DC power

[AnnieL]

I'm having an issue with my DC power and I began to notice the issue when I got an error message on my frig. I am currently living in a RV park and connected to power. Then the lights started going dim and the panel showed only one light. Then the low DC alarm starting going off. We connected a 2 amp battery charger and all issues cleared up. We checked the battery and it was almost dead, so I bought a new one last Monday and all 4 panel lights were on. In the coarse of the week the panels lights went from 4, to 3, to 2, to 3, back to 2, then to 1. We left the battery charger on it to read the battery power with the charger plugged in though and the battery is reading strong. It took a week, from last Monday to last night. I got the error message back on the frig, the light were slightly dim, and the panel showed 1 light. Since I didn't want the alarm to sound while I slept, I plugged the battery charger back in to AC power. Within 10 minutes the error on the frig was gone, the lights brighter and the panel lights back to 2, today it is back to 3. We checked all the fuses and they are all good and all breakers are good.

[AnnieL]

Hi, I did check in to a meter at the local hardware store but they want $22.00. I am one hour from the Walmart. I have one I can borrow...just the guy isn't there right now.

I don't know what I'm supposed to buy...I went to this one and it $197.00.... http://www.bestconverter.com/45-Amp-Converter-Replacement-Kit_p_46.html#.VhWq-7T-_FI

[enblethen]

Did you think about buying the meter?
If so you could be talked through testing to insure it is a bad converter.
They are fairly easy to change out when you install a replacement section like the one from Progressive dynamics. PD4600 Maybe some other RVer there could do it. Or check around for another mobile guy. The $105 is high!

[AnnieL]

Hi, Old-Biscuit------

No maintenance person in the park.

I heard the local mobile repair guy charges 105.00 just for the visit.....

I will check out Randy....Thanks so much! 🙂

Time for my meds....having a Coca-Cola instead....lol

[Old-Biscuit]

AnnieL wrote:
Hi mkirsch, thanks for your information. I am not on a trip. I live in a RV park, full-time, and am connected to regular AC power also.

RV Park got a maintenance person?

Have them check your converter with the troubleshooting guide


Then buy a new converter and have them help replace it.


OR call a Mobile RV Repair and get it swapped


GO HERE
Talk with Randy........he will help you with getting new converter that will be a direct swap. Very helpful and great customer service.

[AnnieL]

Hi mkirsch, thanks for your information. I am not on a trip. I live in a RV park, full-time, and am connected to regular AC power also.

[mkirsch]

CA Traveler wrote:
The battery monitor lights serve only one purpose - for the salesman to say that you have a great monitor. Buy a digital voltmeter. $5 at HF and sometimes free will do nicely.

Baloney! We are dealing with a non-technical, newbie-level person here and you do not need to be confusing her with nonsense like this.

The battery monitor DOES show you the relative state of charge of the batteries. When it goes from 4 lights to 3 lights to 2 lights, that means the battery is DISCHARGING. This is proven out by the dimming lights and error on the fridge.

All a voltmeter will do is tell you what exact voltage is in the battery, which is neither useful nor relevant at this point. Clearly the converter is not charging the battery for whatever reason.

Even if your battery were bad, the converter would provide 12V power to your RV whenever you were plugged in, if it were working. The lights would not dim. The fridge would not go into error mode.

You can finish your trip with the external battery charger you have, but given your level of experience, I would recommend that you bring your RV to a trusted repair facility to have the converter checked out and fixed or replaced ASAP.

[AnnieL]

Yes I'm looking at the fuse panel adjacent to the 120 volt circuit breakers behind small metal plate.

[CA_Traveler]

A 2A charger is totally inadequate for charging a battery and using with lights etc. Go to a auto store and get a decent 3 stage charger at least 20A and/or fix your rig charger.

The battery monitor lights serve only one purpose - for the salesman to say that you have a great monitor. Buy a digital voltmeter. $5 at HF and sometimes free will do nicely.

[enblethen]

Sounds like the converter is failing!
Or there is an issue with a fuse. You are looking at the fuse panel adjacent to the 120 volt circuit breakers behind small metal plate?

[AnnieL]

Hi, I left the battery charger off last night. This morning I now have 2 lights on the panel and the lights seem dimmer. I did the test, turning on and off the converter breaker, the lights did not dim and did not brighten.

On a separate note, the battery is fully charged this morning. One thing I noticed which I have thought is odd, is that when the manual battery charger is connected the battery doesn't seem to maintain a full charge. Just an observation...

[enblethen]

Yes, a small in-expensive meter like this from Walmart will aid in troubleshooting. It comes with basic instructions.
Walmart meter

[fitznj]

Get a voltmeter..............
While plugged to shore power, you should be seeing ~13V at the battery.
If not then the converter is not working OR there is a wiring break between the converter and the battery OR there is a blown fuse in the panel;

While plugged into shore power - locate your converter and check the voltage on the out put side (should be > 12V); If you're not getting any power then the converter is fried OR you need to make sure the 120V fuse is working.

On some converters, there is a small LED which turns from green to red;

Check for any loose connections - remember you'll be around 120V - so be careful. On mine, the converter wire on the bus bar had worked loose, so you may want to check this.

IF you are getting 120V in and NOTHING out - then your converter is fried - Amazon is a good place for a replacement.

In the mean time, you can connect your battery charger to the batteries and keep it on all the time, this will keep the batteries topped up. Draining batteries, like you're doing now, will kill the batteries in no time.

Gerry

[AnnieL]

okay....

[Old-Biscuit]

When connected to shore power the converter DC Output S/B 13.2V Minimum
(120V AC IN---13.2V DC Out) with battery not connected.

Output lower than 13.2V and converter is failing.

It can't maintain charge on battery, can't supply enough voltage to run DC items, can't keep up with DC demand.


Troubleshooting Guide
(for 7400 but can be used on any Parallax).....CLICK

[enblethen]

In the morning try the test again.