Forum Discussion

jroden's avatar
jroden
Explorer
Jul 03, 2013

need help troubleshooting inverter

I have an "American" brand inverter in my trailer. It is putting out no voltage to the battery for charging when hooked to shore power. All lights in the trailer will work on both 110 and 12v so the power is getting from the battery to the box.

All the fuses are intact. I checked a glass fuse on the inverter board that looks OK

No obvious loose wires

The fans on the inverter are turning but just a little and the unit is warming up, so it's doing something I guess

I can keep removing the battery and putting it on a tender between trips, I don't camp all that much, but if there is a simple fix I'm missing beyond replacing some expensive board I'm all ears.
  • jroden's avatar
    jroden
    Explorer
    Jul 05, 2013
    Yes, I used the wrong term, converter. The inverter is working fine, it turns 120>>12 and the 12v system works fine with a fresh battery, it's just not charging the battery

    The think I'm talking about is the transformer that charges the battery when I'm plugged into shore power. It warms up but the fans don't turn and it puts out no voltage.

    I can get a new converter box that I just mount next to the old power center that has a better charger built in for maybe 200 bucks, I suspect that's what I'll do if I start camping more that 8 times a year.

    Boy it would not be a camping trip without something new to fix...
  • bikendan's avatar
    bikendan
    Explorer
    Jul 03, 2013
    another example of confusing inverter with converter.

    on another RV forum, a new member was adamant that he had a inverter in his Rpod, to charge the batteries and run the 12v items in his trailer, because he claimed that's what he was told.
    he's been arguing with all the senior members(who were trying to explain that he was talking about a converter) and calling them idiots because of what one tech told him had to be the truth.:S
  • joeprinter's avatar
    joeprinter
    Explorer
    Jul 03, 2013
    Sounds like a fuse for the charging portion of the converter, or the charging feature of the converter is shot.
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Jul 03, 2013
    get the mfg model number off your american
    and look it up at Bestconverter,and get the specs
    i'm sure you will find it is a 'converter' aka battery charger with fuse panel
    yes it should be charging your battery

    pull the battery and/or charge fuse and test them with a meter to be sure

    at the moment it looks like you need to replace the converter

    converters charge the batteries, inverters use batteries to make 120vac

    and yes there are combination units that do both, but i don't think yours is that kind
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Jul 03, 2013
    Some better inverters have strong battery chargers built in. The marine industry often uses the technology instead of a converter. The beauty of the system is you always have 120 available and a built in high current battery charger takes care of the batteries when your plugged into shore power.
    Some high end RV's are built this way as well.
  • tenbear's avatar
    tenbear
    Explorer
    Jul 03, 2013
    As others have observed, you are probably talking about your converter. What is the make and model of the converter, or inverter? Also what is its age?

    If you have a meter or test light check that 120vac is getting to the converter. If the power is getting to it, it is either bad or you have a fuse/circuit breaker open.
  • K_Charles's avatar
    K_Charles
    Explorer
    Jul 03, 2013
    An inverter should be taking stuff out of the battery not putting it in.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Jul 03, 2013
    Are you sure this isn't a converter? Do you have 120v lights too?

About Technical Issues

Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,189 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 21, 2025