I just bought a used 10998 Jayco travel trailer last week. Owner said everything worked etc..Got it home and checked everythig and it seemed to function fine. I checked furnace, air conditioner, fridge etc.. I plugged it to 110 and air conditioner worked, fridged worked on AC etcI plugged it in 110 for 24 hours to charge batteries and went camping for 3 days/2 nights. When I got to the site, I pushed the battery level light and it showed the batteries were at 1/3 power.I figured since its my first camper I screwed something up. We used the batteries sparingly. By the second morning the battery had dropped to last bar.Drove home (2 hours) and the battery monitor said back to 1/3.. First question, does the camper charge when I drive???I parked it at my house, plugged it into 110.. I figured while it was charging I would clean it out. It was hot so I tried to turn the air conditioner on, but it wouldn't work. Other 110V outlets/microwatrer would work, but the air conditioner, heater and fan wouldnt.No fuses/breakers blown. I also checked the GFC outlet in the bathroom and it wasn't tripped.I went and checked the voltage of the batteries (2 deep cycle new batteries).. They read 6.35 volts. I unplugged the 110 power and they still read 6.35 volts. i did this several times and it seems the voltage doesn't change wether they are plugged in or not?Again, checked fuses/breakers and all good. I checked the outlet that the converter plugs in, 118volts.I checked the power leaving the converter and it was 6.35 volts (same as power at the batteries).I'm assuming the reason my batteries are not charging is my converter is junk?Is there a fuse for the inverter itself? Also, is the reason my air conditioner/furnace/fan/ fridge AC not working is also because of my faulty converter? Thanks.. I'm new to this..

I should also add..I'm POSITIVE when I first got the camper home and tried the 3 way fridge that it was working on AC..Now it wont'.

RV batteries charge while driving when wired properly but not a bunch. What is the age of the batteries? They do eventually fail and not recharging fully daily shortens their life greatly. Solar is the easy way to recharge. 6.35 volts is a full 6 volt battery.

Sounds like the reverse polarity fuses (usually a pair of 30 amp fuses) at the converter are blown.The fridge, furnace and AC will not operate if the battery is discharged.

As long as your battery switch isn’t in the off position, your batteries charge while driving. In addition to your converter being suspect, take a battery out and charge it independently. Take it to your neighborhood auto parts store and have it load tested.

thanks for the quick replies..In response,1) The batteries are brand new accoring to the guy I bought it from. I believe him. He replaced the batteries, did bearing and a couple other things before selling it. They are deep cycle group 24 marine batteries.2) Reverse polarity as suggested by BoonDocker might be my issue.. When I use a outlet diagnostic tool I get "Hot neutral/reverse". My understanding this means the hot and neutral are switched at one or more outlets. Boondocker- where do I find the reverse polarity fuses at the convetner? I can't get to my converter easily, but by feeling it and the little I can see it doesn't look like there are any fuses on it or inline fuses to it..

need help with electrical | Good Sam Community

40 Replies

Boon_Docker
Explorer III
Jul 05, 2020
newtojayco wrote:
thanks for the quick replies..

In response,

1) The batteries are brand new accoring to the guy I bought it from. I believe him. He replaced the batteries, did bearing and a couple other things before selling it. They are deep cycle group 24 marine batteries.

2) Reverse polarity as suggested by BoonDocker might be my issue.. When I use a outlet diagnostic tool I get "Hot neutral/reverse". My understanding this means the hot and neutral are switched at one or more outlets.

Boondocker- where do I find the reverse polarity fuses at the convetner? I can't get to my converter easily, but by feeling it and the little I can see it doesn't look like there are any fuses on it or inline fuses to it..

They should be at the same area where all the other 12 volt fuses are on the converter. They could be either 30 or 40 amp fuses.
corvettekent
Explorer
Jul 05, 2020
Your truck may not be wired to charge your trailer batteries or you may have a blown fuse.
Sjm9911
Explorer
Jul 05, 2020
What are you plugging it into at home and what do you leave running? If your only in a 15 amp outlet and tryimg to run the fridge , ac. charger etc you might not have enough juice.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jul 05, 2020
Yes, according to the seller everything was hunkydorie. Why would a seller install new batteries?
newtojayco
Explorer
Jul 05, 2020
3) Where is my battery switch that super dave refers too?

4) I will remove both batteries and charge them fully and reinstall. I can load test them at my neighbors as well.

Thanks
newtojayco
Explorer
Jul 05, 2020
thanks for the quick replies..

In response,

1) The batteries are brand new accoring to the guy I bought it from. I believe him. He replaced the batteries, did bearing and a couple other things before selling it. They are deep cycle group 24 marine batteries.

2) Reverse polarity as suggested by BoonDocker might be my issue.. When I use a outlet diagnostic tool I get "Hot neutral/reverse". My understanding this means the hot and neutral are switched at one or more outlets.

Boondocker- where do I find the reverse polarity fuses at the convetner? I can't get to my converter easily, but by feeling it and the little I can see it doesn't look like there are any fuses on it or inline fuses to it..
Super_Dave
Explorer
Jul 05, 2020
As long as your battery switch isn’t in the off position, your batteries charge while driving. In addition to your converter being suspect, take a battery out and charge it independently. Take it to your neighborhood auto parts store and have it load tested.
Boon_Docker
Explorer III
Jul 05, 2020
Sounds like the reverse polarity fuses (usually a pair of 30 amp fuses) at the converter are blown.
The fridge, furnace and AC will not operate if the battery is discharged.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jul 05, 2020
RV batteries charge while driving when wired properly but not a bunch.
What is the age of the batteries? They do eventually fail and not recharging fully daily shortens their life greatly. Solar is the easy way to recharge. 6.35 volts is a full 6 volt battery.
newtojayco
Explorer
Jul 05, 2020
I should also add..

I'm POSITIVE when I first got the camper home and tried the 3 way fridge that it was working on AC..

Now it wont'.

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need help with electrical

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