Forum Discussion

Traveler21's avatar
Traveler21
Explorer
Jun 28, 2018

Inverter failure on my 22' Trail Cruiser

Hello Forum

I am new here, and would like to like to introduce myself and fish around for some help.

My trailer is a 08 R-Vision Trail Cruiser 22' pull trailer.
Id had the trailer stored its life here in level driveway, much of the time on shore power.

My battery died so I replace with good battery

Battery last 3 days , drains itself dead. And kills the rig ahead of the plug where the trailer attaches if left attached ( tow vehicle's battery)

I learned the Inverter system needs a good battery just to test.DC or AC
To make instrument panel in bathroom light up, or even to get 110V shore power. to the inverter...I need a battery in place

this is a single battery trailer.

So with the battery in constant discharge , Is possibly a bad inverter?
Or a direct short to ground , to drain a battery in a few days with breakers OFF..

I do not know where to start. I was going to just buy an inverter but that will not help if there is a conductor ( thru the frame) that might be pinched .

Trailer would be nice to have working now , great weather.!
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Jun 28, 2018
    Do you mean "Converter"? That is what normally keeps the battery charged and provides 12V for on-board items. It sounds like yours isn't working. A modern converter doesn't need a battery hooked up but you do need one to make all the 12V stuff work when not plugged into house current. You DO need a battery for the trailers emergency brakes.
    Inverter takes 12VDC and makes 120VAC.
  • Traveler21's avatar
    Traveler21
    Explorer
    Jun 28, 2018
    Yes I did mean converter, not aware of the correct term
    . I have it "out " but still attached to wiring

    Unplugged from shore power at moment. Been keeping battery topped -off ,disconnected terminals from trailer while I try to sort this out.

    Would a faulty converter cause a rapid discharge of DC power when not on shore power?
  • Sandia_Man's avatar
    Sandia_Man
    Explorer II
    Jun 28, 2018
    A single battery can be drained within a few days from parasitic draws without converter constantly charging and providing 12 volt DC power when plugged into shorepower. There are fuses that can be checked, make sure converter is indeed receiving 120 volts AC when plugged in, check converter output for 13.2 volts DC or higher. If all is OK, somewhere along the path DC charging voltage is not reaching battery posts.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Jun 29, 2018
    A bad converter can indeed discharge your battery but it was probably the parasitic drains Sandia Man mentioned..

    I would check the reverse polarity fuses. You will have three of them, probably yellow, in the panel and they are somewhat separate from the other fuses.
  • Huntindog's avatar
    Huntindog
    Explorer
    Jun 29, 2018
    ScottG wrote:
    A bad converter can indeed discharge your battery but it was probably the parasitic drains Sandia Man mentioned..

    I would check the reverse polarity fuses. You will have three of them, probably yellow, in the panel and they are somewhat separate from the other fuses.
    Those are often on the convertor.
  • Huntindog's avatar
    Huntindog
    Explorer
    Jun 29, 2018
    ScottG wrote:
    A bad converter can indeed discharge your battery but it was probably the parasitic drains Sandia Man mentioned..

    I would check the reverse polarity fuses. You will have three of them, probably yellow, in the panel and they are somewhat separate from the other fuses.
    Those are often on the convertor.

    To the OP:
    You need a cheap Volt ohm meter. Harbor freight puts out free coupons for them all the time. If you own a RV, you need this to trouble shoot many things.
    In this case, set the meter to DC, Hook the battery back up and take a volt reading. It should be in the 12 range. Then plug the TT in and take another reading. If it is higher than the first reading, then the convertor is charging the battery. If it is the same or a little lower then there is a problem with the convertor, such as the fuses, or something else.
  • Krusty's avatar
    Krusty
    Nomad II
    Jun 29, 2018
    If your fridge has a high humidity switch, make sure it is not turned on. This will kill battery in short time.
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Jun 29, 2018
    Check to see if the brakes are "turned on". I.E. the "break away" switch.

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