Strange Electrical Issue

[cswinford]

Thanks in advance to anyone that helps us solve this mystery.

We were in St Louis yesterday and left for Kansas which means we were on the road for about 9 hours. I tell you this simply to say that my battery did charge during that drive time. I'll also say that we haven't experienced any electrical issues up to this point.

We arrived in Kansas last night and plugged into 30 amp shore power. We noticed the interior lights were very dim but didn't think too much of it.

I woke up this morning and started noticing electrical issues, such as the refrigerator was off and would try to start but couldn't. The furnace would try to start but couldn't. The water heater would try to light but couldn't. The built in stereo would try to come on but just flickered off/on. It seemed that everything on the 12 volt side was having issues; as if it wasn't getting enough amperage. I shut down all the interior lights and was able to get some stuff to come on but it was very limited.

This led me to believe that we had a bad battery because I knew it had plenty of charge from the drive the day before. The strange thing is that when I removed the battery altogether the 12 volt was operating perfectly. All lights were bright and everything worked as it should (I'm still plugged into shore power at this point).

I took the battery to a local Advanced Auto and they checked it. Surprisingly to me, they told me the battery was just fine.

So now I'm scratching my head. Do I have a bad converter? What else could it be?

Thanks!
Chad
http://longlongwaytotipperary.com

[Brewurown]

That is the same type of problems I had when my converter went bad. Replaced the converter and now back to normal.

[enblethen]

I would look around your battery(ies) for a fuse or circuit breaker. It would be close to the battery. Some circuit breakers can be reset. Small 1/8 diameter button top push.
This fuse or circuit breaker would prevent your tow vehicle from charging the battery,
Next check your system for proper polarity. It is possible that the batteries could have connected improperly and blew the reverse polarity fuse on the converter, if equipped.
When plugged in check output of the converter in the DC distribution panel for voltage around 13+. If no voltage is present check coonverter input for 120 volts AC.
Check converter output for voltage.