No 12 volt DC/Fridge won't light

Hammer Down · 10-10-2011, 03:07 PM

O.K. Guys and Girls I need some help. Pulled out from park today after 3 days on shore power wife says the refrigerator light is not on. Stop and checked things out and no 12 volt power in the unit. Refrige didn't kick over to propane, (tank full) nothing on 12 volts working. Checked batteries 12.7,12.8,12.6 all three showing good and the charger was working while on shore power. Checked solenoid for batteries and getting 12.77 out of it. Looked at transfer switch and somewhat think that is the culprit but not sure. Tried generator and nothing from any starter switch I tried. Generator not making a sound period. Checked fuses on solenoid (good) checked fuses on converter (good) converter giving me 14.6 on DC side when hooked to shore power but getting nothing unhooked (transfer switch) ? Back in park until find out what is wrong or head home with spoiled refrigerator. Thanks for your help and suggestions.

texnet · 10-10-2011, 03:19 PM

Look for you 12vdc fuse panel. Most likely the fuse to the fridge is blown. 12vdc is required for the fridge to run.

Hammer Down · 10-10-2011, 04:09 PM

texnet, checked 12volt panel and none have popped out. Reset all of them to make sure still no12 volt. Something is killing the 12 volt transfer as quick as I pull shore power. Checked hot wire to generator and had 13.77 volts but
generator will not do nothing (fuse good and breakers on). Fuel tank full on unit and run generator for 1 hour Thursday and everything worked fine. Something somewhere is not letting 12 volts out. Lights under cabinets or anywhere else will come on.

Thanks for your reply. Anyone else got any ideals. Thanks

Batman_777 · 10-10-2011, 04:28 PM

Start RV motor and then try the generator.

GaryKD · 10-10-2011, 04:29 PM

Hi Hammer Down,
The transfer switch has nothing to do with 12 VDC power in the coach. If I read your posts correctly, the 12 VDC lights do work, but the refrigerator does not get 12VDC power. This means the problem is between the refrigerator and the batteries. Depending on how your coach is wired, there may be a 12 VDC fuse in the 12 VDC fuse panel. Your statement about "checked 12volt panel and none have popped out" is confusing. 12 VDC fuses are usually plug in and color coded. There is no "popping out". If you have a Dometic refrigerator there are 3 fuses (maybe more) in the back of the unit. A couple are in line and you can see them after removing the exterior vent panel. There will also be fuses contained in the plastic box holding the circuit board. These are not easy to remove without a fuse puller.

DrScott · 10-10-2011, 04:44 PM

On first read it seems odd to me that there is NO power on the DC side of the converter without shore power. Unless yours is really different from mine there should be power from the batteries measurable at the dc side of the converter from the batteries. I'm not sure if you left out a word--did you say none of the 12V lights work either??.

Did you check the coach battery disconnect switch?? could have gotten bumped.

do your batteries have power when measured at the cables and each battery??

dieselclacker · 10-10-2011, 04:50 PM

Check the battery disconnect switch.

Dieselclacker

1ciderdog · 10-10-2011, 04:58 PM

I think Dieselclacker is on the right track. On mine I have a dash switch that turns off 12 volt house power and when that switch is off no refrigerator, no generator, etc.
Safe Travels
Bob

Hammer Down · 10-10-2011, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Batman_777

Start RV motor and then try the generator.

Thanks Batman_777 but no luck with generator with engine running. Nothing.

mahon1993 · 10-10-2011, 05:06 PM

A lot of times the 12 volt disconnect switch is right by the entry door in an easy spot to bump without even knowing it.
Greg

Hammer Down · 10-10-2011, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryKD

Hi Hammer Down,
The transfer switch has nothing to do with 12 VDC power in the coach. If I read your posts correctly, the 12 VDC lights do work, but the refrigerator does not get 12VDC power. This means the problem is between the refrigerator and the batteries. Depending on how your coach is wired, there may be a 12 VDC fuse in the 12 VDC fuse panel. Your statement about "checked 12volt panel and none have popped out" is confusing. 12 VDC fuses are usually plug in and color coded. There is no "popping out". If you have a Dometic refrigerator there are 3 fuses (maybe more) in the back of the unit. A couple are in line and you can see them after removing the exterior vent panel. There will also be fuses contained in the plastic box holding the circuit board. These are not easy to remove without a fuse puller.

Gary KD, thanks for the reply. My frige is norcold model 682. My 12 volt panel has circular resets that pop out when tripped and you just push back in to reset. I have no lights in unit no 12 volts anywhere. Propane works for we lit the stove just won't transfer to propane on frige for lack of 12 volt. My whole frige pulls out of cabinet to access. I'm lacking 12 volts in the house period. Thanks for the follow-up.

Hammer Down · 10-10-2011, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mahon1993

A lot of times the 12 volt disconnect switch is right by the entry door in an easy spot to bump without even knowing it.
Greg

Getting volts through cutoff switches on batteries all or turn on. Thanks.

GaryKD · 10-10-2011, 05:18 PM

Hi Hammer Down,
Thanks for the clarification. I'd take a VDC reading on both sides of the coach battery disconnect switch. If there is no VDC on either side, the problem may be in the main DC fuse between the batteries and the VDC fuse panel. If there is VDC on one side of the switch and not on the other side the switch is bad.

I do not understand post #12.