Damon Challenger Electrical Problem

Joe in Largo wrote:
Hello all, I am new to RVs and I am here because I am having issues with my Damon Challenger coach. I am confident that my coach’s battery charger doubles as a converter for the TV and some other appliances. When the generator is off, the 12v does not want to kick in. Do I need that converter to have 12v for lights? Could it possibly be that some fuse or solenoid is also damaged? I’ve checked at all the fuses.

When your MH is unplugged from shore-power, generator turned off, you will only have 12 volt power, if the battery-disconnect is turned on. That means the panel showing battery, water, propane levels, will work. The house-battery disconnect switch might be on this panel. The battery also powers controls for furnace, refrigerator, and water-heater. The ceiling lights and vents are also powered by the battery.

In many MH's if the "Disconnect" switch fails to connect the battery(s) to the circuit, plugging the MH into shore-power will allow the converter/charger to supply 12v, dc, power to lights and the power panel. You can get by for the weekend but your house-batteries are not getting charged (or depleted for that matter) since they are out of the circuit.

All the 120v , AC outlets only work when plugged into shore-power, or generator turned on. Your television built into a cabinet has a 120v, AC plug and is plugged into a standard 120v AC outlet.

The converter/charger only works when plugged into a 120v, AC, outlet, or the generator is running to supply 120v, AC, power. Some MH's like mine need to have the shore-power cord plugged into the generator's 30 amp, 120v, AC outlet. Your MH may have a transfer switch which works automatically.

You most likely do not have an "inverter" which will convert 12v battery power to 120v, AC power for your television when camped without access to shore-power.

If you check your house-batteries and find the voltage to be somewhere between 11.6 volts (20% charge) and 12.6+ volts (100% charge) your 12 volt items will function if the "disconnect" switch was pushed to "on" to make the solenoid (or solid-state isolator) connect the batteries to the 12 volt circuit. The solenoid can fail.