Electrical problems with 31BHS

[ReconMarine]

We bought a used 31BHS from a friend...great shape and zero problems for first couple months.
Now, all kinds of interesting electrical problems...we plug directly into 30amp breaker on site and trailer and all it's power works fine.
After a day or so the breaker on the converter circuit will trip. We reset, works for a short period of time and kicks again. I go back to set it and "smell" something. Not charcoal or sulphur but a definite smell.
Where should I start looking? Bad breaker, short somewhere? Power inverter?
We do not have 12v batteries attached to trailer.
Thanks,
Nick

[RVhiker]

To state the obvious, it's either a problem with the circuit that supplies the converter, or with excessive power consumption from a device on the converter circuit. My guess is that there is excessive power consumption somewhere. One thing to eliminate as a possibility is that something plugged into an outlet on the converter circuit - like a hairdryer - is causing the excessive power consumption. If not that, then the excessive power consumption could only be coming from the converter. When this occurs, is the source of the odor the converter? (once the breaker shuts off, you could actually locate your converter and sniff it) If it's the converter, it can be replaced rather easily.

Since a battery would supply the energy necessary to activate the trailer brakes if it comes loose from you tow vehicle, a battery really should be installed in your trailer even if you never use the battery to "boondock".

[Heady]

When you mention the breaker on the converter circuit -- just to confirm, are you referring to the 30amp feed circuit into the converter or the circuit that supplies power to the converter itself?

If the 30amp breaker -- Are you running any high powered appliances at the time? Air Conditioner, Electric Hot water heater, coffer maker, toaster, microwave, etc?

If the converter breaker, I see that you mention you did not have a battery -- are you running a lot of 12volt (lights, water pump, TV, etc) items that could be overwhelming the available 12volt power from the converter?

If none of the above, it is possible that you could have a loose connection or a short somewhere. You could try pulling half the fuses to see if you problem goes away, if it does then add back the fuses you pulled one at a time. If it doesn't go away, then remove additional fuses until you isolate where the issue might be. It can sometimes be time consuming to find these issues.

[Mustang65]

One question.. how is the 12Volt battery lead isolated from grounding out against the frame (since there is no battery)? Double check it.
You do need to get a battery connected? Even if it is an inexpensive deep cycle battery.
Don

[msturtz]

You should not run your trailer with no battery. The battery provides capacitance in the system. The converter supplies power but needs a battery to correctly work. Eventually the converter will draw too much power from the AC side.

[rugerguy]

Originally Posted by msturtz

you should not run your trailer with no battery. The battery provides capacitance in the system. The converter supplies power but needs a battery to correctly work. Eventually the converter will draw too much power from the ac side.

^^^^^this^^^^

[Donr827]

Originally Posted by msturtz

You should not run your trailer with no battery. The battery provides capacitance in the system. The converter supplies power but needs a battery to correctly work. Eventually the converter will draw too much power from the AC side.

Agree but at the same time check all the wiring for a loose connection. Look for burn marks on the wiring connections.
Don

[msturtz]

Originally Posted by Donr827

Agree but at the same time check all the wiring for a loose connection. Look for burn marks on the wiring connections.
Don

x2
The battery smooth's out the current drawn by various devices in your RV. It also removes the EMI, RFI and other noise present on power from converters. Converters are for keeping the batteries up and not for directly powering the RV. Depending on the converter in your RV you may have a single stage converter or a computer controlled multi-stage converter. Single stage converters attempt to keep the voltage at around 13.6V - 13.8V. Multistage converters monitor the battery charge (and some even the battery temperature, and battery type (AGM, Flooded), and vary the voltage depending on the battery charge. If there is no battery in the system these converters do not work correctly.

[ReconMarine]

Bought two deep cycle batteries and installing today..thanks everyone

[milw156]

Subbed. This may change our course of action this winter. Still new at this so amazing what you learn from JOF.

[tinlizzie23]

Originally Posted by ReconMarine

Bought two deep cycle batteries and installing today..thanks everyone

You may already know this, but just to be sure, connect the two 12V batteries in PARALLEL (otherwise you will get 24 volts), or if 2 6V batteries, they go in SERIES to get 12 volts.