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kampinguru's avatar
kampinguru
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013

Battery power kicking out

I have been dry camping for a couple of weeks running off Batteries. I charge with a genny every three days. a couple of times now we have been sitting in the trailer reading and all the lights go off and there is a click from the converter. After about 10 minutes, it all comes back on again. Batteries are running 12.36 volts when I checked. Any idea where to start looking?

9 Replies

  • The CB in mine was in the wire between the battery and the battery disconnect solenoid which was separate but within a couple of feet from the converter.
  • I will look for the autoresetting CB. Is it part of the converter or is it separate? I have a 30 AMP inline fuse in the front belly near where everything connects to the batteries but it is not blown and is an automotive type fuse. I was only running two lights at the time so would be no where near the amp draw that should blow a breaker.
  • There may be an auto resetting circuit breaker, as westend said, in the line between the battery and the converter. I had a 40A CB in mine and the CB went bad and started opening about 14-16A. Replaced it and all was well. Mine came back on within a minute though.

    Edit: The CB was near the converter so maybe you are hearing the CB click??
  • I have a pair of 12V AGM batteries and I use a standalone Sheaffers smart charger to charge them with, not the converter. It is a WFC converter but is a single stage that came with the Cedar Creek trailer when new. the 12.6 volts was measured at the battery when the power went out. I had not charged the batteries that day but I did bring them up to 100% the morning before so the batteries were not discharged.
  • What kind of converter do you have? If you have a single stage converter, like a Magnetek or Parallax, your batteries may not be getting fully charged and after several weeks may be very low. The 12.36v may be surface charge which leaks off quickly after being charged. Check the voltage before being charged, should be no less than 12.1, and while being charged, hopefully over 14v.

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