Power Issue

[Bates76905]

I am having a power issue with my wild wood X light. I do not have any power when I'm plugged into shore power. I only have power when my trailer has plugged into my truck trailer plug. I believe I have a couple of issues going. My trailer has been in storage for a couple of years and I believe my battery needs to be replaced because it's not taking a charge. I also suspect my converter is bad due to shore power not supplying any power to my trailer. I am looking for suggestions on how to test that theory and where my converter is located for replacement. My first order of business is to get a new battery. My. Next step is to address and determine if my converter is bad and replace.

 

[Chuck_S]

No power? Like no 12v power? You mentioned the converter and folks constantly and incorrectly refer to the power panel as the converter. Are you doing this? When on shorepower the converter should provide 12v regardless of a battery even being in the camper.

Do your 120vAC outlets work? If not start with the circuit breakers at the power pole or whatever your 120vAC power source may be, your shorepower cord, and the master breaker in the power panel. The converter is tucked inside the power panel.

-- Chuck

 

[tomkatb]

Step 1. Get the voltmeter out.

With solar, the tow vehicle. and shore power off wait an hour. Turn the disconnect off if you have one.

Check the water level in the batteries if you can.

Fill with distilled water.

After an hour check the voltage of the battery at the terminals. Will be 0-12.6. A higher number indicates something is trying to charge the battery.

Plug into shore power. Turn the disconnect on. Read the voltage at the terminals. It should be 13-14 volts.

If not. The converter is off line. Could be the converter or the converter cross connection fuses. AC fuse issue? The search begins. Sherlock Homes 101.

 

[bikendan]

Moved thread from the General Tech and Repair section to the Electrical, Charging Systems and Solar sub-forum since the OP's questions are specific to that particular sub-forum and are not general tech questions.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

Get the brand and model number of your converter. Do a GOOGLE search for the manufacture's manual. It will have trouble shooting information.

The converter is used to convert 120 volts AC to 12 volts DC to operate lights, water pump, etc. and to charge the battery. If the 120-volt items work such as the microwave or any outlets, then most likely the shore power is good.

In your power panel, most refer to this as the converter, there are circuit breakers and fuses. The circuit breakers are for 120-volt AC items and the fuses are for 12-volt DC items. As to circuit breakers, flip each one OFF and then back on. Listen for a solid click. One of the circuit breakers is the 120-volt source for the converter.

One really needs a voltmeter a.k.a. DVM and a bit of knowledge on how to use it in order to troubleshoot electrical problems.

Here is a picture of my converter. I have added both voltage and current displays for my unit. Yours won't have these.

The top panel has a push and release latch. When open the circuit breakers are on the left and the fuses are on the right. The actual converter electronics is located below and behind the top panel.

Bob

 

[Larry-NC]

If your 120 volt appliances (microwave and air conditioner) work, then power is getting to the trailer, Now you have to figure out why the 12-volt appliances don't work.

1) Is the battery disconnect switch set to provide power from the battery?
2) Is the circuit breaker that provides power to the converter (often labelled CONV) tripped? Turn it fully off, then on to see.
3) Have you checked the hidden circuit breaker? Follow the Positive battery cable. You may have to lie on your back. It will reach a small oblong unit with two threaded terminals. At the end is a tiny button. Press it until it clicks. Did that help?

Most RV owners get a multimeter (as cheap as $5) to permit further troubleshooting.

 

[wmtire]

If your 120 volt appliances (microwave and air conditioner) work, then power is getting to the trailer, Now you have to figure out why the 12-volt appliances don't work.

Just a reminder, The air conditioner thermostat will not usually work without some form of 12v DC. The air conditioner is usually one of the appliances that requires both 120 volt AC and 12 volt DC to function.

 

[wmtire]

OP, please read this thread below and post 5 and 6 for a failed converter workaround....but you may at least need a battery that will take a charge first.

Converter or Inverter (they are different)

One of the more often confused RV terminology things encountered is 'converter' and 'inverter'. Hopefully this thread will be able to simply explain what both are and their functions in a RV without getting too technical. Most RV's will have two distinct electrical systems. One will be a 120...

www.forestriverforums.com

 

[Aussieguy]

make sure you got 120v are you plugged in at home?

is yours a 50 or 30 amp connection?
if 50 amp ... it has 2 legs and you may NOT be getting both legs powered if you used an adapter?
look at your power panel find the converter breaker... check that it is ON..
look at what the breaker above or below the converter is powering... do they work?

use of a multi meter makes troubleshooting easy... test with meter if power is getting to converter
test if 12v power is comming out of converter

follow the 12v POWER... usin a meter... is it getting to fuse panel
is the converter reverse fuses blown (2 x 30amp)?

what converter have you got... one that is stand alone OR built into the power panel like mentioned above

Breakers can go bad or appear ON even though they are tripped...
Cycle your MAIN and converter breakers.............. OFF/ON a couple of times

 

[Bates76905]

Thank you for all of the informative reply's. I did some additional trouble shooting yesterday while I was charging my battery disconnected from the trailer with my power cord plugged into the 30 amp outlet. I do have power to the outlets, however. The air conditioner, the lights, the stereo did not have power. I was able to get about a 50% charge on my battery. When I connected it back, I had power to the lights, the stereo, and the air conditioner. I read in one of your posts at the AC, refrigerator and other items will not work without the DC power. I'm hoping my bad battery is to culprit.

 

[Reverse_snowbird]

I read in one of your posts at the AC, refrigerator and other items will not work without the DC power. I'm hoping my bad battery is to culprit.

That's not exactly true.
The AC (air conditioning) is going to work on shore power, not on the battery.
The refrigerator, it depends, what kind of refrigerator do you have?

When you're plugged into shore power, everything should work. Of course, you do have to practice power management especially when you're using high power draws like the air conditioner. That would blow circuit breakers.

 

[wmtire]

Thank you for all of the informative reply's. I did some additional trouble shooting yesterday while I was charging my battery disconnected from the trailer with my power cord plugged into the 30 amp outlet. I do have power to the outlets, however. The air conditioner, the lights, the stereo did not have power. I was able to get about a 50% charge on my battery. When I connected it back, I had power to the lights, the stereo, and the air conditioner. I read in one of your posts at the AC, refrigerator and other items will not work without the DC power. I'm hoping my bad battery is to culprit.

The converter "should" provide 12 volt DC power when you are connected to 120 volt AC shore power unless it is bad or has the reverse polarity fuses blown. This is regardless if your battery is depleted or not. Please read the entire thread I linked to in post #8.

 

[Larry-NC]

That's not exactly true.
The AC (air conditioning) is going to work on shore power, not on the battery.
The refrigerator, it depends, what kind of refrigerator do you have?

As I was reminded a day or two ago, most air conditioner installations require 12 volts, too, in order to operate the thermostat.

 

[Larry-NC]

The converter "should" provide 12 volt DC power when you are connected to 120 volt AC shore power unless it is bad or has the reverse polarity fuses blown. This is regardless if your battery is depleted or not. Please read the entire thread I linked to in post #8.

Or the converter circuit breaker has tripped.

 

[tomkatb]

Recharging a dead battery takes 24 hours.

the battery is connoted to virtually everything. So you need to monitor it.

A battery monitor is a good plan.

I assume you know most rv's come equipped with a little car battery, Usually they are too small today to allow a night not plugged in.