Converter issues

[sharsmit]

My Jayco 2005 is giving me issues. I believe I have a basic converter .... and my battery never keeps its charge. I can fully charge my battery..drive for six hours...on power for nine days...then drive home six hours...then within a couple days I have no charge in my battery. Why? Is there another converter/charger I could install? What is my best recourse? Thanx!

 

[Rustic Eagle]

sharsmit,

Welcome to JOF

Have you checked the battery to confirm that all the cells are in good shape???...., one bad cell can compromise a battery's overall performance.

Also, I'm sure you have an old "2-stage" IOTA converter/charger, and in most cases it was mounted on the back of the Load Center (breaker/fuse panel). Some IOTA's were remotely located on some Jayco models....., my 2005 Eagle IOTA was mounted on the Load Center.

I would check both your battery and converter/charger with a 12V Volt Meter to confirm status of each.

For reference here are a couple old JOF threads on IOTA replacements:

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f34/converter-charger-upgrade-2512.html

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f34/2007-27bh-converter-type-11347.html

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/...lc-power-dist-box-22fb-please-help-12889.html

Bob

 

[sharsmit]

Yes it is mounted on the load centre...and this has happened ever since we bought this unit and even with brand new batteries...but will check the converter/charger with meter..ty

 

[Rustic Eagle]

Let us know what you find out.

I left my IOTA attached to the Load Center, but disconnected the wiring (by-pass) and ran them to a new Progressive 3-stage Converter/Charger mounted near my Load Center.

My IOTA worked ok, but having the 3-stage Progressive allowed me to charge my battery bank faster.

Bob

 

[AnacortesArmyGuy]

Yes it is mounted on the load centre...and this has happened ever since we bought this unit and even with brand new batteries...but will check the converter/charger with meter..ty

If you leave your battery hooked up to your trailer while it's stored, at least if it's like mine, there are several parasitic draws on it if you leave it hooked up while it's parked. I remove my battery when I store it and hook it up to a trickle charger in my garage. Others, and there are discussions on this site about it, install battery disconnect switches to prevent the battery from being drained when parked/stored.

 

[jimp-JAY]

I hook up a 1.5a trickle/maintainer to mine, used a 1 or 2 gal paint bucket/lid, and run an extension cord out from the shed to the bucket and hook it up with QD connectors. Much easier IMO than removing the battery all the time.

 

[AnacortesArmyGuy]

I hook up a 1.5a trickle/maintainer to mine, used a 1 or 2 gal paint bucket/lid, and run an extension cord out from the shed to the bucket and hook it up with QD connectors. Much easier IMO than removing the battery all the time.

I'd do something similar if it was stored on my property, but since I have to store it at an RV storage lot, it's not an option, unless I wanted to pay an additional $100 plus per month for one of the "upgraded" spaces with power.

 

[edatlanta]

My Designer had a PD9280A converter/charger in it when I bought it new. After 8.5 years of full time use it started having issues. I thought I had a slide motor problem when my big slide was struggling coming in or out and my batteries were both new (Trojan T105's). What I found was the PD9280A was only putting out 11.0v and both batteries weren't fully charged. I replaced the PD9280A with a new one and problem solved. The PD just slowly started putting out lower voltage and I never actually check the battery voltage which was lower than it should have been for 2 fully charged batteries. All is good now.

 

[RoyBraddy]

I was using a WF8945 in my 2008 StarCraft RT14 Off Road Camper and had similar problems... Never could get the WF-8945 to ever go into its smart mode charging...

I left it in place and added a Progressive PD-9260C 60A Smart mode Converter/Charger and it works great for my larger battery bank...

I just flip the 120VAC breaker off the WF-8945 unit and leave it off. It will still give me 13.6VDC at 45AMPS if I need it... My PD9260C is also wired to a 120VAC Breaker... Good backup I guess having two Converters available for use if needed...

Roy Ken

 

[Badamache]

I would go with testing for battery drain before I replaced the charger. Next time you arrive home, just disconnect the negative cable. Give it your 3 days and then see where your battery is at. I use a battery clamp with a wing nut on it to disconnect my negative cable every time I'm parked and not plugged in.