Forum Discussion

SeanH43's avatar
SeanH43
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016

Electrical problems

So I moved from one campground to another and within 3 or 4 days my converter starts clicking. My lights dim then it clicks again and they brighten, but I don't lose power to AC or anything else that only works when I'm plugged in. So I order a new converter thinking that's the problem - its a 22 year old Magnetek with no fan (has thermal breaker). In the meantime I go to O'Reillys (I swear the only place in Montana open on a Sunday) to get a charger/maintainer figuring I'll be running on the battery a few days. As an after thought I grab the battery to have tested to be safe.

As I suspected the battery had boiled and had a bad cell. Buy a new one and head back to the camper. Tried running on 30 amp without battery just to see. All lights, AC, microwave and TV ran for an hour without a hitch. Installed new battery. Still no issues. Problem solved. Too late to cancel converter order which arrived 2 days later.

So its been 3 weeks and just moved to Helena this morning. Got settled in and left to do laundry. Return 2 hours later and stereo is on (it never works when I'm plugged in) and its 77° in the camper. Then I hear the click (stereo shuts off, camper gets a couple degrees cooler buy lights are night dimming). Connect battery maintainer and it says battery is at 85%. Left it to sit while I had dinner with friends. When I got back battery is charged. Stereo was on again and has stayed on for the last half hour but AC is working fine as is everything else.

Does anyone know if the problem is in my converter? Or the 30 amp I'm plugged into? Or is the problem sonewhere else? Am I already ruining my brand new battery?
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  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2016
    SeanH43 wrote:
    So I moved from one campground to another and within 3 or 4 days my converter starts clicking.....

    As I suspected the battery had boiled

    a.....Does anyone know if the problem is in my converter? Or the 30 amp I'm plugged into? Or is the problem sonewhere else? Am I already ruining my brand new battery?


    Your converter is boiling the batteries. Converters don't only just stop working they can have a capacitor shot and it can't regulate itself and it's boiling your batteries.

    Quit checking the volts on battery and check the output of your converter.

    the low voltage problem will also affect your fridge and ac thermostats they need constant 12 volt to turn the fridge and ac back on after they reach their desired temps. Low voltage and they will not come back on.

    Been there done that.
  • YC_1's avatar
    YC_1
    Nomad
    Aug 15, 2016
    I would definitely install the new converter. It will be way smarter and help protect your battery. The old one could have been under or over charging and sent the battery to an early grave.
  • kohldad's avatar
    kohldad
    Explorer III
    Aug 15, 2016
    Sounds like converter issues. Since you already have the replacement converter which is a much better converter than the old one, I would change it out. The old units had a tendency to over charge batteries when left plugged in for a long time. The newer units are better designed to prevent the over charging.
  • SeanH43's avatar
    SeanH43
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2016
    Thanks for all the replies. First no I'm not set up to charge while driving. I'm living in the camper while on the road for work and don't have a 2nd vehicle to get around in. So, any place that will let me I put down on pallets so I have my pickup to get around. Converter was the primary means of charging the battery. I do have a battery maintainer for winter storage. Second, I used a voltmeter to check the battery. The converter is not charging it.

    A suggestion was made to me to get a "tester". The guy couldn't remember what it's called but said it works like a surge protector. Would save me future headaches when I plug into a 30 amp with a short. Anyone know what that is?
  • Golden_HVAC's avatar
    Golden_HVAC
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2016
    You can get a good digital volt meter at Lowes Hardware for $39. Or the slightly more expensive clamp on meter that can measure DC amperage as well as AC amperage by clamping over 1 wire. The one with DC amperage is about $80. Both will measure AC and DC voltage, temperature, microfarads, and meg ohms.

    Fred.
  • Golden_HVAC's avatar
    Golden_HVAC
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2016
    If you overcharged the battery and ruined it, why would you place a brand new battery in the same condition?

    You need to get a digital volt meter, and measure the battery voltage. If it is over 14 volts, yes your converter is putting out to much voltage. It should taper to 13.2 or 13.5 volts once the battery is full. It might run 14 volts for a short time after being plugged in, but 14.5 volts or higher is way to much, and will boil out the battery water.

    Good luck,

    Fred.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Aug 15, 2016
    Get a cheap battery charger for temporary fix. 10 amper should be enough.
  • jimh406's avatar
    jimh406
    Explorer III
    Aug 15, 2016
    Since you're on a trip, I'd just leave the converter unplugged as much as you can. Your Air Conditioner doesn't use 12V and doesn't need the converter to operate.

    Assuming your setup to charge when driving and don't use the lights much, you probably can make it a long time without the converter. I can easily make it 3 days without driving but I have LED lights. I've made it 9 days with AC hookups when I drive.

    Change the converter when you get one, but that can be a big job. There isn't a rush for it. In a pinch, you could plug in a battery tender or other similar charger into the AC(the current) to charge your battery if you aren't charging while driving.

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