Community Forums

Itching2Go · 01-15-2015, 09:40 AM

My fiver was not used for 2 years and now the converter is not charging the batteries from shore power. I have to use a separate battery charger plugged into shore power to charge batteries, until I can buy a new converter. What's the correct way to do this? Is turning Battery Disconnect to OFF sufficient, or must I disconnect the wires to battery cables too?
Thanks for any advice.

DonavonP · 01-15-2015, 09:43 AM

Some converters have fuses and/or a reset button.

okcnewbie · 01-15-2015, 09:58 AM

I'm not sure if you should disconnect the batteries while using a car charger or not. I would only use this temporarily though.

If you have a meter check to make sure you have 120 AC going to your converter. ( maybe a breaker or wiring problem. Mice have been known to chew while camper sits )
If you have AC see if you have 13 or so volts DC coming directly out of the conv.

chboone · 01-15-2015, 10:03 AM

Smart converter/charger won't charge a totally dead batteries. Have you tried after having the charger connected to it? Or as DonavonP said check the breaker or fuse. With dead batteries the converter may have trip them because of high current draw.

twinboat · 01-15-2015, 10:06 AM

Did the batteries sit dead for 2 years? If yes, they are probably toast. Some smart chargers will not charge dead batteries, or you could have blown the charger fuse, as soon as you plugged in.

Good luck

Itching2Go · 01-15-2015, 10:21 AM

Thanks for the replies. I will be changing ALL the fuses today & look for a reset button. The batteries are brand new.....5 days old.

vsheetz · 01-15-2015, 11:58 AM

Just connect up the charger with all else connected and enabled. This is the scenario your converter / charger operates. Same thing.

As for the converter. Got 120vac into it? Got 12vdc out of it? If no to 120vac in check plug, wiring, fuses, breakers, etc. If 120vac in and no 12vdc out right at the converter likely bad converter.

TQ60 · 01-15-2015, 12:21 PM

New batteries...

Look for loose wire or wire with fuse that could be blown.

Disconnect switch in correct position?

Do not change any fuses.

Get voltmeter and confirm all voltages first.

Paul R. Haller · 01-15-2015, 12:53 PM

To check your converter Leave everything connrected to batteries and take a voltage reading with the drop cord -not- connected to power. If you do not have a digital VOM, get one. They can be had for under 10$ if you know where to look. My first thought Is Ebay. If the batteries are good and are charged, the reading should be about 12.6 volts or so. If not 12.6 charge them. If you can not achieve 12.6 volts with 5 day old batteries there is something wrong with the batteries. Get the new batteries load tested. Get to a point where charged batteries read about 12.6 volts. Now, plug the trailer into power. Take a voltage reading again. With a converter working in the system it should read 13.5-14.5 volts. If less then 13.5 volts check fuses and connections to all batteries and clean them throughly. The connection from the neg terminal to ground on frame ...clean it. Throughly check converter fuses, and wiring from converter to batteries. Make sure the outlet suppyling 110 to the converter is at about 110 AC volts. If still not 13.5 or higher, remove converter and bench test. It should be putting out at least 13.5 volts with good fuses and plugged into known good 110 volts AC. If no, your converter is dead. replace it.
I recommend a good 3 stage converter, like a Progressive Dynamics 3 stage charger unit and get the lanyard wire and plug in remote that tells you what mode of charging you are in. That way, you are sure at a glance what your converter is doing. Batteries in a trailer or any RV live a life of extremes. They are used hard when they are used but the rest of the time they just sit. They need to be cared for properly when sitting. A 3 or 4 stage charger will do that and keep your batteries healthy and ready to be used. Keep us posted as to what you find.
-Paul R. Haller-

Itching2Go · 01-22-2015, 06:21 AM

Many thanks for your replies. Problem is SOLVED. Although all 12v fuses looked okay, I replaced them ($22) and still have many leftover. $22 is a lot cheaper than $350 for converter. Whew .... dodged that bullet! LOL

**CLIFFTALL** · 01-22-2015, 06:25 AM

That's great news. Thanks for the update.

gregory230 · 01-27-2015, 06:21 PM

where is the converter on a 1999 pace arrow motor home by Fleetwood

mchero · 01-30-2015, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itching2Go

Many thanks for your replies. Problem is SOLVED. Although all 12v fuses looked okay, I replaced them ($22) and still have many leftover. $22 is a lot cheaper than $350 for converter. Whew .... dodged that bullet! LOL

Don't understand the reasoning behind changing ALL fuses? Should only have to replace the blown fuses.