Please help with new to me camper issue

Don't know which model of Conquest you have but should be a dark metal panel with small open vent area (under fridge/oven etc)

That is the 120V AC circuit breaker panel.....combined with it should be DC Dist Panel where 12V DC fuses.
Behind fuse area should be where battery cables connect,,that is converter,

120V AC power goes to converter..it then changes AC power to 12V DC power..feeds DC fuses and charges battery

IF working should have 13.2V DC output (minimum) at cables

Converter maybe fed from an AC circuit breaker OR plugged into an outlet

As many have stated sounds like the converter. Not a big deal just find it and replace it if not charging. I have replaced several, pretty easy fix.

1BIGMOFO wrote:
When the camper is on shore power, shouldn't everything run right off the shore power? I don't understand why some things are directly fed from the battery.

The battery acts as a filter.

If the converter is operating correctly, you could run without a battery, except:

1. If you happenned to have all the lights (inside and out), radio, refridgerator, bath fan, furnace fan, water pump, and detectors powered up at the same time. Kind of like having a party. That could take more 12 volt power than what the converter can put out. That could start surges in the power, fuses blowing, possible damage to the converter, etc. Chances of this -- Pretty slim

2. What if the shore power surges? - The converter would also surge. There would be nothing in place to filter that out. Everything connected to your 12 volt circuits, would also get a surge in power. Chances of this --- Pretty good Is it going to cause damage --- Maybe, maybe not.

If it were mine, I would keep a battery in the picture.


I'm in the camp that thinks your converter is bad.

1BIGMOFO wrote:
^^
When the camper is on shore power, shouldn't everything run right off the shore power? I don't understand why some things are directly fed from the battery.. If we're seasonal, shouldn't we be able to plug the camper in and use everything, regardless if the battery works or not?

Things that are 12V are still 12V when on shore power. I define shore power in this instance to be either plugged into power grid or off a genny. 12V is generally most/all of the lights and some of the detectors for smoke, gas, etc. Some converters will provide 12V without a battery and others will not.

The converter charges the battery continually when plugged into shore power giving the impression that everything is running off shore power. Outlets are generally always 120V and only work when on shore power. Microwaves, and TVs (generally) run on shore power only. The fridge and furnace generally run on some combination of gas, 120V or 12V. Battery discharge happens when the draw is greater than what is being put back in. This usually happens from smoke or gas detectors, refrigerator, or other 12V things that need some keep alive voltage when activated.

Many RVs come with an isolator switch that can switch the 12V on or off so that these devices won't drain the battery when the shore power is not connected. Most have an additional switch to run all the house 12V only off the house battery and not drain the chassis battery so the RV can be started.

The way you are describing your issue would leave one to think that it is the result of a problematic converter. The drain on your battery could be because things are left on (fridge?) and the battery goes dead. It seems though, that you are not replenishing the battery faster than you are draining it. That would point a finger at your converter. Generally they are located behind the power panel where the fuses/breakers are.

1BIGMOFO wrote:
^^ that's a valid point as well. Ill have to do some research and see what charges the battery and where its located so I can test it..

When the camper is on shore power, shouldn't everything run right off the shore power? I don't understand why some things are directly fed from the battery.. If we're seasonal, shouldn't we be able to plug the camper in and use everything, regardless if the battery works or not?

Yes you should, except in the event the converter isn't working properly as noted above. If the battery ain't charging, it's a good bet the converter isn't working properly. You have to check the output of the converter, without the influence of the battery. You should get something around 13.5 volts. To much and you fry the battery, to little or none and you won't have enough power to charge the battery and/or run 12V appliances.

You have two sides, a 120V side and a 12V side. The converter provides power for the 12V side. In the event the converter won't provide the needed 12V power, the battery will until it goes dead.

^^ that's a valid point as well. Ill have to do some research and see what charges the battery and where its located so I can test it..

When the camper is on shore power, shouldn't everything run right off the shore power? I don't understand why some things are directly fed from the battery.. If we're seasonal, shouldn't we be able to plug the camper in and use everything, regardless if the battery works or not?

If there is a battery disconnect switch & it is off, the OP would not have any 12 volt power at any time, no matter what.

Since the RV is on shore power & the battery is still being depleted, the converter is not functioning correctly & is not putting any charge to the battery.

^^ that's something I hadn't considered. where would it be located if I did have one? Thanks again

You may have a battery disconnect switch somewhere. Usually a round switch that turns battery on and off. It may be in the off position.

Thanks for the responses guys. We are leaving the camper plugged in, and the power on all the time.

I pulled the battery, and charged it at home, brought it back up there, and the above mentioned things worked fine, until the battery was depleted again, and now they don't work. (The camper has been plugged in the whole time).