Electrical Problem

Gens1 · 06-30-2011, 11:55 PM

Purchased slightly used t21RD Salem Northwest. Have hooked up and plugged in 110 power cord but have no sign of power anywhere. Is there a Master Switch?

Iggy · 07-01-2011, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gens1

Purchased slightly used t21RD Salem Northwest. Have hooked up and plugged in 110 power cord but have no sign of power anywhere. Is there a Master Switch?

I don't have your trailer but you should have an electrical panel inside and normally close to the floor. It should have a main circuit breaker. It usualy is below the refrigerator. It usually is a brown blastic cover that you push in and it opens. It should have breakers and probably 12 Volt DC fuses like your car.
Here is a picture of mine and may help you find it.

Gens1 · 07-01-2011, 12:17 AM

Thanks, but checked all these and all good. still no power

Iggy · 07-01-2011, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gens1

Thanks, but checked all these and all good. still no power

Are you positive you are plugged into a good electircla circuit?
I mean checked with a meter. What do you mean by all of them are good?
Have you checked with a meter at the panel? Have you turned off all circuit breakers and turned them back on?
Are you sure you are turning them on? Sometimes people turn them off and think they are on.

A meter at the panel will tell if you have power or not at that location. If not I would check the cable connections inside the panel and under the trailer where you hook up shore power.

Gens1 · 07-01-2011, 12:40 AM

Power is getting to trailer. All breakers have been switched off and then back to on. I guess I'll get meter out and start taking things apart to trace down problem. Thanks for your quick responses and suggestions!

mikegp1 · 07-01-2011, 06:27 AM

Start by checking your adaptor if you are using one. If not checked you cord and GFCI circuits in the camper. The run them in series so when one goes you have to power anywhere.

kmb1116 · 07-01-2011, 07:28 AM

Do you have 12v power if not you may want to check your battery. In mine battery has to be good for the whole circuit to work.

**Herk7769** · 07-01-2011, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmb1116

Do you have 12v power if not you may want to check your battery. In mine battery has to be good for the whole circuit to work.

I don't know why that is. You should have full power to all items 12 VDC and 110VAC with shore power even if the battery is missing.
What model power center do you have?

Gens1 · 07-01-2011, 04:26 PM

The Battery apparently is the deal. Un hooked the battery wires, gave battery 15 minutes on trickle charger, Rehooked up, plugged in the 110 shore power and "there was light". I can't figure out why it wouldn't work on 110 when battery had no charge, but THANK YOU for the info. Battery is charging now as normal through the system.

**Herk7769** · 07-01-2011, 06:27 PM

Man, I would love for someone to explain THAT to me.
I don't doubt it for a minute; I just don't understand it.

dlhoppe · 07-01-2011, 08:18 PM

I'm thinking some kind of electronic safety mechanism in the converter/charger. Maybe it sees a flat battery as a dead short?

**Herk7769** · 07-01-2011, 08:49 PM

All I know is everything works on shore power using a WFCO power center with NO battery in it.

A dead battery (zero volts) won't take a charge without desulphation (thus the 4 stage charger) since there are no free ions in the electrolyte. It "should" act like its not there, not a dead short.
I did only get a C+ in Physics though...
Maybe someone here got an "A"?

dlhoppe · 07-01-2011, 09:15 PM

LOL, it wasn't me! That was just a wild guess.

Gens1 · 07-05-2011, 01:23 AM

Thanks to all who replied. Just got back from our first trip with the unit. Boondocking in National Forest, Battery lasted all weekend ( 3 nights - 2 Days). Furnace was needed some all 3 nights. Really appreciate the advice about the battery as it meant getting out what I'm sure was at least one day sooner.

bruce0429 · 07-08-2011, 08:00 PM

I had the same issue in my 07 Flagstaff. Brought it home from storage with dead battery plugged into shore power and nada. I was pretty confused until I hooked it back up to my running truck and everything came on. Until the battery was showing a charge I had no 12V in the camper.

**Herk7769** · 07-08-2011, 08:20 PM

Maybe a dead battery pulls so much amps initially out of the converter that it trips off line. That would explain the "no 12VDC" in the camper until the battery voltage rises to a point that the current demand from the converter is in its "safe range."

dlhoppe · 07-08-2011, 08:30 PM

So a dead battery is not the same as no battery to the converter. A dead battery and no battery both show no voltage, so it must be related to measured resistance. It would be interesting to know how it detects that condition and why it's designed to shut down when it does.

**Herk7769** · 07-08-2011, 08:54 PM

Tomorrow I will log on to the WFCO site and ask by contact email.
I will let you know if and/or when I get a reply.

jimh · 07-09-2011, 08:52 AM

ok, i can see the 12 volt being dragged down by a internally shorted battery; can't see it dragging down the 110.
Gens1, were u plugged into shore power at any time while u were camping?
after u charged ur battery and still plugged into shore power, did ur 110V start working? if not, u still may have a problem.
the adapter suggestion is a likely one (assuming no 110V).

Gens1 · 07-09-2011, 10:42 AM

Once the battery had what had to be a very minimal charge(10-15 minutes on battery charger on my lunch hour), It was rehooked to system and the entire system, including 110 (ac, Microwave), came back to life and battery was then charged only through the converter. Battery lasted all weekend from only about 6hrs on shore power after unhooking and before we left for the weekend Fri. evening.

I also am puzzled as to why the battery needed to have any charge in order for the 110 to function, That is why my original question was "where I may look for a "Master Power Switch" that I thought I must have been overlooking.
Anyway, All is well now and I know for future if Battery is completely dischaged that I will use another chargiing source to "prime the system". Again Thanks to all for the help and discussion

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