Takastone
Sunny Whittier California
New Member
Joined: 11/06/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
 Offline
|
AHHHHH...I SPOKE TOO SOON. I did reset the GFCI and for a brief moment the converter turned on...then nothing....
At the moment we have our truck connected to the trailer hoping to charge the batteries...while running the lights still don't turn on. It's been running only 5 minutes.
Any suggestions?
Thanks...
|
bikendan
Napa, Cal.
Senior Member
Joined: 11/21/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Takastone wrote:AHHHHH...I SPOKE TOO SOON. I did reset the GFCI and for a brief moment the converter turned on...then nothing....
At the moment we have our truck connected to the trailer hoping to charge the batteries...while running the lights still don't turn on. It's been running only 5 minutes.
Any suggestions?Thanks...
it will probably take all day for your truck to recharge your batteries. that is, generally, a waste of truck fuel.
Dan- Firefighter , Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur , Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever , 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LS, 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS w/Equalizer and Prodigy, and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
|
CamperTech
Seacoast, NH
Senior Member
Joined: 01/05/2005
View Profile
|
Average charge from a truck alternator = 20amps. 1 80amp/hr deep cycle battery would be mostly charged in 4 hours. Agreed, a fuel hog but, certainly not without positive results considering the situation!
Read my previous post....that should keep you up & running.
Happy Campin'
|
2oldman
Indio CA
Senior Member
Joined: 04/15/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
I'm not so optimistic..
I don't know how long you plan to be there, but sans refer it may not be pleasant. And if your battery is dead there's a good chance it's shot and won't take a charge anyway.
Do you have a voltmeter? You can check if the converter is working at all by trying to get it to stay on and measure the voltage at the battery. Also, if the battery is dead (and perhaps shorted) it may be causing the converter to shut down. If converter works without the battery, that may get you through.
If you are staying, converter doesn't work, can't fix it, battery shot, then go buy a new charged battery and conserve like crazy.
|
wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
Senior Member
Joined: 07/04/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Now a question (For the folks who made your rig) why the @!@!#$@! did they put the Converter on the GFCI loop?
I mean the converter is grounded to the chassis, which in turn is grounded to the electrical ground, There is no way (Short of you playing around inside the converter housing) that you can get a shock off it.. So WHY put it on the GFCI loop?
Same with the Fridge in many units.
These should be on their own breaker, independent from the GFCI loop, which is for outlets in areas where there is a water hazard such as kitchen and bath and of course the outdoor outlet on the side of the rig.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
|
|
|
Takastone
Sunny Whittier California
New Member
Joined: 11/06/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
I have 2 "deep cycle" batteries that are 3 months old. I was at my trailer last week-end ... no problem. My Converter is a Centurion 3000..came with the trailer. Naturally, I don't have the receipt for the batteries. Maybe need to keep such things in the trailer along with the registration?
Unfortunately, the converter won't stay on, even if I had a voltmeter... I'll try checking the battery connections, maybe a spider web OR SOMETHING IS shorting something out?
In any case...the plug ins work and the AC is working great!
Thanks..All...Irene
|
beemerphile1
I'm only 54, I'm not a
Senior Member
Joined: 04/20/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Is the converter tripping the GFCI or is the power on and the converter just not working?
If the GFCI is constantly tripping, find a way to run an extension cord directly to the converter as a temporary fix. Plug the extension into a different receptacle, same with the frig.
* This post was
edited 07/02/09 01:23pm by beemerphile1 *
Tim (in NE Ohio)
"Okay, I admit it, the only thing I'm really good at is being me."
2006 Weekend Warrior FK1900 towed by 1998 Ford E150 4.6L
2009 Aliner Sport towed by 2009 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L
1996 BMW R1100GS
2007 Trek 7.2FX
2005 Trek Madone 9spd.
|
beemerphile1
I'm only 54, I'm not a
Senior Member
Joined: 04/20/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
wa8yxm wrote:Now a question (For the folks who made your rig) why the @!@!#$@! did they put the Converter on the GFCI loop?...
I didn't make the rig,  but I have an answer. On my trailer the converter and refrigerator are both in compartments with outside doors. That is the reason for a GFCI. An outside 15 or 20 amp receptacle is required by code to be GFCI protected.
|
YC 1
Yuba City Calif.
Senior Member
Joined: 01/11/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
beemerphile1 wrote:Is the converter tripping the GFCI or is the power on and the converter just not working?
If the GFCI is constantly tripping, find a way to run an extension cord directly to the converter as a temporary fix. Plug the extension into a different receptacle, same with the frig.
I think this is the ticket for a temporary test or fix.
H/R Endeavor 2008
2007 Hummer H3 toad
Ranger Boat
|
Takastone
Sunny Whittier California
New Member
Joined: 11/06/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
The power is on via the house electricity...plug outlets work, AC and microwave work. Just the 12 volt things. Fridge isn't working.
The batteries are dead. They're 3 months old. I guess I had something on? I don't think so but......I was at the trailer 10 days ago, everything fine.
With the truck running and hooked up (electrically) to charge the batteries it still did not turn on the lights in the trailer.
The trailer is on our property in the mountains and we have been leaving it there while my husband is building a shed. We thought maybe mice or other things may have gotten into the wiring...Absolutely no sign at all. The cloth cover underneath hasn't been touched...
Have more ideas?
Thanks so much
Irene
|
|
|
