12-V Failure

Resolved, with many thanks for all the helpful replies.
The inverter (or converter), mounted in the least convenient place imaginable under the stairs to the bathroom, did not have a visible breaker. It was screwed onto the camper floor in such a way that I could not see that it had two 40-amp fuses that had both blown.
Once those were replaced, I found two more fuses on the 12-v panel had blown. When all the power was up, the DVD/entertainment console didn't work. Removing that from the wall, there was a 15 amp fuse in the power line that had blown. A small fuse in the thermostat (multifunction a/c & heat) was also blown.
All systems are functioning as they should now. I can only imagine that a surge from the campground electrical system or lightning strike nearly did us in. Any other thoughts?
Again, my thanks to folks for being generous with their time to make such helpful suggestions. Day two of summer finished so much better than day one.

If you are connected up 120 volt power, you should be able to disconnect your battery and all the 12 volt items should still work. If they do not work, converter is bad, or you have a blown fuse some where.

Turn EVERYTHING OFF and unplug. Yank every single 12 volt fuse from the panel after marking which goes where.

With a charged battery (use jumper cables and charge from the car if necessary to recharge even if it takes 3 hours) disconnect the ground wire from the battery post and see if it sparks.

If it sparks, you have a sneak thief robber electrical drain.

Something is working when it shouldn't.

It's Dick Tracy and flashlight time.

If there is NO SPARK at the battery cable after you have yanked all the 12 volt fuses, replace the fuses one-at-a-time the one that sparks is the culprit.

A BAD CONVERTER CHARGER can draw battery power. To find this, disconnect the GROUND CABLE at the converter charger. Still being unplugged from shore power and with all the fuses out, there should not be a blue spark. BUT BUT BUT you have to strike the ground cable and restrike it quickly as capacitors can quickly gobble power. If you rub the ground wire to the terminal and the sparking seems to vanish for a bit then reappear this is not abnormal with some converters.

If the converter MAKES NO 12 volt POWER even when the rig is plugged in, fuses are in place, breakers reset, and negative cables AT THE BATTERY disconnected, the converter is not working.

Hope This Helps

Many fellow RV'ers make good neighbors and can help

KD4UPL wrote:
Clearly your charger is not working. The battery shouldn't drain at all when you're plugged in. Measure the voltage at your battery terminals when the camper is plugged into 120v AC. It should be at least 13.4, preferably higher.
It may be as simple as the 120v AC breaker that powers your converter is tripped or turned off. Or, your converter may be bad.

Agreed, my charger part of the converter is plugged into the converter where my 50AMP plug is, as mentioned check your converter breaker.

Check that your converter AC circuit breaker is on.
If yes, is it putting out around 13.x v at the terminals in the back of the unit?
If yes your problem is probably a broken connection between the converter output and the battery.

Meanwhile a portable battery charger hooked to the battery would probably get you through your holiday weekend.

Jim

To drain a fully charged battery in under 10 hours indicates there is a pretty good drain on the battery, but not enough, or in the wrong place, to blow a fuse.

Could a wire have been damaged in your collision last year?

I don't suppose you have a clamp-on ammeter to measure the current drain, or a charger to recharge the battery. About all you can do, for now, is look at the battery wiring to see if you can see any damaged or shorted wires.

Lots of info here

Clearly your charger is not working. The battery shouldn't drain at all when you're plugged in. Measure the voltage at your battery terminals when the camper is plugged into 120v AC. It should be at least 13.4, preferably higher.
It may be as simple as the 120v AC breaker that powers your converter is tripped or turned off. Or, your converter may be bad.