019-242
2016 GMC Denali 3500Dually--2017 CC 36CKTS
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12-08-2018, 01:38 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,288
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BandJCarm
75 will work better ONLY IF the cables to/from it are big enough for that.
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I would go with the larger converter. Will provide for extra capacity should you add extra 12v accessories in the future and even more important, should you increase battery bank capacity
Wire size can always be increased and with stand alone converters they usually are closer to the battery bank anyway.
I definitely would not go smaller.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
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12-08-2018, 02:04 PM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Northwest Arkansas
Posts: 68
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I checked the fuses they are good
__________________
Bill & Joy
Daisy & Roxie (our Poms)
2015 Cedar Creek 36CKTS
2014 3500 Ram Laramie Mega Cab DRW Cummins 6.7L Diesel
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12-08-2018, 02:52 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 4,043
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bturner
I checked the fuses they are good
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have you put a meter on the output of the converter while on shore power
one way to know for sure
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12-09-2018, 04:26 PM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Northwest Arkansas
Posts: 68
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Found a 65 amp model at a dealer a little ways away. Replaced the old unit that was definitely bad.
Just to be sure nothing else is hosed, is there, other than the battery disconnect switch, anything between the batteries and the power distribution box?
__________________
Bill & Joy
Daisy & Roxie (our Poms)
2015 Cedar Creek 36CKTS
2014 3500 Ram Laramie Mega Cab DRW Cummins 6.7L Diesel
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