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Magnetek series 7300, Model 7345 Converter

Tambs
Explorer
Explorer
Hello all,

I have a 1998 Lance Legend 500 truck camper that uses the above converter. Iโ€™ve been having battery issues lately, and after removing the 12V house battery I found it is sitting at 6.5 volts. The camper has been plugged in to 120V shore power. The battery is an Optima Blue Top, but it is 8 years old so Iโ€™m confident it is shot and needing to be replaced.

After removing the battery I checked the battery leads with a voltage meter and only got 5.2V coming through the leads. I then checked the truck batteries and found them to have 5.75V. I disconnected the truck pigtail from the camper and voltage at the battery leads was 0 (with shore power plugged in and confirmed to be hot). So apparently the converter isnโ€™t supplying any power to the house battery. The converter output terminal (circled in red in the pic below) at the fuse panel adjacent to the converter itself registers 13.8V when plugged into shore power, but the battery lugs (circled in blue) coming off of the same fuse block read 0V. All fuses are good.

Is it logical to conclude that the converter has failed, or is there something else I should check before seeking out a replacement converter?

If a replacement is in order, what would you recommend? Iโ€™d prefer an AGM battery, and from what I can tell they require smart chargers. Is there a direct replacement for the 7345 that incorporates smart charging technology?

https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/1ezGjXdbRHyDjPsf2rGuog.pKf0JdNicc67CftZXuLkCJ
8 REPLIES 8

Tambs
Explorer
Explorer
The output terminal (top-center, no wire on front, black wire on back) has 13.8V to ground.

The lugs inside the blue circle in the pic have 0V to ground, and 0V lug to lug.

Yes, the wire connected to the output terminal on the backside of the fuse panel looks black to me as well.

The black and white wires on the battery lug terminals on the front side of the fuse panel are snug. I'll check the back side tomorrow. I'm assuming the other white wire that disappears behind the panel is the feeder from the converter that is probably landed on the back side of the panel on the negative lug. I will verify this tomorrow as well,and make sure it is snug.

All of the fuses in the panel (including the 30A RP fuses) checked out with a light tester.

Thanks to all for the assistance. I'll update my findings tomorrow.

BFL13
Explorer II
Explorer II
The blue positive wire from the converter is usually with a ring terminal on the end, attached to the front of the panel at the top middle nut and bolt, where you show nothing on yours. It might be on the back. Blue wire shown at the bottom going up somewhere. EDIT- the wire in the photo going to that top terminal at the back looks black not blue? There is a blue wire below in the middle of the panel way behind there that looks like the right one.

Where are you putting the neg on your meter to go with that positive terminal to get 13.8v? Since the two battery lugs show zero volts, it might mean the converter's white wire is not screwed into the back lug behind the front neg battery lug. You see a white wire there but it seems to go by the front lug to where? Is it loose?

If the positive path on the panel between that top converter terminal and the battery positive is broken somehow, you can put the blue and white converter wires in the battery lugs with the battery wires. Not sure if that by-passes the two reverse polarity fuses though. Better not to do that if you don't have to.

Are the two RP fuses ok? That's the two green 30a ones by that top terminal
I don't know if they are blown if you can still get 13.8v at the top terminal, but not at the battery lugs.
1. 1991 Oakland 28DB Class C
on Ford E350-460-7.5 Gas EFI
Photo in Profile
2. 1991 Bighorn 9.5ft Truck Camper on 2003 Chev 2500HD 6.0 Gas
See Profile for Electronic set-ups for 1. and 2.

Tambs
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for the reply. I've responded to your paragraphs below...


BFL13 wrote:
When it has 120v input, the 7345 should have 13.8v across its blue and white DC output wires. The fuse panel has lugs for those and also for the battery wires. Didn't see the blue/white output wires, but I will take another look. The output lug on the fuse panel does have 13.8. The lugs on the fuse panel for the battery leads are dead. I'll pull the fuse panel to check the connections behind it.

First confirm you are getting 13.8 from the converter (OP seems like it is, but not clear) If not getting that on the battery lugs of the fuse panel, there is a problem with the wires at the fuse panel--perhaps a set-screw is loose and a wire fell out ( lugs are also on the back of the panel so you can't see there unless you unscrew it (two screws) As above, I'll pull the fuse panel and check connections behind it.

Not clear what is going on with the voltage from the truck. It should be whatever the engine battery is at. The truck battery was drawn down while sitting for several days without being started. The battery disconnect switch in the battery compartment of the camper was closed, so it drew from the truck batteries while sitting.

AGMs do not need a "smart converter", but they do need 14.4v which the 7300 can't do, being single stage 13.8v. I was following the guidance on Optima's website that indicated an AGM that falls below 10.5V may need a smart charger to bring it back to full charge. I've also read this elsewhere, but there seems to be confusing info about the matter, as I've seen other guidance that suggests a smart charger is not needed. https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/support/charging/charging-agm-battery

BarneyS
Explorer III
Explorer III
Here is your picture.


As has already been mentioned, If you will follow these directions exactly, it is very easy to post pictures on our forums. One of our moderators, 1492, developed this photo posting app to post your pictures. It works for other internet sites also. There is no need to have a separate hosting site for your pictures in order to use it.

It is very simple to use.
1. Upload your picture from your computer to the app. Click the blue "or select" button and then navigate to your picture on your computer and double click on it. That will upload the picture to the app. Or you can drag and drop your picture but I have not had good luck using that method.
2. Copy the resulting URL.
3. Paste that URL into your post

without ANY changes

. No additions or deletions.
Your picture will then appear in your post and be properly sized for use on our forums.:)
Barney
2004 Sunnybrook Titan 30FKS TT
Hensley "Arrow" 1400# hitch (Sold)
Not towing now.
Former tow vehicles were 2016 Ram 2500 CTD, 2002 Ford F250, 7.3 PSD, 1997 Ram 2500 5.9 gas engine

BFL13
Explorer II
Explorer II
When it has 120v input, the 7345 should have 13.8v across its blue and white DC output wires. The fuse panel has lugs for those and also for the battery wires.

First confirm you are getting 13.8 from the converter (OP seems like it is, but not clear) If not getting that on the battery lugs of the fuse panel, there is a problem with the wires at the fuse panel--perhaps a set-screw is loose and a wire fell out ( lugs are also on the back of the panel so you can't see there unless you unscrew it (two screws)

Not clear what is going on with the voltage from the truck. It should be whatever the engine battery is at.

AGMs do not need a "smart converter", but they do need 14.4v which the 7300 can't do, being single stage 13.8v.
1. 1991 Oakland 28DB Class C
on Ford E350-460-7.5 Gas EFI
Photo in Profile
2. 1991 Bighorn 9.5ft Truck Camper on 2003 Chev 2500HD 6.0 Gas
See Profile for Electronic set-ups for 1. and 2.

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
photo no workie
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
No picture. Try this.. http://photoposting.is-great.net/?i=3
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad