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AnnieL's avatar
AnnieL
Explorer
Oct 06, 2015

DC power

I'm having an issue with my DC power and I began to notice the issue when I got an error message on my frig. I am currently living in a RV park and connected to power. Then the lights started going dim and the panel showed only one light. Then the low DC alarm starting going off. We connected a 2 amp battery charger and all issues cleared up. We checked the battery and it was almost dead, so I bought a new one last Monday and all 4 panel lights were on. In the coarse of the week the panels lights went from 4, to 3, to 2, to 3, back to 2, then to 1. We left the battery charger on it to read the battery power with the charger plugged in though and the battery is reading strong. It took a week, from last Monday to last night. I got the error message back on the frig, the light were slightly dim, and the panel showed 1 light. Since I didn't want the alarm to sound while I slept, I plugged the battery charger back in to AC power. Within 10 minutes the error on the frig was gone, the lights brighter and the panel lights back to 2, today it is back to 3. We checked all the fuses and they are all good and all breakers are good.

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  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Oct 07, 2015
    I would try to leave the charger off tonight and see what happens.
    It could be the batteries are up. Doubtful though!
    Locate the converter in morning and get make and model of it.
  • AnnieL's avatar
    AnnieL
    Explorer
    Oct 07, 2015
    I followed your steps enblethen and the lights did NOT dim when the breaker was turned off and did NOT brighten when the breaker was turned back on. :-(
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Oct 07, 2015
    Turn battery charger.
    See how bright the lights are.
    Then turn off the breaker to the converter to see if lights dim down right away.
    If they do the converter is outputting.
    Turn breaker back on.
    If they do not get bright when converter breaker is turned back on, your converter is not working properly.
    It could be fuses in the converter or the main fuse in the DC section is blown.
    You should be tested for voltage and not visually.
  • AnnieL's avatar
    AnnieL
    Explorer
    Oct 07, 2015
    I cycled all the breakers to off and back on. The converter is on it's own breaker. Should I now unplug the batter charger and see if the panel lights start to go down again?
  • AnnieL's avatar
    AnnieL
    Explorer
    Oct 07, 2015
    I am in Central California...Oakhurst which is a hour from Fresno.
  • Rbertalotto's avatar
    Rbertalotto
    Explorer
    Oct 07, 2015
    Converter is bad or off. Check to be sure it isn't on its own breaker within your power panel that got shut off. Otherwise you'll need a meter and someone that knows how to use it to check the converters output.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Oct 07, 2015
    Sounds like your converter is not putting out. The small battery charger is not keeping up with usage.
    You need to check to see if there is a tripped 120 volt AC circuit breaker in your electrical panel that feeds the converter. Cycle all the breakers to off, applying light pressure toward off. Then turn main breaker on, followed by the branch breakers one at a time.
    Have the converter output checked. It could be the reverse polarity fuses in your converter if equipped.
    It would be helpful to say what make, model and type of rig you have.
  • Mandalay_Parr's avatar
    Mandalay_Parr
    Explorer
    Oct 07, 2015
    Sounds like your converter is not working. Maybe you can find an electrical person to help you troubleshoot.

    Where are you located? Maybe I can help.

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