Just got the 5er back from Camping World....converter had two blown fuses for the converter...got home plugged into shore power at home and the converter is running and not shutting off...only way to shut it down is to turn of the electric at the breaker switch. Battery wires hot also, on common side of battery (negative side). Anyone have any ideas what is going on? Sure hate to make a run back to Camping World with it again.!!! Already postponed two trips Lord knows don't want to have to do it again... Thanks :( PS nothing running in 5er.

If batteries were run down the converter will run a lot. Hot cables or connections need to be checked. Maybe cleaned and tightened.If converter continues to run after 24 hours, have batteries checked. May have gone bad. If need be, I would look for a mobile tech rather than go back to the dealer. Maybe look for an electrical person to help you.

are you referring to the cooling fan ruining all the time?otherwise i do not understand since I thought that when on shore power the converter was always energized and working.

converter.......2 blown fuses........continuously running.........cables hotBad batteryDisconnect battery cables (ground cable good enough---otherwise mark which is which POS/NEG so they get hooked up correctly)Then check each battery cell 'specific gravity'Suspect you have a bad cellOR take battery (batteries) to auto parts and have load tested

In May we had to take it in because lights were dim and was worried it might be converter going bad...They said we had a blown fuse, but our 4 year batteries needed replacing..Bought 2 new batteries, installed them..two weeks later got ready for another trip and had trailer loaded, went out and turned on A/C, when lights got turned on A/C quit blowing, batteries went dead again...Another trip to camping world ! Picked it up today and was told 2 blown fuses, which stopped the converter from running properly...All was suppose to be well now.Batteries were dead at dealer but they said since it had been sitting there for a couple weeks that was not unusual and they put a charge on them. Home: I can hear converter running and batteries are charged to 12 volts. On shore power and frig is now saying check instead of running on a/c. No more planning till this is taken care of....Thanks all

Without taking a voltage reading on the batteriesAfter they have sat overnight unplugged - disconnected, and separatedThen when the battery cables are reconnectedThis is all blind guesswork.I can only shake my head at reading problems that are new and occur only after a rig is returned from a "professional" service center.A bad battery cell sucking THAT much power would be hissing and fuming like Mt Saint Helens, and smell like Norris Geyser Basin.Trixie47How mechanically inclined are you or your spouse? This is the thing to keep in mind, folks.

Converter Running all the time | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Aug 28, 2016
Symptom: Blown fuses: Possible causes, Tremendous overload of converter, Batteries shorted, Batteries installed backwards, Dead short on electrical system. NOTE: A well designed converter will self limit current and only the batteries backward will blow the fuse. But not all are that well limited.

Fuses replaced and holding. Good

Hot wires indicates heavy current.. Again batteries shorted, or very very very low and upgraded from the original batteries in the RV so they suck more amps than the RV is designed for WHEN THEY ARE THAT LOW.. (Solution is charge them).

Converter running all the time: Working as designed, it should run all the time

CONVERTER FAN running all the time: HOT, indicating either
1: COnverter working hard
2: Sunlight on my converter makes it hotter
3: It's hot out
4: Multiple of the above are correct.
dclark1946
Explorer
Aug 28, 2016
It is really time to invest in (and learn to use) a digital multimeter or even better to spend some more and get a combined clamp-on DC Ammeter/ digital multimeter like the one Sears sells. By making a few quick measurements (which we can guide you on) you should be able to quickly isolate the issue or issues.
Lynnmor
Explorer II
Aug 28, 2016
I doubt that the OP has PD converter. I replaced the noisy fan in my WFCO with a ball bearing fan of the same brand. The better fan was just pennies more than the OEM fan. Cheap is all that matters in the RV business.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Aug 27, 2016

Help me out here. Why is a constantly running fan, an "issue"? Noise? Get a quieter db fan with equal CFM. Fan longevity? Computer fans last a long, ball. bearing, long, brushless, time.

Name the "converter" OEM who spends more than a dollar on a muffin fan...
bigfootford
Nomad III
Aug 27, 2016
carriemiller wrote:
Thanks lynnmor
>>
The fan is controlled by the load that is on the converter, not temperature. Turn off all unnecessary 12 volt items and let the converter charge the battery, it may take all day. Turning off the breaker shuts down the converter. <<

makes sense. Appreciate your info. :)

Not all converter fans run because of load.... Some run because the converter temperature gets above spec... Others are like you said..." Fan is controlled by the load".

Example:

Progressive Dynamics = thermal
WFCO = Load

Jim
time2roll
Nomad
Aug 27, 2016
Did CW replace the main 'reverse polarity' fuses?
Did they fix the polarity or are you charging the batteries in reverse?

Does the colored wire with a fuse go to the positive and the white wire to the negative?
carriemiller
Explorer
Aug 27, 2016
Thanks lynnmor
>>
The fan is controlled by the load that is on the converter, not temperature. Turn off all unnecessary 12 volt items and let the converter charge the battery, it may take all day. Turning off the breaker shuts down the converter. <<

makes sense. Appreciate your info. :)
joegray
Explorer II
Aug 26, 2016
Bad cell in one of our 6v batteries caused the converter to charge at max for 2 days before I noticed there was a problem. Cables were really hot. Boiled 2 of my 6v batteries almost dry, also burnt out the converter. Check the batteries as stated by old biscuit, cost me a new converter and 2 new 6v batteries.
Lynnmor
Explorer II
Aug 26, 2016
carriemiller wrote:
question on the converter fan running all the time. JUST plugged in my new Forest River backpack camper to the house and the converter fan is running....has been for a couple hours today. Its not that hot out. So, I am guessing my battery was low, so I think that being plugged in will charge that battery right? Can I turn off the fan? Theres a breaker that will shut that down. Will it hurt anything?
Inquiring mind wants to know! thanks!

The fan is controlled by the load that is on the converter, not temperature. Turn off all unnecessary 12 volt items and let the converter charge the battery, it may take all day. Turning off the breaker shuts down the converter.
carriemiller
Explorer
Aug 26, 2016
question on the converter fan running all the time. JUST plugged in my new Forest River backpack camper to the house and the converter fan is running....has been for a couple hours today. Its not that hot out. So, I am guessing my battery was low, so I think that being plugged in will charge that battery right? Can I turn off the fan? Theres a breaker that will shut that down. Will it hurt anything?
Inquiring mind wants to know! thanks!