Bad Converter? Low voltage.

[RandK-M]

So it looks like my converter went bad. Before I get a new one, I thought I'd check here to make sure I didn't miss something.I inadvertently forgot to plug in my trailer when I got home from a weekend so in a couple days of course My battery went dead.

When I did plug in, I noticed the battery wouldn't charge so I checked the reverse polarity fuses, re-settable breaker on the frame, etc. All are good.

In addition, I was able to charge the battery just fine with an external charger after turning off the disconnect.

With the battery charged and the trailer unplugged from 120v, everything works fine, so I know I don't have a bad connection or a hidden fuse or breaker I missed.

HOWEVER, after 24 hours, the battery was draining again so I checked the output of the converter and it's only 11.4V.

I would expect it to be 13.7v if good or zero if it went bad, but not low.

By the way, this is a WF-8955. I'm surprised that killing the battery once in two seasons would kill a converter like that. I'm guessing a regulator chip went bad.


Thanks!

Ray

[SeaDog]

If you are only getting 11.4 at the battery that is not good. Have you tested the converter by hooking up to shore power disconnecting the battery and then measuring the 12V power? if it low in this congregation I would say the converter is bad. If it reads good around 13V then there is a problem with the connections between the converter and the battery.

[RandK-M]

Yes, with the battery out of the system (disconnect off) I was only getting 11.4v at the time I posted. By yesterday, it dropped down to 9.8v so definitely a bad converter.

I ordered a new converter from Amazon and it's arriving today.

[SeaDog]

I don't what brand of converter you have but in any case ensure you remove all power before installing. Some are stand alone and just plug into a 110V with positive and neg connections, others have to be hard wired. good luck let the forum know how it turns out.

[denville]

Just had the same problrm, it was a bad battery for me. Make sure you disconnect the battery cable before you order a new converter
Nothing out of the converter with battery connected 13.6 with battery disconnected

[denville]

Just a FYI the battery disconnect switch on my trailer does not disconnect the cinverter from the battery. Also my battery was only 2 years old

[RandK-M]

All fixed!
I installed the new converter, which is hard wired, but couldn't be much simpler. The battery charged right up and all is good again. While I was at it, I added a nifty little voltage meter.

The new converter is a 4 stage Powermax 55 watt. The old one was also 55 watt, but since it obviously didn't last like it should've, I got a different brand than the original.

Oh and Denville, in my case my factory installed battery disconnect isolates the battery from everything except my power jack.

Thanks SeaDog and Denville!

Here's the new voltmeter: