Please help with new to me camper issue

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.