Converter and Battery Isolation Switch

[ken_burke]

All . . . . .I have a 2011 Cedar Creek 34SB. I am still checking out my converter. (lights are flickering)
During normal operation, I leave the Battery Disconnect Switch in the "ON" position (keeping the batteries in the charging system).
The question is: Is turning the switch to the "OFF" position the SAME thing as going to the batteries and disconnecting the batteries??
What will the converter do when putting the switch to the "OFF" position? What will the conveter do when disconnecting the batteries (leaving the switch on the "ON" position).

thanks all . Exactly where is the converter located in the 2011 Cedaar Creeks?

ken

[ken_burke]

ksg5000 wrote:
I would take the batteries down to your local tire/auto parts house and have them load tested (it's free). Even a bad battery will often give you a decent voltage reading right after you disconnect from converter/charger.

If the light fixtures, ground wires, batteries etc all check out then I suspect your converter might be failing. Not expensive to replace - some/many consider Progressive Dynamics to be better converter - easy DIY install.

Good idea. I might have a battery problem. With the batteries connected, the DC lights go bright, then dim, then bright, etc, at 1 minute interval. With the battery isolation "OFF" (batteries disconnected) the converter voltage is constant and dthe lights do not change.

ken

[ksg5000]

I would take the batteries down to your local tire/auto parts house and have them load tested (it's free). Even a bad battery will often give you a decent voltage reading right after you disconnect from converter/charger.

If the light fixtures, ground wires, batteries etc all check out then I suspect your converter might be failing. Not expensive to replace - some/many consider Progressive Dynamics to be better converter - easy DIY install.

[ken_burke]

westend wrote:
The converter is a "three mode" device, not "three phase". It will only produce one DC voltage at one time. The voltage will vary as the battery's state of charge varies.
How did you check the batteries? What DC loads are present when the lights flicker?

Thanks for the question. I checked the batteries by disconnecting them at the terminals and checking water level. The voltage was steady . . . 13.4 volts or so.

I disconnected the batteries and the wf9865 converter powered the DC loads. I then connected the batteries up.

I turned on all of the DC loads I could think of . . . lights, hood fan (Is it DC?). The converter voltage varies (down then up)by about 1.5 volts. Maybe it is trying to go thru the different modes.

I guess another test would be to disconnect the batteries at the terminals and check the converter again to see if the voltage changes. I would expect the converter output would be constant.

ken

[westend]

The converter is a "three mode" device, not "three phase". It will only produce one DC voltage at one time. The voltage will vary as the battery's state of charge varies.
How did you check the batteries? What DC loads are present when the lights flicker?

[mena661]

The converter is also a charger. You won't see it go into boost mode (14.4V) until you're around 50% SOC, if it's working properly.

[ken_burke]

ksg5000 wrote:
Lights flickering when your hooked up to shore power is a problem - maybe converter heading south or perhaps your batteries have an issue and your converter is working overtime trying to recharge problem batteries and doesn't have enough power to do extra duty with lights?

I checked the batteries and they are okay. The converter seems to work okay, except at higher DC loads the DC lights flicker. The converter voltage fluxuates by 1.5 and 2 volts.
I found the converter and I think that I can replace it if it bad.

Do you know where the 3 phase battery charger comes from? Is the converter sending out 3 voltages, or is the charger part of the electrical converter panel. I have a 9865 WF converter and it seems to have only one output voltage.

[ksg5000]

Lights flickering when your hooked up to shore power is a problem - maybe converter heading south or perhaps your batteries have an issue and your converter is working overtime trying to recharge problem batteries and doesn't have enough power to do extra duty with lights?

[ken_burke]

ken burke wrote:

mbopp wrote:
Most modern converters will supply clean DC power whether the battery is disconnected or not.
If it's wired properly, turning the disconnect switch to "off" is the same as disconnecting a battery cable.

Okay . . . . thanks . .. I will try that now.
ken

Thanks for your help folks . . . . . I turned "OFF" the battery disconnect switch (batteries off)and the converter continued to power the DC volts as you would expect. I turned off the converter (turned batteries off) and all DC lights went off as you would expect.
It seems like the converter is working okay, but the DC lights still flicker when there is a lot of DC loads connected.

I found the converter . . . in the basement of 5th wheel, within the storage bay. There is a sliding door.

Our Cedar Creek has a WF-9865 (65 amps). It seems to have only one output, not the 3 for better battery charging.

[ken_burke]

mbopp wrote:
Most modern converters will supply clean DC power whether the battery is disconnected or not.
If it's wired properly, turning the disconnect switch to "off" is the same as disconnecting a battery cable.

Okay . . . . thanks . .. I will try that now.
ken

[mbopp]

Most modern converters will supply clean DC power whether the battery is disconnected or not.
If it's wired properly, turning the disconnect switch to "off" is the same as disconnecting a battery cable.

[ksg5000]

In my rig when the battery disconnect switch is engaged the batteries are taken out of the loop but if the rig is plugged in the converter will still operate the 12 volt devices inside the rig.

[mena661]

The converter is usually behind or under the circuit breaker panel BUT it really can be almost anywhere. In my old 5er it was under the CB panel, in my MH it is in one of the storage compartments. I have seen them in the front storage compartment in some of the nicer 5ers. Maybe start there. As far as the disconnect switch, some shut everything off (mine) and others only shut certain things off. I can still charge my batteries with the disconnect switch off because my converter is wired directly to my batteries. Depends on the manufacturer.