12 volt power

[uzikaduzi]

this maybe a dumb question but i'll ask anyways... i have a new trailer, when i bought it everything that runs on 12 volt worked fine when i wasn't plugged into shore power. we went camping a few weeks ago and while we were asleep, the power went out for a few hours. ever since then everything that runs on 12 volt will only work when connected to shore power. when i plug it into my truck, the marker, brake, turn lights, and the power jack all work but the interior 12 volt stuff won't. (lights, water pump, fridge on gas)

i checked all the fuses and they are all fine. i thought i might have killed the battery but it is a deep cycle battery ( i get that it's bad to completely drain any battery but normally that just shortens the life of the battery) and i would think that when i hook up to the truck, the power from the truck should be able to run everything.

i feel like a rookie here (and maybe i should) but i've never had this issue with other trailers... infact specifically my old holiday rambler would run everything 12 volt internally with a dead battery if i was hooked up to the truck.

any insight would be greatly appreciated!

[uzikaduzi]

Thanks Guys... i'm going to check tonight when i get off work. the breaker box is the black thing that is under the sink. the inline fuse i found is comming off the battery all the rest are in that box.

i assume the converter must be working if the 12 volt stuff works when i'm hooked up to shore power. supposedly in my breaker panel i have led's that will light when next to a fuse when they blow but i pulled them all and checked them (besides none of them being lit) i'll check the battery with my meter too.

i really like how willing everyone is to help here. i'll keep everyone posted!

[skipnchar]

JJBIRISH wrote:
The fuse or breaker between the converter and the battery is bad…

I suspect this is your problem. USUALLY located in the positive line very close to the battery itself (NOT in the fuse box).

[Peg_Leg]

A lot of converters will have 2 large (30 amp) fuses side by side. These are for reverse polarity protection. If you received a spike one of these may have blown.

On my old rig the converter was in the power panel box, directly behind the 12v fuse panel. The 2 reverse polarity fuses were on the 12v panel.

[RoyB]

It is probably under the stove or the fridge.



What is in the black panel under the oven...

There appears to be something under the fridge shown here as well. Look behind that panel..

The CONVERTER/CHARGER is usually part of the Power Distribution Panle and may be mounted in the bottom compartment.

If you found the DC Distribution Panel where all of the 12VDC fuses are located give us the model number of that. Maybe we can pull that up on the internet and identify what converter goes with that.

Did you find two fuses off to themself on the 12VDC Power Distribution Panel that maybe was labeled REV POLARITY or something to that effect. They will be maybe two 30AMP fuses - off to them selves.

You mentioned an inline fuse did you find one of those next to the battery terminals - was it a good fuse?

Do you have a DC MULTIMETER to test DC voltages... These are very inexpensive. WALMART-LOWES-any number of automotive parts places with a price range of $7-$20...

This is what a multimeter looks like


Roy Ken

[uzikaduzi]

i couldn't find the converter anywhere. i'm thinking it would likely be near the panel but the only place i haven't checked is litterally behind the panel. i assume there must be some fuses on it or near it. the only other fuses i have found are in the panel and inline from the battery

[naturist]

The fact that 12 volt stuff works when connected to shore power isolates the problem to the battery itself and the wires from it to the power center/converter. Most likely is a fuse you missed. Trace the wires, you'll find it.

[RoyB]

The way to tell is to get a multimeter and read your battery terminals when not connected to shore power which should read 12.6-7VDC if fully charged.

Then connect shore power to the trailer and the same battery terminals should jump up to 13.6VDC if the converter is working and making good connection all the way to the battery.

It sounds like you have no connection from your 12VDC Power Distribution Panel to the battery terminal - blown fuses - bad connection - battery disconnect switch opened- drained batteries - etc...

Roy Ken

[JJBIRISH]

Could look something this and be located near the front of the trailer, underneath…

[JJBIRISH]

The fuse or breaker between the converter and the battery is bad…