converter problems?

jerry · Post by **jerry** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:28 am

Looking for help. I and presently in Ruidoso, New Mexico having trouble with my accessories that run off of the 12 volt system. When I have the lights on (12 Volt) they seem to get dim and then bright, back and forth. The same applies to the heater system, when using it it blows fine but makes a noise that sounds like it is surging back and forth. All 110 appliances and lights work fine.
I put a new battery in yesterday so it is not the battery since the problem existed before the new battery.

Things always happen when you are a thousand miles from home. Any suggestions? Don't know if it could be the converter or what.

Jerry
30 Cardinal WBLE
03 Ford ps

campswithcritters · Post by **campswithcritters** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:08 pm

Jerry, Without a voltmeter to start checking things, I would personally start pulling one fuse at a time to see if it could be one specific accessory causing the problem. Also check all connections powere & ground to ensure they are tight. Sorry no other help I can think of quickly.

Luizianna · Post by **Luizianna** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:49 pm

My daughter and son in law had to replace the inverter in their rig...not a Bird, but the symptoms sure do look the same, like you, they bought a new battery and that did not solve the problm.

Rob & Cathy · Post by **Rob & Cathy** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:31 pm

Hi Jerry, sorry to hear about your problems.

If pulling fuses as Bruce recommended does help my bet would be on the converter. Have you tried turning the battery switch off to see if the symptoms change?

Rob

campswithcritters · Post by **campswithcritters** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:41 pm

Rob & Cathy wrote:Hi Jerry, sorry to hear about your problems.

If pulling fuses as Bruce recommended does help my bet would be on the converter. Have you tried turning the battery switch off to see if the symptoms change?

Rob

Great idea Rob, after a bit of thought, might also try plugging in your truck at idle as that should throw a bit more 12V at it and brighten things if the converter is not charging. If not in an area with RV parts a simple wal-mart battery charger might get you home! Just plug it into the 110.

Post by **Olbird** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:04 pm

Hello Jerry,

If you put a new battery in that you know is fully charged try disconnecting the shore power. This will allow you to run on the new battery only.
If all seems to be fine plug shore power back in and check the system again, your convertor may not be regulating a constent DC voltage. If this happens it can cause high and low voltage spikes causing everything to surge or hunt. The convertor will produce a little higher voltage then the battery when plugged in.

If the system is still surging with the 110 AC to 12 DC power convertor unplugged, start looking to the item drawing too many amps that is overloading the system. Do this by disconnecting each 12 volt item by pulling the fuses in the convertor box as said by others above.

George:

jerry · Post by **jerry** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:56 am

Thanks for all the info. I cut off the shorepower and ran everything just off of the new battery and did not get any surges. Once the shore power is connected again I start getting surges, mainly noticeable when the unit heater is running. I have already pulled all of the fuses and tightened all connections and that does not seem to be the problem. It can't be the park electrical poles since we had this same problem a few days ago when we were at Big Bend Park.

I looks like to me it almost has to be the converter. Thanks for all the help.

Jerry
06 -30 wble
03 Power stroke

Rob & Cathy · Post by **Rob & Cathy** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 6:58 am

Do you get the surging when you're on shore power and the batteries isolate by during the battery switch to the off position?

Rob

jerry · Post by **jerry** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:33 am

I tried keeping the shore power on and cut off the battery and the lights and heater came on and did not surge although two times they would cut completely off and then come back on even though I had the heater thermostat high enough that it should not have cut off . I'm puzzled.

Thanks

Jerry
06 wble
03 fps

Rob & Cathy · Post by **Rob & Cathy** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:54 am

I wonder if that's the surge you're seeing. With the batteries in the circuit they would supply power, at a lower voltage, when the converter shuts down. Then when the converter came back on-line it would produce a higher DC voltage than the batteries. Just a thought.

Rob

Post by **Mike Clay** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:14 am

Really sounds like a faulty converter to me

Rob & Cathy · Post by **Rob & Cathy** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:30 pm

Yep, I thinks so too.

Rob

Post by **Olbird** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:52 pm

Hello Jerry,

Just as Mike and Rob said you better look into changing the convertor when you get back home.

The reason your seeing bright and dim surging is because as I mentioned the convertor produces a little higher voltage and can carry the load amps better then the battery.
If you notice when everything is working correct in all our campers and we unplug the 110 power source the lights go a little dim when on the battery.

Your convertor should never go on and off, that is why we all suggest changing the convertor.
It is always nice to have a volt meter in the camper, because what you do not want to see is the convertor fail and produce higher voltage, anything above 14.5 could damage many low voltage items.

Luizianna · Post by **Luizianna** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 5:17 am

Jerry...why don't you do a google search or yellow pages search for the area you are in and see if there are any mobile rv techs in the area that do warranty work? When we were in San Antonio we had a busted hose in the storage area that DH was able to fix himself, but I did a search for an rv tech and there were several in the area that would come to the rv park, also if you are in an rv park, ask the workers there if they know of anyone. Just a thought....

Post by **Don Wilson** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:28 am

Jerry,
If you are still in Ruidoso I just happen to have a year 2000 Ruidoso phone book, which covers most of Lincoln County and there are two RV repair places.

Circle B Rv Repairs has in park repairs service. Their number is 505-378-4990 and they are located on Hiway 70 in Ruidoso Downs.

The other is A-1 RV Repair with a number 505-257-9417 but they do not have an ad in the yellow pages just a name and number. They are located on 253 Carrizo canyon Rd. Ruidoso.

The other option would be to contact Radio Shack and see if they would be of any help in diaganosing the problem and they might have a Converter if you need one . Their number is 505-257-7856 and they are located on 102 Whitlock Rd Ruidoso

Good Luck

Don

Cardinal RV Club