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rvingnuts's avatar
rvingnuts
Explorer
Feb 24, 2014

New power inverter?

It looks like we might be in the market for a new converter and need suggestions. We have a travel trailer that stays hooked up to 110 year around. Back in the summer we started having issues with our refrigerator shutting down. Closed the camper down for the winter but this past week-end decided to spend a couple of nights in it and work on refrigerator. Because of the cold temps we ran the furnace, refrigerator,lights,etc. During the night we woke to a very cold unit. Everything was off. We could reset the breaker and things would work again. Next day we replaced the main breaker. Things worked great for awhile then everything shut down again. So we turned the refrigerator off thinking this was the problem. It wasn't. As soon as things shut down it would try to operate off the 12v system. The batteries(1 yr old) must not be charging because it wouldn't kick in. Everything's dead again until we turned breaker off, let it rest then turn it back on again. Works 4-5 hrs max. Since the refrigerator has to have 12v to run the controls & the furnace runs on 12v we figure it must be our power converter.What do you think?

15 Replies

  • rvingnuts wrote:
    .. we figure it must be our power inverter.What do you think?
    I think it's your power convertor.
  • First of all, it is not an inverter that you are having trouble with, it is a converter. This detail is not nit-picking, the two devices are very different, do different things, and unless you name the right part when you go buy one, you are guaranteed to get something that will be of no help solving your problem. Just sayin' . . . .

    Secondly, unless you have a relatively new (meaning a couple years) 3 stage converter, leaving your rig plugged into shore power continuously is guaranteed to kill your battery in fairly short order. Given the symptoms you describe, it sounds like you need both a new CONVERTER and a new battery. Spring for the extra bucks and get one of the 3 stage units. It's worth it.

    Finally, to check and see if indeed the battery is dead, take it out and go to a place like Pep Boys, Advance Auto, Auto Zone, or one of the battery shops. They can charge it up and test it for you, and will do it for free. If they tell you the battery is dead, buy a new one from 'em, but don't install it until you get the CONVERTER replaced.

    (NOTE: be sure to mark the wires you take OFF the battery so you know which goes to positive and negative terminals. You don't want to get 'em on backwards lest your problems really take off.)
  • Hi,

    Disconnect the battery and check to see if it is charged or not. While it is disconnected check the voltage coming to the battery from the converter. (rv speak for an inverter, that charges batteries)

    Post the make and model of the converter for detailed help.

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