Last time I turned on the lights in my Starcraft trailer all the lights exploded. I'm connectted to shore power (120V). Checking all the DC output ports with a voltmeter shows that they are getting 99 volts instead of 13.5.I see many posts online about converters putting out low voltage, but none about high voltage. Has anyone else ever heard of this? Does this mean my converter needs to be replaced? Any other ideas?Thanks!!

Are you sure that is 120v and not 240v by accident? If so don't turn on the microwave or anything else 120v.

Start with the basics.SAFETY FIRST wear glovesGet a hand held multimeterMeasure anything and everything on both scales AC and then DCAre the batteries destroyed? No? But yet you blew out a 12 volt serviceThe problem may be localThe shorting of a DC circuit with AC power. A cross-overISOLATE this is critical. Pull the shore power plug and turn off the inverterThe lights are blown let's start thereAccess a blown 12 volt light bulb baseUsing OHMS CONTINUITY on the meter measure resistance between line voltage at a plug-in electrical receptacle and the 2 base positive and negative light bulb contacts. Remember to measure neutral.This is just a beginning of a troubleshooting format. It continues but this is a good start.Remember this is done when shore power and inverter is DISCONNECTED.

Thanks for the quick replies.I've disconnected the negative connections to the battery, and still get this.Is a battery required? I think the battery is bad. Its definitely not 220V.

bltierney wrote:I've disconnected the negative connections to the battery, and still get this..What about the converter?

strange converter issue: too many volts DC | Good Sam Community

bltierney
Explorer
May 19, 2018
Yeah, I unplugged it as soon as I saw water boiling out of the battery. Scary.
time2roll
Nomad
May 19, 2018
Wow. Time for new converter and maybe a battery. You are lucky the battery did not explode.
beemerphile1
Explorer
May 19, 2018
I've never heard of an Elixir doing that but it doesn't surprise me. Elixir converters are absolute junk and have an extremely high failure rate. You need to replace that converter.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
May 18, 2018
bltierney wrote:
I confirmed the voltmeter is working fine by testing a few different batteries.

I also measured the voltage going to the battery, and its also 95-99V DC.

So sounds like the converter has gone bad, right?
Yes the converter is a likely suspect.

However any appliance that uses AC and DC could be the problem like a refer, hot water, etc. Or critters may have been chewing on wires.
bltierney
Explorer
May 18, 2018
I confirmed the voltmeter is working fine by testing a few different batteries.

I also measured the voltage going to the battery, and its also 95-99V DC.

So sounds like the converter has gone bad, right?
sparkydave
Explorer
May 18, 2018
+1 on replacing your voltmeter battery, or get another one to verify with. Then get a 9 volt battery, measure it, and see if it really shows ~9 volts. If your battery is smelling and making strange noises, the converter may well have failed and it really is putting out sky high voltages that fried your lights, your battery, and any other 12 volt items. Check your battery's water level, it may have boiled off. There's a slim chance you could top it off with distilled water, but it may be toast anyway.
time2roll
Nomad
May 18, 2018
Replace the battery in your volt meter.
bltierney
Explorer
May 18, 2018
The converter is an ELX-30 from 2004 (ELIXIR industries).

Setting the voltmeter to AC gives 0 volts. DC gives 96-99V.

Turning off the main breaker, the DC volts immediately dropped to 20V, and then slowly dropped to 5V (and still dropping as I type this.)

So perhaps this converter requires a batter to be connected? I'm on shore power only for this summer, and would rather not buy a new battery just now if possible. If I connect the battery, it starts to make strange noises/smells, so its definitely bad.
ksg5000
Explorer
May 18, 2018
Do you know which model converter you have? I know that converters can go bankers and put out too much juice - had a PD9245 that went bonkers and boiled my batteries and ruined a few items in the rig. When Progressive Dynamics confirmed the converter was faulty they sent me free replacement converter but didn't compensate me for the damage.
fischer
Explorer
May 18, 2018
1 old converters needed a battery not new ones
2 is the 99v dc
3 if dc turn off the mainbreaker. And measure