2017 Coachman Viking 16RBD. When plugged into electric everything works fine. When on battery, no power to the outlets, microwave, nor A/C. I've hit reset on all of the GFI protected outlets, checked all fuses, and reset all breakers. Any suggestions?

Your receptacles and A/C are 120 volt volts. In order for them to work off batteries, you would need an inverter.

Even with an inverter your A/C would likely not run off batteries. Either plug into electric or get a generator.

We have an inverter. Thank you for the clue. We do not plan to run A/C on battery, I just included it for information on what works and what doesn't.

mockturtle wrote:Even with an inverter your A/C would likely not run off batteries. Either plug into electric or get a generator.Same with the microwave or that is how it's with our setup. We have solar panels, 4 batteries, and an inverter. Plugged in, everything has power - outlets, ceiling fan, microwave, TVs, fridge on power, water pump, AC, heater, fireplace, water heater, onboard vacuum. When no shore power and dry camping, we have power to all the lights, fridge and water heater runs on propane, water pump works, nothing else has power. Until we turn on the inverter, then we have power to all the outlets, including the TVs on those outlets, fridge can run on inverter too, but takes a lot of power so we keep it on propane. Still on the inverter, at our choosing, the microwave and onboard vacuum, does not work, nor does the AC, heater, or fireplace, and anything else of high power use. Probably more information than you needed.

According to HERE you have an Ultra Light Weight 18ft expandable Travel Trailer.What you are seeing is correct and normal for not having trailer plugged into a power company powered outlet, there is nothing wrong with your trailers' 120V electrical system.In general, most RVs do not supply 120V power to the outlets when not connected to the power grid or your own generator.Some RVs like Motor Homes often have built in generators and/or a large battery bank and a 12V DC to 120V AC power inverter.It takes a lot of battery power to run large draw items like A/C, hair driers, Microwave ovens, coffee makers.Your Trailer has a "converter" which is really a 120V AC to 12V DC power supply and battery charger, that unit cannot power 120V outlets as it is designed to charge the 12V battery and supply 12V to all your trailers 12V items when plugged into commercial power.To power the outlets when no commercial power is available, you will need your own portable generator and for small low wattage 120V loads you can buy and install a 12V DC to 120V AC "Inverter" and you will need to add more batteries to your trailer.

No power to outlets when in battery mode. | Good Sam Community

Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Jul 13, 2021
rlw999 wrote:
Correct, it is rather confusing that the RV industry decided to call the battery charger/power supply a "converter". While it does "convert" 120V to 12V in some respects it should have been called a battery charger since that really was the prime reason for the converter to exist.

Then you'll get questions from people asking "My RV only has a battery charger, how can I run my 12V appliances when plugged in to shore power?". And really, I use my converter as a DC power supply much more than I need to use it as a battery charger.

I don't think there's anything you could call it that wouldn't raise questions from someone new to RV'ing, but once they learn, then calling it a "converter" is no worse than anything else and they quickly learn the difference between an inverter and a converter.

If you called it 12V POWER SUPPLY AND BATTERY CHARGER there would be zero questions. Spells out exactly what the function is.

Calling it a "converter" just makes a muddy mess since folks think it CONVERTS 12V to 120V..

Both converter and inverter "convert" and hence the confusion which could have been easily avoided.
rlw999
Explorer
Jul 13, 2021
Correct, it is rather confusing that the RV industry decided to call the battery charger/power supply a "converter". While it does "convert" 120V to 12V in some respects it should have been called a battery charger since that really was the prime reason for the converter to exist.

Then you'll get questions from people asking "My RV only has a battery charger, how can I run my 12V appliances when plugged in to shore power?". And really, I use my converter as a DC power supply much more than I need to use it as a battery charger.

I don't think there's anything you could call it that wouldn't raise questions from someone new to RV'ing, but once they learn, then calling it a "converter" is no worse than anything else and they quickly learn the difference between an inverter and a converter.
trail-explorer
Explorer
Jul 12, 2021
enblethen wrote:
A good way to charge phones and other electronics devices is a USB receptacle

They are easy to add.
2112
Explorer II
Jul 12, 2021
We use a solar charger similar to This and a USB hub to charge our electronics. Place it in the sun during the day and charge our phones and iPad overnight.
mockturtle
Explorer II
Jul 12, 2021
For charging electronics and running a small fan, I use one of these:

Jackery
coolmom42
Explorer II
Jul 12, 2021
If you have a 12 V outlet in the RV, you can get a small portable inverter with USB outlets to charge your phone, and a regular 120 V outlet to charge a laptop. You might also invest in a "battery bank" for cell phones so you don't have to charge so much, or in a small solar panel with appropriate chargers.

If you are out driving around in your tow vehicle, plug the inverter into your 12V outlet in there. A couple of hours should charge a phone and most laptops.
Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Jul 12, 2021
wnjj wrote:
Gdetrailer wrote:
Correct, it is rather confusing that the RV industry decided to call the battery charger/power supply a "converter". While it does "convert" 120V to 12V in some respects it should have been called a battery charger since that really was the prime reason for the converter to exist.

It’s probably because early model RV’s only converted and didn’t charge the battery. My sister’s previous 88 Coleman tent trailer had a switch between “converter” and “batt”. You had to charge the battery externally. Inverters also weren’t on the scene so converting was only in one direction, hence why they are now “inverters”.

I think the proper term for what most of us have is “converter/charger”.

My Dad had a late 1970s TC which had a "converter" and no battery on board. Since no battery was on board of the TC and all the lighting was 12V the converter was a "power supply". Which is what the device is and should have been called.

When you work on electronic equipment, absolutely no technician will refer to a power supply section as a "converter". Nope, they call it what it is, a power supply.

Does a power supply "convert" voltages? Sure, but its function in life is to provide the correct voltage and amperage to your device and in the case of typical RV takes 120V and reduces it to 12V to provide power to your 12V items and charge the battery. In other words power your devices that work off of the battery.

Keep in mind, an "inverter" also "converts" from one voltage to another and that is why folks who buy a RV get so darn confused thinking they can plug in 120V appliances when not connected to commercial power grid or generator.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jul 12, 2021
I suggest you read the basics on RV electricity. It is not hard but it is different than you are accustomed.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jul 12, 2021
An inverter is easy to install with a dedicated outlet or 2. You will need 2 good batteries. Possibly solar if you aren’t going to be plugged in for a few days.
wnjj
Explorer II
Jul 12, 2021
Gdetrailer wrote:
Correct, it is rather confusing that the RV industry decided to call the battery charger/power supply a "converter". While it does "convert" 120V to 12V in some respects it should have been called a battery charger since that really was the prime reason for the converter to exist.

It’s probably because early model RV’s only converted and didn’t charge the battery. My sister’s previous 88 Coleman tent trailer had a switch between “converter” and “batt”. You had to charge the battery externally. Inverters also weren’t on the scene so converting was only in one direction, hence why they are now “inverters”.

I think the proper term for what most of us have is “converter/charger”.