Electrical Question

Saskatooner · 04-20-2012, 11:21 PM

Just purchased a 2012 321 RLTS. We're plugged into power at our house. Can't get the furnace to work and have very little power in the trailer (sound system won't work, lights are dim etc). Battery Wizard is in the 'normal mode' (green lighting flashing a few times per second).

I would have thought we would have full power in trailer since we're plugged into our house electricity...checked power cord - blue lights are on a both ends. All fuses are in the 'on' position...read the manual a few times...must be missing something. Any help would be appreciated.

drfife · 04-20-2012, 11:28 PM

Your 12v power converter is not working. That means the 12v power you are getting is from a nearly drained battery.

Check the fuses on the converter. Make sure the 120 outlet it's plugged into is hot.

Saskatooner · 04-21-2012, 04:06 AM

The outlet at the house is hot. I'll check all the fuses in the trailer. I watched a 90 min movie on the 40" flat screen TV with the furnace on last weekend. I wonder, can the TV run off the battery? If not, I guess the converter was working at that time.

Quahog · 04-21-2012, 05:08 AM

First thing I'd do is check the power coming in. Is this a 15A or 30A connector off the house? What size extension cord? I would make sure you have at least a 12AWG.

You can disconnect the shore power cord and your lights should work fine off the 12V battery. If they don't, start by checking the battery.

Your TV would work off battery only if it was 12V or you have an inverter installed.

dzwiss · 04-21-2012, 06:28 AM

Make sure that the AC circuit breaker labeled converter in your electrical panel is switched to on position and not in the off or tripped position.

Quahog · 04-21-2012, 06:39 AM

Good point, dzwiss. My brain doesn't engage until I have a couple of cups of coffee! :hihi:

kiwaon · 04-21-2012, 07:30 AM

Saskatooner, if you have done suggestions above, checked AC at the house, main RV AC breaker, converter AC breaker, 12 volt converter fuse and still no success you may want to ensure the 120 ac wires from the circuit breaker to the converter are properly connected to the circuit breaker. By that I mean check to ensure the black wire to the converter is properly secured under the screw on the circuit breaker and the white wire is properly secured under the neutral bar. The wires that are used to supply the converter are the stranded type and don't always connect that well under the screw system which is engineered for solid wire.

cheers

AZ T&T · 04-21-2012, 09:11 AM

Are you sure your battery disconnect is turned on? Mine is inside the battery box and not easy to see.

Seann45 · 04-21-2012, 09:58 AM

Hey Saskatooner welcome to the group... from another member in Saskatoon..
I will assume you bought it from Glenwood... haul it back there and let them fix it.. Part of the big bucks you pay for a TT is warranty let them fix it for you..
if however you dont want to do that PM me and I can come over and see if I can help you fix it..
Seann

rwilley · 04-21-2012, 10:04 AM

I found that unless the 50 amp power cord is no twisted all they in the RV I dont have power.

cablerum · 04-21-2012, 01:18 PM

The things that you are saying that are not working, furnace, lighting, all require 12v DC. These items run off your battery. Having your trailer plugged into AC keeps your battery charged/charging, but the AC don't actually run what's not working. So I would start testing at the battery.

#1. Using a volt meter what voltage are you measuring at the battery? Once you confirm voltage is a minimum of 12.5 volts then perform a load test.

#2. Using a load tester make sure the battery can maintain voltage when placed under a load.

If the battery passes both of the above test, check that both connections are clean & tight at the battery terminals.

If the battery fails either of the above tests, place your battery on a good charger and fully charge the battery. The re-test. If it again fails it's a bad battery. If it passes then you know the battery is good, but the converter in you TT may not be charging the battery.

One way you can test this is with the trailer unplugged (converter off) check your battery voltage will all appliances & lights off. Then plug the trailer in (converter on, battery should be charging) and again with everything else off check battery voltage. You should be reading over 13 volts if the battery if receiving a charge.

This much should get you started, re-post your findings and we can go from there.

Saskatooner · 04-21-2012, 01:18 PM

Thanks for all the helpful advice on this...now that it is light out I can see that a 25 amp converter polarity fuse was blown. Will replace it and see if everything works. Wonder why it blew?

drfife · 04-21-2012, 04:33 PM

Glad you found the problem. I knew it had to be your converter based on the symptoms you described.

David472 · 04-21-2012, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saskatooner

snip..... I can see that a 25 amp converter polarity fuse was blown. Will replace it and see if everything works. Wonder why it blew?

Perhaps at some point, the battery was connected in reverse. Maybe before you took delivery?

Chakara · 04-21-2012, 09:10 PM

It could still be hooked up in reverse. Before replacing, I would trace the negative wire from the battery and make sure it goes to the frame/ground. Or buy 2 fuses, and if it blow again right away, then trace the cable

-Chak

Saskatooner · 05-22-2012, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cablerum

The things that you are saying that are not working, furnace, lighting, all require 12v DC. These items run off your battery. Having your trailer plugged into AC keeps your battery charged/charging, but the AC don't actually run what's not working. So I would start testing at the battery.

#1. Using a volt meter what voltage are you measuring at the battery? Once you confirm voltage is a minimum of 12.5 volts then perform a load test.

#2. Using a load tester make sure the battery can maintain voltage when placed under a load.

If the battery passes both of the above test, check that both connections are clean & tight at the battery terminals.

If the battery fails either of the above tests, place your battery on a good charger and fully charge the battery. The re-test. If it again fails it's a bad battery. If it passes then you know the battery is good, but the converter in you TT may not be charging the battery.

One way you can test this is with the trailer unplugged (converter off) check your battery voltage will all appliances & lights off. Then plug the trailer in (converter on, battery should be charging) and again with everything else off check battery voltage. You should be reading over 13 volts if the battery if receiving a charge.

This much should get you started, re-post your findings and we can go from there.

Thanks for your help on this. Now that we've had the 5th for a few weeks we notice that the reverse polarity fuse blows regardless of load...ie everything works fine for days and then a fuse blows for no apparent resaon...I haven't purchased a surge protector yet...could that be the problem? (ie high/low voltage) Is that the fuse that would blow if there were a surge condition?

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