HELP! Converter problems

[BossCamper]

Leaving tomorrow morning for a week camping.
This morning I find the converter is pooched.
It's a Parallax 7100

When I plug into 120 volt with battery disconnected, I get a one second flash of the lights (12 volt) in the trailer then nothing. (on maybe half of the circuits) other half is OK.
Of course, the circuits that power the refrigerator won't stay on.

If I connect the battery, everything works. All the 120 volt circuits and the 12 volt.

One thing, I don't hear any fan activity, but I guess that might be because there isn't enough power draw to heat it up.

I'm prepared (I think) to replace the converter in the campground .

Any quick hints or insights?

I'll be in and out to the trailer so if anyone answers, be paitint for a reply

Thanks in advance.

Loris

[Jim]

Could your symptom of overcurrent be caused by a shorted cell in one of the batteries?

Batteries with shorted cells have been known to heal themselves too.

Dunno, just speculating.

[Ron3rd]

Don't worry about it! You can buy parts on the road. I've fixed many a broken gadget on the road!

GO CAMPING!!

[BossCamper]

Yep
battery charger it is.
This thing is wonky.
I followed the trouble shooting guide and it was showing an "over current" problem as described in the guide.
while trying to track that down,as per the guide, the converter started working!
got the fan running and everything.
However, I still need the battery connected for all circuits to be live!!!
Too much for me on a Sunday afternoon with nothing open anyway.
Hopefully we'll make out OK with the charger as backup, but I'm not sure but what the trailer system is charging OK.

Now ... make sure I've got enough beer packed!

Thanks for all the advice and help.

Loris

[2112]

Take a battery charger with you. Charge the battery as needed. Make sure the charger doesn't exceed 15V. If it does exceed 15V, disconnect battery from camper while charging above 15V.

[BossCamper]

OK
In reply to some ... Not really sure how to check some of the things you tell me.
However. 120 volts is OK to the panel
Battery voltage the same either plugged in, or not.
There is NO circuit breaker tripping and all fuses are OK

The bottom line is that everything is OK as long as the battery is connected with the 120 volts connected.
All 12 volt circuits are OK with battery only.

Thanks for the troubleshooting image.
I'll walk through it.

And there's no way the trip is going to be cancelled! There doesn't seem to be anything I won't be able to do in the campground if I have to.

[Ron3rd]

...all good advice above; go camping! Converters are not hard to swap out when you get back.

[BFL13]

The 7100 does not need a battery as filter like the older 6300's did. Doesn't need a new converter/power centre, just find the circuit breaker or whatever that is tripping and why.

[Old-Biscuit]

Simple test for Parallax 7100 Series....just follow the troubleshooting guide

[ksg5000]

I wouldn't let this defer camping - use a battery charger as substitute converter and diagnose/fix later when your not camping. As you probably know - the older series parallax converters don't have the best rep and upgrading to modern smart converter maybe smart regardless.

Not sure why some of the items work and others don't - that would usually imply fuse/loose wiring except that you seem to imply everything works on battery only. At any rate I would start with checking the distribution panel for loose wiring/fuses and check the output of the converter. Some of the older converters require battery to operate and I think your distribution panel is setup so some of the DC power is filtered through the battery (probably the fridge) ... so maybe you don't have an issue.

[2oldman]

Voltmeter, yes. Yours may be designed to require a battery.

[pianotuna]

take along a battery charger.

[wanderingaimles]

Volt meter time,
verify 120 volt on both circuits coming in.
Check battery voltages with unit plugged in and not plugged in.
check for a fuse on the 12 volt line from one side of the converter, battery use may compensate and if you are charging, you should have no problems.