Forum Discussion

SKIPCAROL's avatar
SKIPCAROL
Explorer
Nov 21, 2016

no 12 volt power

Awoke this AM to monitors beeping. Seems all batteries inc. chassis battery are dead and theres no 12 volt anything. We are parked in a campground with 50 amp service and that seems ok. Think it's the inverter? What to do?
  • Think? what do you have? Converter ? Inverter/Charger?
    Equipment ? what does your manual say? where is your equipment? automatic transfer switch (ATS)? Do you have a volt meter?
    Does any of the 110 Vac items work?
    Jump the engine batteries and start coach? or try starting generator?
    Which battery bank start the generator, coach or chassis?
  • First get out your multi-meter.
    You DO have a meter......right ??

    Two most likely possibilities: Sudden battery failure. Converter/charger failure (including blown fuses or breakers).

    Make that 3: One side of 50 amp feed is dead.
  • Have you noticed a gradual dimming? Been plugged in for awhile? I had the same happen, and found a loose connection between the converter and the battery.

    The converter was putting out max, but the loose connection wasn't allowing anything to go to the battery. Lights were getting dimmer.. idiot light on the battery sensor had been dropping, should be at max while plugged in.

    When I hooked up the truck, all the lights came on bright. Different feed wires from the truck to the battery.

    Measure converter output right at the converter terminals. Wiggle the terminals and wires with lights on to see if suddenly you find the connection that is loose. That worked for me.
  • Check out put of converter.
    Check converter for reverse polarity fuses.
  • donn0128 wrote:
    Actually 4. Shorted battery


    That is not covered under "sudden battery failure".....why ??

    I did miss loose connections though.
  • Tech came out and said the converter was putting out just 6 volts. That's why some lights were dim and some were out completely. New one in AM. Am puzzled tho...have a gas/elec water heater. It won't heat at all. I know the gas part needs 12 volts to ignite, but is 12 volt needed on the elect side too?
  • The water heater element should be 120V. I'd suggest to check the switches for proper position and check circuit breakers. The tech may have turned off breakers so that your converter is not powered.

    I carry a stand-alone battery charger, a small one, but if my converter goes South, I can still charge the batteries and have basic 12V function.
  • SKIPCAROL wrote:
    I know the gas part needs 12 volts to ignite, but is 12 volt needed on the elect side too?


    There may be a control board or thermostat that runs on 12 V.
  • most newer water heaters depending on your model require 12 VDC to operate on both propane AND electric.
    Down load the manual from the internet and read up on it.