Converter issues
- Shields
- Posts: 443
- Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:18 pm
- Location: Michigan Dorr
- Cardinal Owners: 31 RK LE
- Location: Michigan Dorr
The converters in the Cardinal's, mine anyway, were of the battery minder variety. My battery had a dead cell also after a year, but I blame the battery for that. got a warranty replacement and bougt one more to parallel so I have plenty of juice to run the heater all night and not worry. Worrying is the worst part.
Al and Nadine
Cardinal 31RK, 2006
2009 Dodge Cummins 3500 Dually.
Dorr, Michigan
Cardinal 31RK, 2006
2009 Dodge Cummins 3500 Dually.
Dorr, Michigan
After letting the battery charge I had a local garage do a load test and it checked out OK. Then I plugged the fiver into shore power and used my basic Sears multi-meter and checked the output at the battery terminals (without the battery hooked up) and nothing. I'm not an electrician but it seems that this indicates the converter is dead. Is this the proper way to test it?
If the converter is dead, I suspect the dealer will replace it with another just like it, which, from reading here, might meet a similar fate. If I want to avoid that potential (the dealer is over 2 hours away and once I bring the fiver in for the first year warranty work, I do not intend to ever go back if I can help it), how much is a similar, quality converter in the event I just want to use something other than the dealer's "builder's model" low end product?
I used a battery charger to charge the battery and will use it to limp through the rest of the camping season. However, I don't want to over charge the battery and incur that expense too. What voltage should I look for to indicate the battery is fully or close to fully charged?
Thanks for any input.
James
If the converter is dead, I suspect the dealer will replace it with another just like it, which, from reading here, might meet a similar fate. If I want to avoid that potential (the dealer is over 2 hours away and once I bring the fiver in for the first year warranty work, I do not intend to ever go back if I can help it), how much is a similar, quality converter in the event I just want to use something other than the dealer's "builder's model" low end product?
I used a battery charger to charge the battery and will use it to limp through the rest of the camping season. However, I don't want to over charge the battery and incur that expense too. What voltage should I look for to indicate the battery is fully or close to fully charged?
Thanks for any input.
James
- Shields
- Posts: 443
- Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:18 pm
- Location: Michigan Dorr
- Cardinal Owners: 31 RK LE
- Location: Michigan Dorr
Sounds like a competent test, but be sure that the fuses on the front of the converter itself are not blown. And also, be sure that you have 120 volts to the converter. In my case, the transformer inside the converter was defective probably due to a lighting strike we had when hooked up to shore power. I bought a surge and voltage protector to hook the FW to so hopefully I can avoid that problem again.
Voltage of a fully charged battery under no load is close to 13 volts, they charge at 13.4 volts, but are exercised by the converter and will go to a lower voltage occasionally, like 12.6.
Voltage of a fully charged battery under no load is close to 13 volts, they charge at 13.4 volts, but are exercised by the converter and will go to a lower voltage occasionally, like 12.6.
Al and Nadine
Cardinal 31RK, 2006
2009 Dodge Cummins 3500 Dually.
Dorr, Michigan
Cardinal 31RK, 2006
2009 Dodge Cummins 3500 Dually.
Dorr, Michigan
I think Al has a good point. Power surges or sags can be a problem. I have a power protector/monitor and I've seen the voltage on one leg go down to 107vac. My monitor will remove power from the trailer if it dips below 104vac. I have to wonder if input power is more to blame than the converter itself.
Rob
Rob
- Traveler II
- exempt member
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Skype name: jane-stonge - Location: Minnesota Lindstrom
Good point on the power surge, could low voltage in some parks also cause problems? In the summer time I’ve seen the power drop so much that I’ve had to cut the power.
Jim & Jane
2014 Ford 350 King Ranch, Trailer Saver BD3 Air Hitch, IS Suspension, Disk Brakes
Nights camped in 2012: 142
Nights camped in 2013: 186
Nights camped in 2014: 185
Nights camped in 2015: 232
Nights camped in 2016: 165
2014 Ford 350 King Ranch, Trailer Saver BD3 Air Hitch, IS Suspension, Disk Brakes
Nights camped in 2012: 142
Nights camped in 2013: 186
Nights camped in 2014: 185
Nights camped in 2015: 232
Nights camped in 2016: 165
- Future Fulltimers
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