I think I have a bad converter, but wanted to post some of the symptoms and see if that's the case or if maybe I have more than one problem. So here are the facts I discovered on our last trip:1) The converter itself buzzes. Loudly.2) The AC unit won't start. I hear a click in the AC unit when I try to turn it on, but nothing else.3) The lights in the coach are dim, and the one LED light sometimes flashes 4) My furnace won't stay on. It starts, the fan blows, does not get warm, then it kicks off. All the other propane devices work fine. (Water heater, stove, etc.)5) The CO sensor periodically beeps and the red "low voltage" light comes on. Then it turns green after a few minutes.6) The house battery is new, < 3 months.7) The house battery indicator sometimes shows empty, then completely full. I am plugged into shore power continuously except while driving.8) The slide seems to move really slow and struggle to get all the way in or out.9) I store the RV on the side of my house, always plugged in.10) I live in Arizona (It's very hot now)11) RV is a 2008 Forest River Sunseeker 3100 SSOSo all you gurus out there, is it likely just a bad converter? Any input/comments would be appreciated.Thanks,-JB

Did you check for 12v at the battery, or check the fuses at the converter?

It could very well be a bad converter. It needs to be checked with a meter as the output could be changing or the filtering could be bad. It could be doing damage to the items connected. I too keep mine connected all the time in my driveway in Phoenix

CANAMKID wrote:Did you check for 12v at the battery, or check the fuses at the converter?Fuses are both good on the converter. 12v at battery is good.-JB

To check the converter, measure the battery voltage with the converter off, either by unplugging or turning the circuit breaker for the converter off. Then turn the converter back on and measure the voltage. It should be a volt or 2 more, depending on your converter. If the voltage doesn't change the voltage it should be getting from the converter is not getting there. It could be a disconnected wire, a fuse or the converter could be bad.It might help to tell us the make and model of the converter.It might also help to check the ac voltage. The AC doesn't use the 12v except possibly for the thermostat.

Just for the fun of it: Make and model of converter?

possible bad converter | Good Sam Community

tenbear
Explorer
Jun 18, 2014
Well, the battery certainly isn't getting the voltage from the converter and your battery is somewhat discharged but still better than 50%. Based on that your lights shouldn't be dim, unless you are turning a lot of them on, and other things shouldn't be complaining about the low voltage.

You might want to make sure the converter is getting 120vac, and make sure there are no blown fuses or bad connections. It wouldn't hurt to check the voltage at the converter with the converter on.

If you do decide to replace the converter, buy a Progressive Dynamics instead of a WFCO.
CactusJoe
Explorer
Jun 18, 2014
tenbear wrote:
To check the converter, measure the battery voltage with the converter off, either by unplugging or turning the circuit breaker for the converter off.

Then turn the converter back on and measure the voltage. It should be a volt or 2 more, depending on your converter. If the voltage doesn't change the voltage it should be getting from the converter is not getting there. It could be a disconnected wire, a fuse or the converter could be bad.

It might help to tell us the make and model of the converter.

It might also help to check the ac voltage. The AC doesn't use the 12v except possibly for the thermostat.

This is the converter:
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/wf-9800-series-converter-charger-45-amp/58323#qanda

I tested the battery voltage with the converter plugged and unplugged...12.3 volts either way.

And I solved the AC problem...just a thrown breaker. Duh. (It was camouflaged a bit by the switch next to it so I didn't see it until I looked closer, so I'm not a COMPLETE idiot...)

Looking more and more like a bad converter...

-JB
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jun 18, 2014
Just for the fun of it: Make and model of converter?
tenbear
Explorer
Jun 18, 2014
To check the converter, measure the battery voltage with the converter off, either by unplugging or turning the circuit breaker for the converter off.

Then turn the converter back on and measure the voltage. It should be a volt or 2 more, depending on your converter. If the voltage doesn't change the voltage it should be getting from the converter is not getting there. It could be a disconnected wire, a fuse or the converter could be bad.

It might help to tell us the make and model of the converter.

It might also help to check the ac voltage. The AC doesn't use the 12v except possibly for the thermostat.
CactusJoe
Explorer
Jun 18, 2014
CANAMKID wrote:
Did you check for 12v at the battery, or check the fuses at the converter?

Fuses are both good on the converter. 12v at battery is good.

-JB
edhensley
Explorer
Jun 18, 2014
It could very well be a bad converter. It needs to be checked with a meter as the output could be changing or the filtering could be bad. It could be doing damage to the items connected.

I too keep mine connected all the time in my driveway in Phoenix
CANAMKID
Explorer
Jun 18, 2014
Did you check for 12v at the battery, or check the fuses at the converter?

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