Forum Discussion

Ailurophilia's avatar
Ailurophilia
Explorer
Jun 25, 2013

Converter blew up - any advice appreciated!

Hi guys!

Well last week a friend of ours hooked up our RV in the rain using several extension cords to fit. (We didn't realize this until it was too late.) Next thing we know, we hear a sizzle and then a big pop! Then smoke coming out of the vents where the converter is stored.

So it looks like our converter blew, likely due to a short from rain getting into the extension cord plugs. I bought a new converter (the original one was 17 years old so time to upgrade anyway) and would like to install it myself - but is there anything I should check or test before doing so? I want to make sure I don't blow up another one in the process. lol

Thanks for any advice you can provide.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Jun 26, 2013
    Ailurophilia wrote:
    is there something we can implement that would protect us from anything like this happening in the future?
    A voltmeter.
  • SCClockDr's avatar
    SCClockDr
    Explorer
    Jun 26, 2013
    Ailurophilia wrote:
    Thanks everyone for your replies! Wa8yxm, I think you might be on to something. We were on a construction site when this happened, and may have been hooked up incorrectly.

    Since our new work will be taking us in our RV to similar construction sites in the future, is there something we can implement that would protect us from anything like this happening in the future?

    Also, here is the new converter we purchased. It had great reviews, but do you think it will be adequate for our needs?

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000GASX9O/

    (Out of fairness I'd post Camping World's link but they don't carry it.)
    EMS-HW30C is what we use, EMS-HW50C if your flavor is 50 amp shore power.

    It alerted us to low voltage in the last campground we were @ this past trip. We ran the genny to avoid a compressor stall during the day & shifted to shore power @ night when the voltage was in spec.
  • ksg5000's avatar
    ksg5000
    Explorer
    Jun 26, 2013
    Suggest you visit BestConverter.com website - they have a section where many people have posted DIY instructions for installing your PD converter. One thing not mentioned in this DIY instructions is the option for remote install - you don't have to put the new converter exactly in same spot as the old one - you just have to run wires to the DC distribution panel. The remote install would have saved me time.
  • Ailurophilia's avatar
    Ailurophilia
    Explorer
    Jun 26, 2013
    Thanks everyone for your replies! Wa8yxm, I think you might be on to something. We were on a construction site when this happened, and may have been hooked up incorrectly.

    Since our new work will be taking us in our RV to similar construction sites in the future, is there something we can implement that would protect us from anything like this happening in the future?

    Also, here is the new converter we purchased. It had great reviews, but do you think it will be adequate for our needs?

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000GASX9O/

    (Out of fairness I'd post Camping World's link but they don't carry it.)
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Jun 26, 2013
    I would be interested in knowing if he accidently pulugged into 240 volt.

    But yes, Rain in the connectors will trip the breaker back at the house or post (In some cases) but will not hurt the converter

    70 volts is not good for the converter, Converters fall into 3 groups when they see way too little voltage

    Work, poorly
    Work not at all, (Simply shut down)
    Smoke

    But darn few are dual voltage auto-compensate120/240 (There are some however that can do that)
  • SAR_Tracker's avatar
    SAR_Tracker
    Explorer
    Jun 26, 2013
    rvten wrote:
    I would take pictures of the wiring on old converter before starting work.
    Mark old wires. So you can put them in same order and match fuse size.


    Good info right there.... I just replaced my converter after aluminum scraps from the construction of the trailer blew into the unit. Poor, lazy, shoddy, unprofessional workmanship from Weekend Warrior, before they went belly-up. Took pictures, marked wires, and used 4 screws to hold the unit in place, rather than the 2 (out of 4 holes) the factory used.
  • rvten's avatar
    rvten
    Explorer
    Jun 26, 2013
    I take it you did not have a Surge Protector in the MH shore line circuit.
    Did you buy same mod. converter?
    One that is a match replacement?

    I would take pictures of the wiring on old converter before starting work.
    Mark old wires. So you can put them in same order and match fuse size.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Jun 25, 2013
    Rain in the ext. cord connections wouldn't hurt the converter. More likely it was voltage drop that did it in.
    At any rate, you'll be happier with a good three stage converter.
  • midnightsadie's avatar
    midnightsadie
    Explorer II
    Jun 25, 2013
    NO MORE CHEAP CORDS. and disconnect the battery before you change it,, one wire at a time.

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