Forum Discussion

jmartin99's avatar
jmartin99
Explorer
May 02, 2014

Converter/Battery Issues!!

I just bought an old '83 Jayco 32' Jayflight TT. I have had shore power plugged into it off and on since I have got it home to get the radio and lights to work inside the camper. A few days ago I charged the battery with my battery tender and replaced the wire terminals that connect the TT to the battery. I then removed shore power and tried the lights and radio but they did not work.

If the lights and radio work with shore power, does this mean the converter is still working? Where is the converter located? I have found the fuse panel in a compartment below the stove, should it be in that general area?

Another issue I have is the water pump is not installed at this time. I should get the parts I need to reconnect it next Monday. There are wires to connect power to the pump at the back of the TT. Where is the switch located to operate the pump? There is a switch under the counter next to the stove, I am wondering if this could be the pump switch. There is also a very small push button switch above that switch, any ideas what it would be for???

Thanks for any help with my issues!!! I am learning as I go! :)

Jeff
  • stickdog's avatar
    stickdog
    Explorer
    May 03, 2014
    jmartin99 wrote:
    I have had shore power plugged into it off and on since I have got it home to get the radio and lights to work inside the camper. A few days ago I charged the battery with my battery tender and replaced the wire terminals that connect the TT to the battery. I then removed shore power and tried the lights and radio but they did not work.


    Thanks for any help with my issues!!! I am learning as I go! :)

    Jeff


    Is there a battery cutoff switch? If turned off no juice to 12 volt system even with fully charged battery.
  • Sea_scape's avatar
    Sea_scape
    Explorer
    May 02, 2014
    My old 78 trailer had separate lights for 115 vac and 12 vdc. The ceiling had lights with automotive type bulbs, and there were a couple of lamp style fixtures that had small household style bulbs. Don't know when this changed.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    May 02, 2014
    What does your meter say for voltage across the battery terminals?
  • jmartin99's avatar
    jmartin99
    Explorer
    May 02, 2014
    No, the lights have never worked off of the battery. I just bought it about two weeks ago.

    When I got it home, I replaced the terminals on the wires connected to the battery because they were in bad shape.

    Ok, I will trace wires and see what is connected color wise to which terminal on the battery.
  • mthockeydad's avatar
    mthockeydad
    Explorer
    May 02, 2014
    Yes, sounds like your convertor is working fine! Do not use it to charge your battery. Those older convertors are death on batteries...but do use your separate charger/tender to charge it.

    A TT that old probably doesn't have reverse polarity protection, but it's possible you have the leads connected backwards.

    Very often in RV's, black is positive and white is ground, where we expect black to be ground and a red positive in auto 12V systems.

    Did your lights and radio work on battery when you bought it or are you just connecting the battery for the first time?

    Another thing to look for is a bad ground. My 1992 MH had no direct path from the battery to the charger/convertor panel. The battery was grounded to the chassis, the convertor was grounded to the steel floor under the coach, and I couldn't find an actual electrical connection between the two. My battery gave me a lot more juice when I added a 4ga copper wire between the negative battery post and the - side of the convertor in the RV!

    The safest bet is to start following cables from one end to the other, so follow BOTH + and - current paths!


    That switch is probably for your pump. In newer RV's it might also be your water heater. Again, follow cables!

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