Community Forums

damies · 06-23-2012, 05:57 PM

Hi All,
I got a very good deal on a 2002 Aero trailer last spring from a fellow that had given up on fixing plumbing issues. I imagine that it just wasn't winterized and basically every pipe cracked, then he hooked up the hose in the spring and completely flooded the trailer. Anyway, long story short I've replaced the plumbing and the floor and the family had over three weeks on the road last year. Great trailer and great learning experience for a mid level handyman.
Unfortunately my 'mid level' skills drop to the 'frightened child' level when it comes to electrical. Today when I plugged the trailer in to a 30Amp plug to get it ready for our first trip, I found that the air conditioner works, the microwave works, all of the recepticals, including the GFI work, but the water pump, the fridge and none of the interior lights work.
I've got it booked in for service Monday morning but would like to avoid the expense and the time lost in packing to go away! I saw on another post that there is a AC/DC adapter or converter or something but I'm not sure where I'd find that or how to check it? They mentioned that it could be that the 110 isn't being converted to 12 V for the lights but that doesn't really make sense for my fridge not working?

Any thoughts?

Darin

rhks · 06-23-2012, 06:30 PM

12v system not functioning-converter is often covered by a cover that is about 12" wide - by my experience, located at floor level - check all 12 v fuses - also check other fuses - check all gfi outlets just out of compulsion - make sure u have a charged battery - no battery, no 12v - I had a similar happen, found a blown fuse - I had looked at the fuses and they looked good and was about to check for 12v at my refrig - but decided to check the fuses more closely - glad I did - the not so obvious blown fuse was more visible after pulling it out & looking from side - other electrical issues have involved dead battery and gfi needing reset - good luck!

hometool · 06-23-2012, 07:08 PM

i agree with the outher poster your fridge controls work on 12v to control the electric or gas the 120 to 12v converter charger is usually with the fuzebox/cktbreaker panel. many units charge house battery from tow vehicle if you plug in the wiring to your tv leave the engine running and see if trailer 12v comes to life if so your trailer battery is dead lee

damies · 06-23-2012, 07:42 PM

I'm not up to speed on how this forum works yet so I don't know if the two of you got my "thanks" so Thanks! I hooked up the tow vehicle (running) and still don't have any lights etc inside the trailer. i checked the battery and it seems fine but the connections were fairly corroded so i'm changing them. I didn't realize that the fridge would need 12V, that's very helpful. The water pump too?

cargovan · 06-23-2012, 08:40 PM

Welcome to the forum and happy travels,

Van.

damies · 06-23-2012, 09:44 PM

corroded battery connections and a faulty tow vehicle trailer harness. i hooked the trailer up to my other truck and everything works! Thanks for your help, i wouldn't have found these problems without it!

Sohapi · 06-23-2012, 11:21 PM

Welcome to the site! As you have seen everyone here is awesome!

damies · 06-24-2012, 10:42 AM

I thought I'd solved the problem but after cleaning the terminals and charging the battery overnight, as soon as I unhook the tow vehicle I've got no 12 V, no lights, no fridge etc. So I assume the only reason that it was working was that it was all running off the the tow vehicle and I've still got a problem with the DC converter. (which I still have no idea what it looks like or if I can find one on a Sunday, I can change it myself anyway?) Oh well. It's off to the service center tomorrow morning. I did at least get a chance to check everything out when it was hooked up to the running tow vehicle and make sure that everything works and clean out the antifreeze from the water system etc. Progress.

EnolaEagle · 06-24-2012, 10:45 AM

Did you trace all wires to make sure some of them didn't get chewed up by a mouse?

gfs1943 · 06-24-2012, 11:19 AM

There may be an inline fuse in the wire from the battery to the converter. Other than that, check all connections including the battery ground cable. If you have a voltmeter, check battery voltage without the trailer plugged in, then with it plugged in to 120 power. If voltage plugged in does not read higher than when unplugged, I suspect you have a bad converter.

damies · 06-25-2012, 09:45 AM

Thanks for all the help. I checked as much wire as i could for mouse damage and it seems fine. Borrowed a voltmeter from a neighbor and the volts don't change plugged in or not so it must be the converter. Great tip. I didn't think that the converter would work in both directions. I've learned a lot in a short time. Thanks for everyone's help.

Theberrys · 06-25-2012, 09:59 AM

Everything you mentioned is +12 VDC, so check the output of the converter and see if it's supplying the 12 VDC to the TT. SOunds to me like the converter just isn'r working or has become disconnected. There should be some at the batterie(s) as well unless without the converter they have discharged to the point of empty. If so than yhey may not charge at all after getting the converter fixed. Try disconnecting the batteries and see if the converter will at least light the lights, if it does than the batteries are bad and dragging down the supply.

Dick

damies · 06-29-2012, 12:46 AM

after tearing things apart as much as i could and checking everything you all helped with i had to give up and take it in for service. The converter seemed to be working and i couldn't trace the probelm. It ended up being a tiny connector attached to the A-frame of the trailer and since I had done so much home study I was able to narrow down the service techs work to a minimal so my charge for diagonising the probelm was minimal and the part was $6. Total charge was less than $30 thanks to all your help... and on top of that I learned a lot. I have to give a plug to Transcona Trailer Sales and Serivice in Winnipeg Manitoba. They could have ripped me off because I'm a ninny at this but they called me about a half hour after I dropped off the trailer and said they'd found the problem. Nice to know there is still honest dealers out there. Hitting the road tomorrow morning.