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Old 12-18-2016, 08:09 PM   #1
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Introduction

Hello everyone, my name is Fernando and I just wanted to introduce myself to everyone on this forum. Thanks for all the useful input and information that is available on this forum. I just bought a 2017 a Forest River Cedar Creek Hathoway editition and have been having nothing but problems with this 5th wheel. Sorry if I misspelled any the 5th wheel name. The first problem I had was that the jacks would not go up. After having a technician look at it with no avail, I emailed Cedar Creek and they told me to press the reset button. The button was hidden very nicely, but once I pressed it, the jacks worked and I was able to bring them up.
The next problem I have is that the 12 volt lights do not work properly. They keep draining my battery. I have had two technicians try and find what the problem is but no one can find the problem. No body can find the converter in the trailer. The technician also shocked himself when he was trying to find the converter by the breaker box. The lines were not coated all the way down through the small hole they went through. Luckily he just touched it lightly. The battery keeps draining.
No one from the Cedar Creek or the sellers of the RV can tell me where the converter is located. Can someone tell me where I can find the warranty for this Cedar Creek 5th wheel. I hate to introduce myself and come out with problems right away but this situation is very frustrating. Thanks everyone and
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Old 12-18-2016, 08:11 PM   #2
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Should this fifth wheel come with a converter in the first place?
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Old 12-19-2016, 12:19 AM   #3
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Yes, it should come with a converter and if you have the residential refrigerator it will also have an inverter.

So, I assume you are connected to shore power and the 50 amp breakers are switched to on. You did not mention the model number of your 5th wheel but in most Units the converter is located behind or close to the breaker panel.

Make sure your battery disconnect switch is not set to "Off". Your battery's will not be charged by your converter if it is switched to off.

You say you lights keep draining your battery. Are you recharging the batteries with an external battery charger? How are your batteries being recharged?
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Old 12-19-2016, 06:30 PM   #4
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Your battery problem is likely easy to fix.

The Cedar Creek model number will help us help you. What is it?

How many batteries are there? 1, 2 or 4?

It is possible they are wired wrong and the batteries are not being charged.

On my 36CKTS, the converter is behind a sliding panel inside the door side (curb side) storage compartment on the left.

By the way, the hydraulic jacks circuit breaker is more likely to pop when the batteries charge level is low.

The Cedar Creek customer support is very good. From your description of the dealer service techs that have worked on your unit, they don't know what they are doing. I suggest you find a different service tech.
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Old 12-19-2016, 08:03 PM   #5
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The 5th wheel i got is a 34RL Cedar Creek Hathoway addition. The inverter is there but I can not find the convertor. We checked behind the breaker panel and opened the vent grill, storage box, and next to the inverter. It does have some bear wires in the storage compartment. I have to unhook the battery cables and hook up the battery charger to charge up the batteries. There are only two batteries in this 5th wheel. I am thinking that either Cedar Creek forgot to put a converter or the seller took the converter out for some reason and never put it back. I use this RV for my work because I am out of town working months at a time. The seller is Funtown RV's in Houston. They said they can try and fix it in late January and my turnaround will be starting early January. I either take it to them and lose out on money because it will be at the dealership waiting to get fixed until late January. In that time I will have to rent a room and spend money on both monthly payments and a hotel room. Also be disgusted staying in a motel room. If not I can wait until my job is over late Febuary and take it to them when I am done. Hope this works. out. Thanks for the knowledge and replys.
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Old 12-19-2016, 08:42 PM   #6
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I have a 32RL Cedar Creek and the inverter is behind the panel in the basement, mine has a small panel that you take the screw out and slide the panel and you can see the converter. I'll take a picture tomorrow and show you, it's a little way from the breaker box. The dealer installs the battery, the batteries are probably wired wrong, mine were wired wrong. My dealer installed four 6 volt batteries on my camper but they were cheap. You might want to google the 12 volt side of life, it shows how to wire up batteries and other information about batteries. I have had a few problems with my Creek but overall we love our Creek


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Old 12-19-2016, 11:11 PM   #7
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Does your stereo work?
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Old 12-19-2016, 11:28 PM   #8
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A picture of the batteries and their cables would help us figure out if they are hooked up right.

Do you have a multimeter. A voltage reading of the batteries when the electric cord is plugged in would help.

Also check the circuit breaker for the converter. The circuit breaker box is probably inside, near the door down at floor level.
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Old 12-20-2016, 01:30 AM   #9
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The attached photo is of the sticker on my 2017 34re. I bought my four 6 volt batteries and had dealer install. They wired them wrong and my inverter would not run the residential refrigerator for more than 30 minutes because it was only wired to two of the four batteries. Once corrected all works great. You could have a similar issue. Click image for larger version

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Old 12-20-2016, 05:48 AM   #10
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I will check after work today. thanks you'll.
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Old 12-20-2016, 06:42 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fernland View Post
I have to unhook the battery cables and hook up the battery charger to charge up the batteries. There are only two batteries in this 5th wheel. I am thinking that either Cedar Creek forgot to put a converter or the seller took the converter out for some reason and never put it back.
A couple of thoughts while you figure out if you have a converter and if so, why it isn't charging (photos would be nice) ... but, the reason your lights bring the batteries down is that you are not getting a full charge (not sure what charger you are using), plus there is other small loads on the batteries. A good converter will takes a couple of days to charge those batteries up again; small car type charger, maybe never. Also, if you have discharged those batteries (whatever they are) to near nothing they might be permanently damaged... don't know for sure, but maybe.
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Old 12-20-2016, 07:55 AM   #12
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It's has a converter, it really is not possible to not have one.

1) batteries connected wrong?
2) converter protection fuses blown?
3) battery disconnect off and protection fuses blown?
4) converter breaker tripped?

I find it really hard to believe no one can find the converter, nor no one can tell you where it is.

Pull your distribution panel front cover and look where your 12 v fuses are, there you will find two heavy gauge wires, follow those to your converter.
You may have to get behind the distribution panel to do so.
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Old 12-20-2016, 08:02 AM   #13
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Introduction

Normally the converter is built right into the distribution panel and can be found simply by removing the front cover.
In some cases it may be a stand alone unit and be found directly behind or in close proximity of the distribution panel.

What brand of distribution panel?

Wfco is the most common and as you see in the picture the converter is at the bottom and this is with the front panel removed.

As you can see on the 12v side there is a heavy red "bottom" and heavy white "top" gauge wire, those go directly to the converter.

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Old 12-20-2016, 08:07 AM   #14
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This would be a typical stand alone converter.

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Old 12-20-2016, 08:54 AM   #15
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Thanks for the pictures it was really helpful. I will take pics for you'll once I get out of work. Thank goodness for people like you'll. I really appreciate the help.
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Old 12-20-2016, 09:20 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by Fernland View Post
Thanks for the pictures it was really helpful. I will take pics for you'll once I get out of work. Thank goodness for people like you'll. I really appreciate the help.


We'll get you fixed up in a jiffy!
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Old 12-20-2016, 08:17 PM   #17
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Finally back from work and I got some pictures this time. Still did not find it.
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Old 12-20-2016, 08:29 PM   #18
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These are the pictures. I have not found the converter. The technician took out the panel that is inside on the bottom and there was no converter behind it. Who should of installed the converter. This is really weired.
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Old 12-20-2016, 08:32 PM   #19
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More pics. That is the panel I opened in the bottom. Those two wires were not covered all the way and they shocked the technician. He put tape so that would be avoided. The picture of the battery is the way I am running the battery now.
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Old 12-20-2016, 08:37 PM   #20
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I am going to email Forrest River about the converter first. Then I will call the sales people if they do not do anything about it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=ATVPDKIKX0DER
That is the new battery I am going to purchase to get me by the next two months.
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