Inverter help needed

jwakeman · 11-29-2015, 03:33 PM

I had a 12 volt battery go bad and upon replacing the battery I now get 12.2 v instead of the normal 13.4. Looked up the doc for trailer and it does not match what is installed.

I have AIRPX DIMENSONSIONS E100666 with a number 337751 assume serial number.

Not finding any thing like that on the web.

Anybody got clue as to what I am dealing with?

**bikendan** · 11-29-2015, 03:48 PM

Are you talking about an INverter or a CONverter?
All RVs come with a CONVERTER, but few come with an INVERTER.

jwakeman · 11-29-2015, 03:54 PM

Another fine senor moment it is a converter. Thanks

racer4 · 11-29-2015, 05:12 PM

I did some searching and found AIRPAX DIMENSIONS inverters. Note the spelling difference. They are or were part of Magnum Dimensions. These are inverters, not converters.

How many batteries do you have?
Are you sure all batteries are fully charged?
Is the trailer plugged into 120V AC electric?

Is there an On/Off switch on the "device". If yes, turn it off and check the battery voltage again.

If this is an inverter, it draws power from the batteries and will cause a lower voltage measurement at the batteries.

If it is a converter, it supplies power to the batteries and will increase voltage at the batteries, such as the 13.4V you mentioned.

Look around for another box, that might be a converter. Maybe it has gone bad or blew a fuse and is not operating. Check the circuit breaker box, maybe the circuit breaker for the converter is off.

retiredtechnician · 11-29-2015, 05:27 PM

I'm just guessing now as there isn't enough info to go on:

First, I need to guess that you are referring to "AIRPAX DIMENSIONS". If that's the case, they make mainly inverters and very few, if any, converters.

I'm guessing the E100666 isn't the model number as there is a UL File by that name. One of their inverter manuals state "NOTE: These products are Listed to applicable UL Standards (UL458) and requirements by Underwriters Laboratories Inc., File E100666. ......."

They also state they have "8 brand names we own, manufacture and sell under: Sensata, Airpax, Klixon, DeltaTech, Magnum-Dimensions, Qinex, Schrader, Sensor-NITE"

So it is possible you do have an inverter, especially if you have a motorhome. If that's the case, 12.2 volts to the inverter would be possible, depending if the MH is plugged into shore power, and also depending on the inverter load.

Like I said, "a whole lot of guessing going on". I need the correct manufacturer name and correct model number in order to help.

**bikendan** · 11-29-2015, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredtechnician

So it is possible you do have an inverter, especially if you have a motorhome. If that's the case, 12.2 volts to the inverter would be possible, depending if the MH is plugged into shore power, and also depending on the inverter load.

The OP stated it's a trailer plus he posted this in the Cedar Creek section, which is a 5th wheel.

retiredtechnician · 11-29-2015, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikendan

The OP stated it's a trailer plus he posted this in the Cedar Creek section, which is a 5th wheel.

Thanks for the info. Like I said, "a whole lot of guessing going on". Some TT and 5th wheels do have inverters; in fact, our last 5th wheel had an inverter. Without any more info, it's pretty difficult to tell, but I'm still "guessing" what he's looking at is an inverter.

jwakeman · 11-30-2015, 09:31 AM

OK now I have an idea as to what answers are needed.
5th wheel
1 Battery
it is a 800 watt inverter
ADI-12w8r3t 15 AMP
Shore power is 124 on both legs

Looked at web but did not find info I could use

With and external charger it set at 13.2 remove the charger and it starts dropping right away.

Any and all opinions are appreciated. THANKs

jwakeman · 11-30-2015, 09:35 AM

Also this is the second new Battery and tested good at install.

Jim34RL · 11-30-2015, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwakeman

OK now I have an idea as to what answers are needed.
5th wheel
1 Battery
it is a 800 watt inverter
ADI-12w8r3t 15 AMP
Shore power is 124 on both legs

Looked at web but did not find info I could use

With and external charger it set at 13.2 remove the charger and it starts dropping right away.

Any and all opinions are appreciated. THANKs

A picture would help!

Now I am going to guess as to what you are looking at!. When you open the service door to the battery; there is a electrical device above the battery on a shelve with a display; correct?

If so this is an inverter and will use the battery energy to provide 110/120V electrical power to a component on the camper. Such as the residential refrigerator. This is drawing power from the battery and over time will lower the battery voltage until the battery can not supply voltage and power.

The converter is store behind a sliding door in the basement curb side (at least on my unit) and will convert 110/120 volts to 12 volt system to charge the battery and provide electrical power to 12V components in the trailer such as lights and furnace. The trailer will need to be connected to shore power for the converter to work.

When I am connected to shore power I turn the inverter off.

Jim34RL · 11-30-2015, 09:53 AM

I only run my inverter when I need to use the residential refrigerator to keep it cold. All other times the inverter is off since the fan and display will draw energy from the battery.

jwakeman · 11-30-2015, 09:54 AM

Except for road time I am on shore power all the time and have not turned inverter off for 4 years. If the inverter is off how does the battery get recharged?

A32Deuce · 11-30-2015, 09:56 AM

Inverter doesn't charge battery, converter charges battery!

Jim34RL · 11-30-2015, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwakeman

Except for road time I am on shore power all the time and have not turned inverter off for 4 years. If the inverter is off how does the battery get recharged?

Did you see my first post right before this one?

jwakeman · 11-30-2015, 10:10 AM

yes I did, but every thing I find says I am a inverter/charger.

AquaMan · 11-30-2015, 10:50 AM

An inverter receives 12v DC power FROM the battery and converts it to 120v AC. A converter receives 120v AC power and converts it to 12V DC and charges the battery. The converter usually lies behind the fuse panel on most TT's and 5er's. The inverter is generally located near the 12V battery source. I mention this, because the info we are getting is somewhat confusing. An Inverter has no way of charging a battery, since it runs off 12v dc power and doesn't produce it. If you're not getting proper voltage to battery, the converter may be going bad. Pull a cable from the battery and measure the voltage going to the battery (while plugged into shore power). If voltage is low, the converter is starting to fail.

jwakeman · 11-30-2015, 11:15 AM

Thanks for the clarification I will do some more research.

bubbles · 11-30-2015, 11:43 AM

Xantrex (maybe others) does make an inverter/charger that replaces the typical converter. This is probably what you have in your unit.

Batts-toy · 11-30-2015, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwakeman

yes I did, but every thing I find says I am a inverter/charger.

Don't let the terminology (label) confuse the issue, there is such a thing as an inverter/charger if wired as an inverter (12 volts in 120 volts out) it is operating as an inverter. If wired with 120 volts in and 12 volts out it is operating as a charger, it does not do both at the same time unless it also has auto switches with it so it can switch over when shore power is connected or you are getting 110 v from a generator so it sounds to me like yours is set up as an inverter for the fridge.

Look for the converter and test it's output to the battery with the inverter shut off. The converter is usually set up and looks like it is part of the electrical station (where fuses and breakers are).

ScottBrownstein · 11-30-2015, 12:13 PM

From what I can tell, there is no Airpax Dimensions Inverter/Charger, they only seem to make inverters and there is an 800 watt model. As such, I would bet that you have a separate converter (battery charger) somewhere else in the TT. SInce you put a new battery in and are only reading 12.2 volts, the converter is either off or malfunctioning. When you put a charger on, the voltage rises to 13.3 or so and that is what your converter should be doing. You need to find it and figure out what is up with it. It will be a box that has a line cord and probably a fan, a heavy ground and a red and black terminal with some heavy wires coming out that go to your battery. Lots of brands including Progressive Dynamics, and the like. The reason it is not called a charger is that it converts 120 volts AC to 12 volts DC. This charges your battery and also powers everything in the TT when on shore power.

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