Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-23-2020, 09:11 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 7
No 12 volt Power unless on Shore Power or Generator

We were boon-docking. When we shut down the generator for the night, the 12 volt lights got dim immediately, so I assumed the batteries were bad (5 years old.) I replaced them with two 27 series deep cycle batteries. Ever since then, when the genny is on, the 12 volts lights are on, when genny is off the lights are off.

I have read half-a-dozen posts with same problem. I have performed all the recommended tests. Everything checks out except we have no 12 volt power with genny off. We have 12.6 volts on battery side of reset fuse, 12.6 volts on opposite side of fuse, jacks and slide work, lights, pump do not. I checked power at converter. 14.4 volts with generator on, 0.0 volts with genny off.

What have i overlooked?
EarlyRiser1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2020, 09:57 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
007matman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 2,481
Did you check all of your fuses?
007matman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2020, 10:22 PM   #3
Just as confused as you
 
Scrapper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: south central Wisconsin
Posts: 5,108
Battery disconnect switch, 30 or 40 amp reverse polarity fuses or the resetable breaker/fuse near the battery on the positive cable.
__________________
Richard & Jill
2014 Flagstaff 832IKBS Classic Super Lite
2018 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Z71 4WD All Star Edition
Camping since 1989, Seasonal since 2000.
Car Shredder Op/Tech, Scrap Metal Recycling - retired
Scrapper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2020, 05:59 AM   #4
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 7
I have checked battery disconnect switch, reset switch, both 40 amp reverse polarity fuses. All are good. There is no power at the 12 volt side of the converter unless the generator is running. When it is, power measures 14.4 volts. When it is not, power measures 0.0 volts. I have 12.6 volts at the jacks and slide and the lead going to the converter.
EarlyRiser1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2020, 06:33 AM   #5
Insert witty title here
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: About 30 miles west of Beantown.
Posts: 4,031
Start at the battery and work your way towards the inverter. Measure every connection point until you don't read 12V. There is a break in the circuit somewhere.
__________________

2021 Transcend Xplor 247BH
Husky WDH with Sway Control
2021 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LT 6.6L V8 Duramax
Forever in my memory. Forever in my heart.
Laurie J. Wood 3/22/67 - 8/23/19
timfromma is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2020, 06:40 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Dayton Ohio
Posts: 3,567
On my fuse box there are two Big wires that come from the batteries to the fuse box. Actually two sets. One to the battery, the other to the converter.

With the generator off and shore power unplugged these connections should read 12.6 if fully charged. If not, likely there is a disconnect, fuse blown. Or other device.

I would hook my old battery charger to one of the batteries. The lights should come on. Batteries should charge.

Did the batteries ever work after you changed them?

Loose wire? Wired wrong?
tomkatb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2020, 07:15 AM   #7
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
What kind of camper are we talking about?
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2020, 07:29 AM   #8
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 7
The new batteries are working, but the power from them is not reaching the 12 volt side of the converter. Battery disconnect switch is OK. Battery reset switch is OK. I Measure 12.6 volts going to wire that leaves the reset switch headed for the converter, but no voltage arrives at the converter. I’m wondering if there is a component inside the converter that is not letting the current through.
EarlyRiser1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2020, 07:36 AM   #9
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 7
Quote:
Originally Posted by Herk7769 View Post
What kind of camper are we talking about?
Camper is 5th Wheel. 2004 Forest River Rockwood. Converter is a WFCO WF-8935AN.
Attached Images
 
EarlyRiser1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2020, 07:41 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Payson, AZ
Posts: 3,862
the fact that you are getting 14.4 vdc at the converter when connected to 120 vac (shore, generator) says your converter is working. what is the voltage at the battery when the converter is working? if it not 13.2 or above there is a break in the cable path from the converter to the battery.

the break could be the battery disconnect switch in the wrong position or the resettable circuit breaker has tripped. it could be a loose or corroded connection somewhere. it could be unseen corrosion inside a battery cable.

time to get the meter back out and use it to trace the battery cables and test each and every connection to see where you lose power.
__________________
2015 cardinal model 3825fl
2015 dodge ram 3500 dually
CHICKDOE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2020, 07:42 AM   #11
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
Quote:
Originally Posted by EarlyRiser1 View Post
Camper is 5th Wheel. 2004 Forest River Rockwood. Converter is a WFCO WF-8935AN.
Under the king pin is a red capped current limiter. It should be very close to the metal umbilical cord box. The terminals there can corrode disconnecting power between the battery and the converter.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	DSCF5737.jpg
Views:	76
Size:	180.7 KB
ID:	234663  
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2020, 10:39 AM   #12
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 7
“ what is the voltage at the battery when the converter is working? if it not 13.2 or above there is a break in the cable path from the converter to the battery. ”

Voltage at battery w/genny running is 14.4. Doesn’t that prove the cable path from converter is good?

Battery reset switch is auto resetting. Voltage reads 12.6 on both sides of it w/o shore power.
EarlyRiser1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2020, 10:45 AM   #13
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 7
Herk, I haven’t seen the current limiter. I will check for it next time I am in camp (2-3 weeks from now.) Camper stays there full time, 200 miles from home.
EarlyRiser1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2020, 02:25 PM   #14
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
Quote:
Originally Posted by EarlyRiser1 View Post
Herk, I haven’t seen the current limiter. I will check for it next time I am in camp (2-3 weeks from now.) Camper stays there full time, 200 miles from home.
I had a similar problem and wire brushing the current limiter solved my problem. If it is badly corroded, you may need to replace it. I think they are 30 amps.

They are resettable if it is just tripped. There is a button on one of the short sides that can be pressed in if it is popped.

The reason that limiter is there is to protect the battery from a dead short if the umbilical is cut or severed by rubbing on the road or in a jack knife. one wire goes to the battery and one goes into the metal box where it joins the wire from the converter and the hot from the truck. Opening it isolates the battery.

A similar one is on the frame of travel trailers right near the metal umbilical box on the frame.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	30407-20.jpg
Views:	53
Size:	32.2 KB
ID:	234680   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0162.jpg
Views:	137
Size:	376.9 KB
ID:	234691   Click image for larger version

Name:	360426586.jpg
Views:	71
Size:	57.9 KB
ID:	234692  
Attached Images
 
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2020, 08:21 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 9,458
One more thing...

One more thing, only alluded to thus far.

The positive battery cable will directly connect to the positive converter cable and positive terminal on the distribution board. Not always the case for the negative wiring. On some units (e.g., our Cherokee 38P), the negative battery cable connects directly to the frame. A positive cable from the distribution board connects to the frame, about four feet away from the battery cable. If either of these ground connections goes bad (and mine were rusty), there goes the power.
__________________
Larry
"Everybody's RV is not like your RV."
"Always take pictures with the button on the right."
"Always bypass the water heater before opening the low-point drains."
Sticks and Bricks: Raleigh, NC
2008 Cherokee 38P: at Ivor, VA permanently
Larry-NC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2020, 08:38 PM   #16
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 7
Thanks again, Herk and thanks, Larry. I will check those out. Won’t be back at camp for 2-3 weeks. So it will have to wait.
EarlyRiser1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
12 volt, generator, power, shore power

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:19 AM.