I replaced my converter two years ago. Now, it seems to be failing. I first noticed a problem with the A/c being unable to resume power after I replaced the start capacitor. I concentrated on the A/c and couldn't seem to find a problem. Then I noticed my battery was flat after I being hooked to shore power for two weeks. I drove home and the battery was dead the next day. I charged it normally with my own charger and the same thing happened again. I started checking things out and noticed the converter fan seemed to be clicking and unable to start.What should my diagnostic steps be?

If I was an elect tech, I think I would tell you that your converter has nothing to do w/ your A/C

I am with Rich on this one, I would really be surprised if your Converter had anything to do with your A/C. I am not an electrician either but I have been alive a really long time.

Some A/C thermostats are 12 VDC. That would be the only possible connection.Please give us more information. We don't know if this is a motorhome (in which case the alternator should have charged batteries on your drive home) or a trailer.Have you checked battery water level-- any exposed plates?Have you fully charged the battery and had it load tested or checked the SG (Specific Gravity) of the cells. Often the symptoms of a bad battery and bad converter are hard to differentiate.

It is a fiver. The battery was fully charged when I left, hooked to a/c power when I got there and the battery is fully discharged now. All I did was charge it with my battery charger and checked for water.So glad to hear I may have two problems! Here is the thread on my a/c issue. I have had this camper since '07 and have been using a camper about 20 weeks a year for 20 years, always hooked to shore power, so I am an experienced camper, but basically have never had electrical issues.http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27048066.cfm

RJsfishin wrote:If I was an elect tech, I think I would tell you that your converter has nothing to do w/ your A/CWell, as an electroncs technician I would tell you why you are WRONG about that.. in fact I will.Now this is not 100% So I will qualify.Air Conditioners come in a couple different flavors for this post.Some have mechanical controls (Thermostat, fan switch and such) in the ceiling (in the A/C itself) what I am about to say may not apply to these.Others use electronic controls, which may be in the ceiling, or may use Remote Controls (Infra Red) or use a wall mounted T-Stat.Most all of these use 12 volt battery power for the control electronics, I mean why build in a power supply when the house has oh, In my case, about 1,000 spare watts of power supply. So the A/C would not work with the dead battery because the control power was ... Dead.

Converter repair? | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

chipper
Explorer
Aug 28, 2013
X2 They are the experts.

Call and talk to these folks....very helpful
Best Converter
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Aug 28, 2013
NanHenson wrote:
Old-Biscuit wrote:
Here is a converter troubleshooting guide (it's for a Parallax but works for others)........LINK

Thanks for this. My converter is defective. Is the only option replacement? This one is a two year old WFCO Ultra. Is there a better one?

Call and talk to these folks....very helpful
Best Converter
mena661
Explorer
Aug 28, 2013
I recommend Powermax.
NanHenson
Explorer
Aug 28, 2013
Old-Biscuit wrote:
Here is a converter troubleshooting guide (it's for a Parallax but works for others)........LINK

Thanks for this. My converter is defective. Is the only option replacement? This one is a two year old WFCO Ultra. Is there a better one?
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Aug 28, 2013
Here is a converter troubleshooting guide (it's for a Parallax but works for others)........LINK
mena661
Explorer
Aug 28, 2013
Why wouldn't the battery run the 12V if the converter wasn't working? That's how it works in my rig. I can unplug my converter and the battery takes all the 12V loads. I even had a problem with my old converter and the battery took over as expected.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013
You MUST plug in a wall socket voltmeter and watch what happens when all of this stuff is happening
TURN OFF THE CONVERTER by flipping the circuit breaker toggle switch in the fuse panel
Plug in the voltmeter what is the reading? How many volts?
Start the air conditioner how many volts does it drop?
If it drops to 105 volts stop right there you have a problem
Turn off the roof air
Flip the toggle breaker switch on for the converter what is the voltage reading now
You are looking for any one thing or any combination of things that dip the AC shore power voltage to 105 or less
NanHenson
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013
wa8yxm wrote:
To the original poster..

Technically what I am about to describe is a "Failure of the converter" but.. Well fixing it is a bit easier than you are fearful of.

Most converters have one or two (or more) fuses, these are usually 30 amp, and are often in parallel. They are called "Reverse Polarity" fuses.

SOME converters, if you OPPS your battery, can put out enough current to pop these fuses.

HOW to fix.

Step one, Pre-charge the house batteries using an external automotive type chargber.

2 UNPLUG from shore power (or shut off breaker to converter)

3 Replace the fuses, all of 'em, inspect them as well if they look blown you are likely on the right track, but even if they do not look blown.. Replace 'em.

Hook digital voltmeter to battery and note reading

Plug in (Reset breaker to ON).

Readiong should increase, likely by over a volt though it may only go up a little at first.

Followed all the steps. Battery at 13.0. Still at 13.0 ten minutes after being hooked to shore power.

What are my options now? This converter is only two years old.
NanHenson
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013
Snowman9000 wrote:
NanHenson wrote:
As far as the air conditioner goes, it will come on just fine, but when the converter shuts off after the set temperature is reached, it cannot seem to come back on. Something similar happens if I shut the A/C completely off then try to turn it back on. It can take a couple hours for it to turn on correctly.

Which just reminded me. Would there be any reason for this to happen based on my use of a 30 to 50 adapter?

Sounds like you mean compressor, not converter.

Yes, I did. Thanks!
Snowman9000
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013
NanHenson wrote:
As far as the air conditioner goes, it will come on just fine, but when the converter shuts off after the set temperature is reached, it cannot seem to come back on. Something similar happens if I shut the A/C completely off then try to turn it back on. It can take a couple hours for it to turn on correctly.

Which just reminded me. Would there be any reason for this to happen based on my use of a 30 to 50 adapter?

Sounds like you mean compressor, not converter.