I am having an issue with my 2005 Forest River Salem fifth wheel.On our last trip, the 12 volt system started going completely off at times when we would turn of a light or otherwise change the load on the system.The 12 volt system would then stay off for approximately 3 - 5 minutes then start coming back on with the lights starting out dim and then returning to normal.We were hooked up to shore power and I camp with the coach battery disconnected (not charging) and running the 12 volt system off the converter.I had to connect the coach battery to prevent these loss of power episodes.Bad converter ???Any ideas as to possible cause?I have used this camper this way for years (coach battery disconnected while on shore power).Any help appreciated.

There is likely a self-resetting circuit breaker that is failing. It could also be a component on the converter's circuit board or a combination of both. When the converter is powered and the battery connected, the battery provides capacitance in the 12V system. The capacitance allows the converter's output and internal charging circuit to run "smoother". I'd suggest you connect the battery when using the converter and your 12V system. Monitor electrolyte level in the batteries if you have FLA batteries.This battery filler makes maintaining batteries easy.

Thanks for the helpI had read something about the load supplied by the battery.It may have taken this long for it to become an issue with the battery disconnected.Going to try and limp the converter along by using battery connected.:)

either a bad connection somewhereORyes , bad convertercheck the connections between the converter and the batteryclean them and tighten themespecially the Negative ground connectionif that doesn't fix the problem replace the converterBTW FYI most converters are Not designed to be stand alone power suppliesthey are supposed to be connected to the batteryespecially for high current loads, like Jacks and slides

WDE wrote: I camp with the coach battery disconnected (not charging) and running the 12 volt system off the converter.There is absolutely, positively NO reason to do that; none, nada.In fact, it probably means that your batteries are partially discharged most of the time and it's hard on them too.Not having a fairly constant load on the converter/charger might have been hard on it too. It wasn't intended to work that way.And yes I know you've been doing that for a thousand years; still doesn't make it right.

temporary loss of 12volt power when turning off lights.

red31
Explorer
Jul 21, 2016
Sam Spade wrote:

His second attempt, replacing the converter with a good one (the proper solution) unfortunately didn't also include "backing out" the first failed attempt.

what second attempt?
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Jul 21, 2016
red31 wrote:

Following sam's advise and this is what happens

WDE wrote:

I have had to replace two batteries after a short period due to overcharging by the converter (and yes, I kept the electrolyte level correct).

And it appears that some people can't read OR understand. SIGH.

THAT is what happened when he was using the old, cheap, probably failed original single stage converter.

His first attempt at a logical solution (failed) was to keep the battery disconnected.

His second attempt, replacing the converter with a good one (the proper solution) unfortunately didn't also include "backing out" the first failed attempt.

Now are things clear ?? Somehow I doubt it.
red31
Explorer
Jul 21, 2016
Sam Spade wrote:
Z-Peller wrote:

.OP said he put 3 stage CHARGER on his battery when its disconnected

Well it appears that you don't read too good either because he didn't actually say "when disconnected".

Following sam's advise and this is what happens

WDE wrote:

I have had to replace two batteries after a short period due to overcharging by the converter (and yes, I kept the electrolyte level correct).
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Jul 21, 2016
Z-Peller wrote:

.OP said he put 3 stage CHARGER on his battery when its disconnected

Well it appears that you don't read too good either because he didn't actually say "when disconnected".
Z-Peller
Explorer
Jul 20, 2016
Sam Spade wrote:
WDE wrote:

So I made the conscious decision to put a 3 mode charger on the coach battery to preserve it when needed.
There is nothing in the manual for the converter that indicates it must have a battery load to funtion properly.
But, I will defer to you learned gentlemen as to what is proper.
[emoticon]

It is good that you approached this problem logically but you missed one critical piece of information when arriving at your final conclusion:
A 3 or 4 stage converter is designed SPECIFICALLY to be connected to a battery all the time and to keep it at (or very near to) the proper charge point for optimum life.

NOT keeping the battery connected completely defeats the main advantage of changing the controller......because it leaves you at the mercy of your feeble brain forgetting to connect it often enough. [emoticon]

Assuming that you have a decent 3 stage converter now, just connect it and forget it......except for checking the water level every 3 months or so. You will be glad that you did.

Hey Sam my boy, you don't read so good!....never saw anything said about 3 stage converter...OP said he put 3 stage CHARGER on his battery when its disconnected
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Jul 20, 2016
Yep a "smart" converter can be used without batteries.

Substitute TWO FARADS worth of electrolytic capacitors for the batteries.

But then again browsing a Rube Goldberg book might be easier yet.

If a converter, inverter, charger, maintainer, overcharges the batteries, it is either a piece of ---- or is being mismanaged. Ya saves yer money and takes yer chances...
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Jul 20, 2016
WDE wrote:

So I made the conscious decision to put a 3 mode charger on the coach battery to preserve it when needed.
There is nothing in the manual for the converter that indicates it must have a battery load to funtion properly.
But, I will defer to you learned gentlemen as to what is proper.
:W

It is good that you approached this problem logically but you missed one critical piece of information when arriving at your final conclusion:
A 3 or 4 stage converter is designed SPECIFICALLY to be connected to a battery all the time and to keep it at (or very near to) the proper charge point for optimum life.

NOT keeping the battery connected completely defeats the main advantage of changing the controller......because it leaves you at the mercy of your feeble brain forgetting to connect it often enough. :W

Assuming that you have a decent 3 stage converter now, just connect it and forget it......except for checking the water level every 3 months or so. You will be glad that you did.
WDE
Explorer
Jul 20, 2016
Well yes gentlemen, there is a reason for running with the coach battery disconnected.
I have had to replace two batteries after a short period due to overcharging by the converter (and yes, I kept the electrolyte level correct).
So I made the conscious decision to put a 3 mode charger on the coach battery to preserve it when needed. (so far no battery issues)
Now that may have been the wrong thing to do for these cheap converters, but that is what I decided to do.
There is nothing in the manual for the converter that indicates it must have a battery load to funtion properly.
But, I will defer to you learned gentlemen as to what is proper.
:W
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jul 15, 2016
"And yes I know you've been doing that for a thousand years;" is why it's now failing. It was never intended to work that way. Turn the battery on. Trying to out smart the original design to save a dime, will often end up costing a dollar.
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Jul 15, 2016
WDE wrote:
I camp with the coach battery disconnected (not charging) and running the 12 volt system off the converter.

There is absolutely, positively NO reason to do that; none, nada.

In fact, it probably means that your batteries are partially discharged most of the time and it's hard on them too.

Not having a fairly constant load on the converter/charger might have been hard on it too. It wasn't intended to work that way.

And yes I know you've been doing that for a thousand years; still doesn't make it right.

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temporary loss of 12volt power when turning off lights.

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