Converter problem

clk623 · 09-13-2011, 09:50 PM

2007 8313SS -- having problems with keeping battery charged. New battery. Seems like when I plug into city power it's not bypassing the battery and the lites are still drawing off it. How can I tell if the converter needs to be replaced or have another problem?

**Herk7769** · 09-13-2011, 09:57 PM

The converter charges the battery; most high demand 12VDC come from the battery.

Check here.

WFCO - New world of power ideas - FAQs

clk623 · 09-14-2011, 08:14 PM

I understand that the converter does charge/maintain the battery, but doesn't it bypass the battery when you plug into city power and convert the 120v to 12v to run the 12v circuits?

TURBS · 09-14-2011, 08:19 PM

no it does not by pass the battery at any time .
it uses the battery as a buffer.

plug into 110v and check your output at the converter . anything over 13 volts and its working . anything under 12.5 and its not.

check your fuses and breakers .

**Herk7769** · 09-15-2011, 05:59 AM

The instructions for bypassing the battery and checking output voltage of the converter is in the manual I posted. It is on one of the last pages under troubleshooting.

jimh · 09-15-2011, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clk623

I understand that the converter does charge/maintain the battery, but doesn't it bypass the battery when you plug into city power and convert the 120v to 12v to run the 12v circuits?

I had an '84 that did that. my understanding is that they haven't done that for awhile.

**Herk7769** · 09-15-2011, 06:40 PM

While the converter will attempt to provide power to your 12VDC components without a battery installed; high demand items like the water pump; slide motors; landing gear and stabilizer motors; and furnace can demand more amps than the converter can manufacture and maintain 12VDC. The converter depends on the battery to make up the difference to maintain that voltage. Without the battery, that converter can "fry" itself trying. Again, this process can be easily seen with a battery monitor system that displays amp flow.

sschifer · 09-16-2011, 10:06 AM

My previous trailer was a 97 sprinter by keystone. It didn't even have a battery in it and everything worked fine. I wonder how i was able to get away with that.

**Herk7769** · 09-16-2011, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sschifer

My previous trailer was a 97 sprinter by keystone. It didn't even have a battery in it and everything worked fine. I wonder how i was able to get away with that.

My guess, since you are asking, is that there were few high draw items for the converter to deal with. Today's campers have pretty much power everything. With no battery, you were also most likely below the gross weight requiring trailer brakes.

clk623 · 09-17-2011, 02:15 PM

Has anyone performed a converter upgrade on a Parallax converter? I need to replace my converter and I want to upgrade to the P4600 replacement. This will give me a 3-stage charger for better battery life. This is a little more work than replacing with the exact 7155 model. Anyone have any suggestions and the best vendors?

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