12 Volt inverter inside keeps shutting off and back on

[parked4life]

It is my 1st post and have joined because of a problem I'm having in my 1999 Gulf Stream 24' Innsbruck trailer.


The 12volt system inside the inverter keeps shutting off and then back on, as many as 5 or 6 times last night in the span of about 30 to 45 minutes. So I shut off all power overnight to see if it would stop doing it. Today, it has occurred at around 1 to 4 times in a 4-hour period.


All the 15amp fuses are in good shape. And none of the circuit breakers are tripping.
You can hear the system shut off inside the inverter. And then come back on after 1 to 3 minutes. The rig is parked and hooked up to 30amp 110v. No issues with any of the 110v circuits. We disconnected the A/C and removed the old refer and freezer and installed a new apartment size fridge after removing the forward seat. Installed a small A/C in the window area by the side door. Everything works great except for this 12v side that controls all the lights in the rig...
Can anyone tell me why this is going on and should I attempt to just replace the inverter if I can even obtain one?


Thanks,
Gary

[Skip426]

Welcome to iRV2 .

I think we have to get some terms straight , because I believe your trailer is to old to be factory equipped with an inverter.

Inverters , take 12 volt power and use it to produce 120 volt power , on some larger units they also function as a battery charger .

A converter , which is what I believe you have , take 120 volt power and produces 12 volt to power lights and charge your battery.

The converter ; should have a cooling fan that will cycle depending on how hot it is getting when doing it's job.

Have you seen the unit ?
Can you get a name and model info from it; and post it here , then maybe we can get to the bottom of your issue.

By shutting off ; do you mean all the lights go completely out , or just dim ?
Do you have a 12 volt battery installed in the trailer ?

[Lt Dan]

First off, Welcome to IRV2!

Look for automatic reset 12v circuit breakers somewhere in the system that look like below. Our friends had a Coachmen Aurora that had the exact same problem. We finally found that the connections were loose on the CB causing it to overheat and trip. Even if the connections are tight, they can wear out and trip easier. After they cool down they will reset themselves.

[parked4life]

Originally Posted by Skip426

Welcome to iRV2 .

I think we have to get some terms straight , because I believe your trailer is to old to be factory equipped with an inverter.

Inverters , take 12 volt power and use it to produce 120 volt power , on some larger units they also function as a battery charger .

A converter , which is what I believe you have , take 120 volt power and produces 12 volt to power lights and charge your battery.

The converter ; should have a cooling fan that will cycle depending on how hot it is getting when doing it's job.

Have you seen the unit ?


We broke into the "converter" this morning... Yes, the 12v fan was the culprit! Ordered a new 45cfm p.m., 12v 4.5amp fan with power supply to bypass any other issues and I think the problem will be solved in the pm.... Thanks for the support.
G. Axion
The Discovery Channel N.W. Crew
The image is of our tour buss... the trailer is for one of our crew members...
TTY! THANKS for the hint.... "FANS"... that was it!




Can you get a name and model info from it; and post it here , then maybe we can get to the bottom of your issue.

By shutting off ; do you mean all the lights go completely out , or just dim ?
Do you have a 12 volt battery installed in the trailer ?

Discovery N.W. Crew

[Dennis4809]

Your battery should keep things going even if the converter turns off and on. Are you sure your not hearing the fan turn on or off as needed? If it’s the fan, operation is normal.