Help!!

Start with the basics. Are the connectors on the battery terminals tight? Are they clean? If not, nothing else is going to work. Start with the easy stuff.

Excellent news! Score one for the good guys.

We brought home the RV last night, and despite the electrical mess, it was a great trip. Hubbie started working on determining what the issue was this morning, and I was able to recreate the issue (huge load on the batteries) just by turning on three LED lights. Note that the battery level indicator lights did alert me to the fact that there was something wrong, so although it's called an "idiot" light, this idiot is thankful it was working.

We tested the (new) batteries and they were fully charged, so that wasn't the issue. The Air Conditioner worked flawlessly on shore power.

We tested the voltage in all circuits - AC and DC - and both using just shore power and again with just the batteries. All a-ok. The problem didn't show up until we applied a load to the system.

We were told by a fellow camper on Day 1 that he has seen these issues when the ground wire was corroded (and 'thank you' to "wa8yxm" who also mentioned a ground wire connection). We looked at that first and voila, our ground wire looked corroded. We changed out some connections and tried to recreate the problem and couldn't. Electrical fixed.

So in case someone runs across these issues in the future (large unexplained elec load), look to your ground!

wa8yxm wrote:
Suspect list:

Suspect list:
#1: Tripped branch breaker
#2: 12 volt issue, starting with dead battery
#3: Blown fuse, bad disconnet or bad connetion INCLUDING THE GROUND (12 volt).
#4: Deceased air conditioner.. (Alas Murphy rates this #1 since it is the most expensive item on my list).

the AC unit is self-contained (i.e., roof mounted with all controls) and is one year old. given everything, I'm leaning toward a bad 12-v ground or a dirty on-board neutral prong (Wa8xym - the terminology precision is much appreciated, and also gave me another possible item to test). Can't do anything more till I get to the trailer, and my wife is surviving w/out electrics for now, so it'll be a couple of days before I test - I also found a couple of youtube videos on how to test for proper charging of the batteries, bad converter, etc.

I appreciate everyone's willingness to help - I'll post back with the results of the tests, etc....

Suspect list: Though it is slightly possible that a dirty 120 volt plug is the problem.. And I would clean it if it needs cleaning (I do this often on my 30 amp cord) I doubt that is your problem.

Suspect list:
#1: Tripped branch breaker
#2: 12 volt issue, starting with dead battery
#3: Blown fuse, bad disconnet or bad connetion INCLUDING THE GROUND (12 volt).
#4: Deceased air conditioner.. (Alas Murphy rates this #1 since it is the most expensive item on my list).

FACT: In this lovely warmth we have here in Southern GA. one of my units has taken to tripping it's branch breaker. Now in my case I know why it does this and I can work around it.. (For reasons I understand it will cycle even if room is still too hot.. When it restarts it clicks the breaker off). Thankfully there is an alternate mode where it does not cycle off till I do it manually.

2oldman wrote:
Grounds are usually only found on 12v systems. Perhaps that's your problem and it's messing with the thermostat.

While you are 100% correct.. It might well be the 12 volt ground since many Air Conditioners (With remote thermostats) use 12 volt for CONTROL, Mine the actual T-Stat is in the ceiling unit, but it still uses 12 volts to run the computer that controls it. (Control board).

And though it grates on my sensibilities to let people get away with it.. He may mean NEUTRAL, for I have found 30 amp plugs often have dirty NEUTRAL pins. Why it is nearly always the neutral, I have no clue.. but that it is.

Just so you know.. And he knows, Will make another post

maria_bettina wrote:
Final post before I head up to check on the trailer - my wife tried to run our 2 Yamaha 2000 generators to run the AC - we've tested previously with wonderful success. Today, the generators got the AC started, but pretty quickly the AC shut down - obviously, there is something global wrong with the electrical system - I'm now going to check the ground first thing, as a slightly corroded ground might limit full electrical current.

Is it possible that the thermostat is powered by the battery? Our main AC is that way. The thermostat went blank when converter went bad and battery drained. Without the control, the AC won't work.

Grounds are usually only found on 12v systems. Perhaps that's your problem and it's messing with the thermostat.

Final post before I head up to check on the trailer - my wife tried to run our 2 Yamaha 2000 generators to run the AC - we've tested previously with wonderful success. Today, the generators got the AC started, but pretty quickly the AC shut down - obviously, there is something global wrong with the electrical system - I'm now going to check the ground first thing, as a slightly corroded ground might limit full electrical current.

maria_bettina wrote:
I fully agree that life would be much easier if we had a voltage meter there.

Easier for everyone! You've had a couple suggestions to use a standard battery charger.