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co_mb's avatar
co_mb
Explorer
Jul 05, 2013

Power issues on 2005 KC Durango 5th Wheel

I just purchased my 2005 Durango from a private party, I have it set up and now I'm losing power in a strange way.
Here's the situation:
1. We have our AC and a few lights on. If we turn a light off, (any light), the AC goes off along with everything EXCEPT the microwave.
2. Bumps (closing cabinet doors, walking quickly) also seem to kill power. (I'm still not 100% convinced that the movement is the issue).

Here are the knowns:
1. There is no battery; I'm running on shore power - a 110 connection to a house. (however, I still have yet to find the battery kill switch).
2. Breakers do NOT trip when this happens. However, I can flip the main and A/C breakers off and on a few times and power returns.
3. When I turn the main breaker off, I'll see whatever lights were left on.. flash for a split second as power goes to them.
4. The first day I had it, there didn't seem to be an issue - (but I did just get it and I know next to nothing other than what I've spent time researching).

So, anyone know where I should start? How to test what's working? Could it simply be a bad breaker? Bad converter? Anything you can add to enlighten me would be extremely helpful.
  • Thanks everyone! Huge help. I ended up replacing the converter with a boondocker unit from BestConverter.com. Everything is up and running again.
  • After working on it today, I believe I've surmised I need a new converter. I double checked all of the connections and everything is set right. I checked current in with a meter and there's definitely current coming to the converter... but current isn't leaving the converter. (By the way, the circuit breaker flip trick has stopped working.. refer to #2 under knowns in the previous post).
    I hooked up a battery to make sure I was able to receive DC power correctly. That worked great. I did discover, however that one of the parts on the converter was so hot that it had started burning through a wire. So now, I'm looking for a new converter. Any ideas on the best site to buy from?
  • Trouble-shooting is usually a matter of isolating things one at a time to find the culprit.

    Yes you can have a loose connection someplace. First take out each AC circuit breaker and tighten the black wire into it at the set-screw and replace it on the buss firmly.

    There are more steps, but take one at a time here, after you report in on that much.

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