Reverse Polarity of Batteries

My converter power distribution panel has two fuses located off to themself labeled REVERSE POLARITY. These two large value ATC fuses are suppose to blow when connected in REVERSE POLARITY to protect things... If you are smoking battery cables then you have bypassed all of this added protection... Sparking battery terminals should have been your first clue something was wrong...

Two RED ATC 40A fuses shown here

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I have had excellent smart mode charging modes using my Progressive Dynamics PD9260C Smart Mode Converter/Charger unit. IOTA also is good multi-stage type converter/charger unit. Check with Randy at BESTCONVERTERS... Using any single mode type converter/charger unit will require you to keep a close eye on your batteries to check for boiling out battery fluids from being over charged using the single 13.6VDC DC output at high amps capacity... When the batteries boil out their fluids and go un-noticed it is usually GAME OVER for the batteries... Would be Lots of $$$ down the drain for me...

Roy Ken

RoyB wrote:
My converter power distribution panel has two fuses located off to themself labeled REVERSE POLARITY.

Irrelevant to the OP who says he has an older Magnetek converter which won't have any reverse polarity fuses. If the batteries were hooked up incorrectly the converter is most assuredly toast.

The OP's unit is 15 years old. Hard to believe the supposed MISWIRE went undetected for 15 years. Doug

Replace the Magnetek regardless of other issues.
The 6300 is obsolete and does not charge or maintain the battery very well.

http://www.bestconverter.com/PD4635V-35-Amp-Converter-Upgrade

A refrigerator working for 15-years on reversed polarity?

Here's how it's done...

Wanted to listen to music with my Lepai amplifier and USB thumbstick last week.

Enjoying a cup of coffee. No reading glasses. Hooked the Lepai to the lab power supply (REVERSED POLARITY). Hmmmm three point three amps - no music. Turned off the power supply went into the bedroom and snagged my glasses. Came back into the kitchen and had a thoroughly face-reddening Jim Varney moment.

No one to blame but myself. ---- Happens. At least the misfortune beats getting involved in an auto accident or having a heart attack.

Instead of pointing fingers I am shopping or a bigger more powerful 12 volt amp.

Pretty good example of why, if connecting terminals are unknown for polarity, a test with meter will disclose all. I can certainly understand how the OP was mislead by the sticker denoting polarity but I don't trust any sticker or wire schedule color.

Yes, the older Magnetek converters are lousy, usually a low fixed voltage. If using two 6V batteries in series, a charge voltage of at least 14.8V is good practice. Progressive Dynamics and Iota make a charger with this output voltage.

Always take pics or notes BEFORE disconnecting stuff. Sorry about the welding.

A shorted 24 volt battery bank is dangerous as hell. The short itself can give a third degree burn. It is common for acid to be ejected through the cell fillers to a height of six feet violently. Then comes an explosion. The thought of this gives me the willies. Please be careful.

Thanks to most people who responded. Years ago I was an electrician for a few years. Ground wires are green, sometimes white, sometimes black but never red. The sticker on the rig was correct. Some meth head wired the trailer wrong. I never thought to check it.

Everything seems to work except the radio and the converter keeps tripping. An updated converter seems like a good idea.

Please understand I do not own a trailer.

But, how has this not happened before during the 15 years of the trailer's life?