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Parrothead_Mike's avatar
Parrothead_Mike
Explorer
Sep 26, 2017

Converter Running Continuously

Got back from a trip and noticed two things. 1 - My battery was not charging up during my trip home. 2 - I've got the camper plugged in to my shore station and the converter has been running pretty much continuously. I didn't notice the converter issue for a few days, but now that I'm watching it, it has been running.

While dry camping I recharged by battery with my little Honda 2000. The battery was down to one notch and ran the generator for nearly 2 hours. The batter was charged to full, but shortly thereafter I noticed it was down to 2/3 and it stayed there until the morning we left when I pulled the slides in, etc. when it went down to 1/3. Drove home (about 4 hr drive) and saw the monitor still at 1/3.

Checked the 2 40 amp fuses on the converter and they look good. The circuit panel fuses and breakers were all good too. I'm not much at electronics, but I'm puzzled as to where to look next. Things were working good prior to this situation.

17 Replies

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  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Sep 26, 2017
    The trip home is from engine alternator to batteries
    It has nothing to do with your converter,
    Which only works when there is 120v available

    Your indoor charge indicator, idiot light, is next to useless

    At one notch you where near dead
    And (2) hours is not a full charge, more like 6 ? 12 hours, for full charge
    Depending on you converter you put back about 40 amp hours, and probably need to put back 100 or more

    The indicator was showing the charge voltage, the moment you stopped charging, the voltage started settling, you run the batteries down, you can expect the converter to take many hours for a full recharge

    The alternator charge circuit is a separate issue
    Or
    Do you mean you were drinking home with the generator running and the batteries did not charge


    With out meter readings of before, during, and after charge
    We can't really tell you if the it's the batteries that are bad our the converter
  • red31's avatar
    red31
    Explorer
    Sep 26, 2017
    Parrothead Mike wrote:
    The batter was charged to full


    What type of battery can be full after just 2 hrs?

    My daily use AGM gets charged to mid 14vs and that can take a few hrs, then it is held there (mid 14v ~14.4v) for 2 hrs. I only discharge is ~15-20%/day. 2 yrs and counting doing this daily.
  • SidecarFlip's avatar
    SidecarFlip
    Explorer III
    Sep 26, 2017
    Don't expect your tow vehicle to recharge your battery(s) because it won't unless you drive all day and no loads in the coach.
  • Kayteg1's avatar
    Kayteg1
    Explorer II
    Sep 26, 2017
    For me it sounds like the battery is going bad.
    You need load tester to check it as voltage alone can only give you initial info.
    The converter in my Lance doesn't take much to have fan running.
    Even in only 80F weather, I turn on 3 outside lights, the converter gets hot and starts the fan.
    So in your situation I think battery takes constant power, what keeps converter hot.
    At least that is what my crystal ball is telling.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Sep 26, 2017
    "Running" means converter pilot lights "on" the fan is running, a voltage gauge indicates 120 vac ?
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Sep 26, 2017
    Check battery voltage with your multimeter right on the battery terminals.
    Check battery for proper water level, excess heat, or excess bubbling.

    Post the converter model number but for many converters your description is fairly typical.

    Next you need to verify the vehicle is charging the battery in transit.

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