bad converter?

mobilemom · 10-15-2010, 04:07 PM

How can I tell if my converter is bad? My lights are dim and slides won't work! The side of the converter feels warm but the fan isn't turning! The little light at the end of the wire coming from the converter is blinking so does that mean it's getting power? It doesn't seem to be converting the 110 that I'm plugged in to into power. Could there be another problem that I don't know about? Thanks in advance for your help!

GaryKD · 10-15-2010, 07:12 PM

Hi mobilemom,

Check the circuit breaker at the coach power panel.

Do you have a meter? If so, take the cover of the converter. Disconnect the converter output leads from the converter. Take a DC voltage reading on the converter's output points. The reading should be what is stated on the cover of the converter. Gut feel says from 13.5 to 14.5 VDC.

The batteries are suspect if:
1. they are fully charged when connected to the converter, and deplete quickly when standing by themselves.
2. Will not accept a full charge from the converter.

Do not be concerned about the fan. The fan will be on or off as needed.

mobilemom · 10-16-2010, 02:56 PM

Gary, think I may have traced down my problem. Read on an IRV2 forum that it could be my transfer switch. I located it under the kitchen sink and it was in the inoperable position. That may have happened when my husband turned on the generator while we were still plugged in to shore power. I switched it to "on" and everything seems to be working again. I hope that is all that needs to be done. The fan is still not turning on the converter, but I'm not going to be concerned unless all stops working again. Does this sound "normal" to any of you folks? We are still trying to learn this "beast" and feel as if we are finally getting the hang of it, especially with the help of all the information on this site!

GaryKD · 10-17-2010, 06:54 AM

Hi mobilemom,
Keep an eye on this problem. The converter should receive power no matter if the source power is shore or generator power.

**Gary RVRoamer** · 10-17-2010, 08:41 AM

Transfer switch under the kitchen sink? That seems unlikely, as does the an On/Off switch for it. I wonder if you found something else and mistakenly identified it as a "transfer switch".

And turning the generator on while on shore power should not cause a problem - the auto transfer switch is designed to deal with that.

In any case, all seems to be in working order again.

mobilemom · 10-28-2010, 02:30 PM

You are the second person that told me that the switch probably would not be under the sink, but that's where it is! I'm not sure what it does exactly, but when I switched it to the O (operable) from the I (inoperable) things began to work. Will that cause a problem...I wonder?