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]

enblethen wrote:
BFL is a poster here on rv.net

Thanks enblethen

[enblethen]

BFL is a poster here on rv.net

[AnnieL]

D.E.Bishop wrote:
There are three Harbor Freight stores within a 10 or 20 mile radius of downtown Fresno. For less than $10 you can buy an inexpensive meter(DMM, item 98025) and check voltages. It is easy, plug the red lead into the socket marked V, Omega, mA, the black into COM, turn dial to ACV/200, turn the meter on, you are all set to go. With the distribution panel removed, touch the black lead to the common buss(white wires)and red lead to the colored wire set screw on the converter circuit breaker. If you get 120 on the meter go to DCV/20 and test the DC wires to the battery. All the things are easy once you learn a little bit about the panel.

If you aren't sure of your understanding of where to touch the leads, ask around the campground, the office is a good place to start. Someone will help you and you'll be able to do it by yourself soon.

I will get a meter but after that I will still need to call the mobile RV guy out for the next step.

[AnnieL]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
What's alien about getting an automatic charger like BFL uses and use that to tide over until an electrician and converter can be saved up for? Even a 65 dollar Megawatt set to 13.6 volts would provide plenty of power. Have an electrician connect a power cable and a couple of 10-gauge battery clips over the counter.

Hi, if I understand you correctly, as I don't know what BFL is...I am tiding myself over by using an external battery charger. I will have to wait until I have saved up the money.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

What's alien about getting an automatic charger like BFL uses and use that to tide over until an electrician and converter can be saved up for? Even a 65 dollar Megawatt set to 13.6 volts would provide plenty of power. Have an electrician connect a power cable and a couple of 10-gauge battery clips over the counter.

[D_E_Bishop]

There are three Harbor Freight stores within a 10 or 20 mile radius of downtown Fresno. For less than $10 you can buy an inexpensive meter(DMM, item 98025) and check voltages. It is easy, plug the red lead into the socket marked V, Omega, mA, the black into COM, turn dial to ACV/200, turn the meter on, you are all set to go. With the distribution panel removed, touch the black lead to the common buss(white wires)and red lead to the colored wire set screw on the converter circuit breaker. If you get 120 on the meter go to DCV/20 and test the DC wires to the battery. All the things are easy once you learn a little bit about the panel.

If you aren't sure of your understanding of where to touch the leads, ask around the campground, the office is a good place to start. Someone will help you and you'll be able to do it by yourself soon.

[AnnieL]

I want to thank everyone for your time and information. I didn't want to call the mobile RV guy if I didn't have too, so wanted to troubleshoot this before having to take that step. With your guidance I see now that I need to call him. I really appreciate your help and will be closing this issue. Take care, Annie 🙂

[AnnieL]

mkirsch, thank you so much for your time and information. 🙂 I really appreciate it. I wanted to see if the issue could be troubleshooted as much as could before calling someone.

mkirsch wrote:

Put the charger back on the battery. All you're doing by watching and waiting is running down your expensive new battery and ruining it. Keep it charged. The converter is not going to magically start working again.

Okay....I have put back on the charger.

mkirsch wrote:

You really need to get somebody in there to look at it. The hard part will be finding someone that's qualified to make a house call. Check with a nearby RV dealer.

I really really really don't think you should try replacing the converter yourself. It's going to be nigh on impossible to talk you through it on this forum, and you don't have the experience yet to go it alone. Make a mistake and you could damage the trailer's electrical system, or worse, burn it down, leaving you homeless.

This is important. You really need to find someone that knows what they're doing, not someone who will do it cheap/free because they think they can. With the alternatives being some temporary financial hardship, or homelessness, I would take the financial hardship.

Okay, I know that I'm not comfortable with working on an electrical system and thanks for the warning. Cutting corners on this is not going to work. I will call the local, mobile RV guy that was recommended to me.

[AnnieL]

Byrogie wrote:
Annie, have you asked your neighbors. There should be at least one guy living in the park that could at least help you troubleshoot the problem??

I pretty much just moved here. on my little "street" there is one guy that has been helping me a bit but he only knows so much. I asked the office but they said they can't get involved in fixing things. I have a number for a mobile RV guy and will have to call him.

[mkirsch]

Oh, you live in an RV park? So you're looking at a house call to replace the converter.

Put the charger back on the battery. All you're doing by watching and waiting is running down your expensive new battery and ruining it. Keep it charged. The converter is not going to magically start working again.

You really need to get somebody in there to look at it. The hard part will be finding someone that's qualified to make a house call. Check with a nearby RV dealer.

Unfortunately you're not going to get out of this for less than a few hundred dollars.

I really really really don't think you should try replacing the converter yourself. It's going to be nigh on impossible to talk you through it on this forum, and you don't have the experience yet to go it alone. Make a mistake and you could damage the trailer's electrical system, or worse, burn it down, leaving you homeless.

This is important. You really need to find someone that knows what they're doing, not someone who will do it cheap/free because they think they can. With the alternatives being some temporary financial hardship, or homelessness, I would take the financial hardship.

[Byrogie]

Annie, have you asked your neighbors. There should be at least one guy living in the park that could at least help you troubleshoot the problem??

[Bobbo]

AnnieL wrote:
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

Avoid Magnatek/Parallax equipment. They are referred to as MagnaJunk. My RV came with one. After 4 years, although it was still working perfectly, at least as perfectly as a MagnaJunk can, I ripped it out and replaced it with a Progressive Dynamics PD4655V. Would do the same today.

[AnnieL]

Sorry that I haven't posted but I wasn't able to get the meter today. So far today there hasn't been any change in the levels....still no error on frig, still at 2 lights on the display panel, and lights still seem somewhat dim but not horribly bad. I will hopefully get the meter tomorrow.

On a plus side (related to my car), I was able to get the check engine light fixed...super simple and free....yeah....saving me money for what is starting to appear like a new converter.

I appreciate all your assistance. 🙂

[enblethen]

Link to your converter
I Like the Progressive Dynamics products.
Talk to Randy at Best