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06-16-2012, 05:27 PM
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#1
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Summerfield. FL
Posts: 29
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Is the converter the problem?
Recently our voltage monitor showed only 12.2v for the house battery. We are on shore power(50 amp) and the engine battery showed 12.6. We had the usual lights on.
When we turned off the house lights the voltage for the house battery immediately went up step by step to 12.5 or 12.6.
Question: does this indicate the converter went bad and is not working anymore?
Where is the converter located in this 2003 Adventurer 33V. We assume we can replace it our selves. Is there an upgrade or improvement we should look for? Is Campingworld the place to get one or are there other more techical places to check?
We thought it was located under the refrigerator but we looked and only saw the outside radio. In the past we though we heard the fan sound coming from that direction, it must have been the sound from the radio that keeps turning itself on.(another story and I know there is a great thread for that).
I know someone will have a solution or suggestion, you guys are great
Ellen
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Ellen
Life is an adventure
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06-16-2012, 08:36 PM
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#2
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Indianapolis Indiana
Posts: 124
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Well it's kinda hard to say. Are you sure the shore power is good, clean, and not reversed? If so then check all your house batt connections and make sure they are clean and tight. Also if you have lead acid house batts check the specific gravity on each cell to be sure your batts are good. Lastly check the output of converter to see if it is putting out a good voltage. If you need to replace the converter (ours is on the wall behind the drawers of a cabinet, Have to take the drawers out and it is a bear to get to.) I would check on an upgrade to one that is multi-stage. Mine runs 14.3 when first charging then drops to 13.2 or so and floats. The original Winnie converters don't do that. You can check your model drawings for the converter location. Usually in the kitchen area and inside the cabinet works somewhere.
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2007 Itasca Sunrise 35L W22 Chassis TigerTrak ScanGaugeII
Blue Ox tow bar - Brake Buddy
2013 Equinox
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06-16-2012, 09:36 PM
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#3
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Indianapolis Indiana
Posts: 124
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Looking at the wiring diagram for you coach it appears the converter will be under the drawer below the stove. I would pull the drawer out and check. The diagram doesn't give the exact location but says that's where the converter receptacle is wired, so it can't be far away.
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2007 Itasca Sunrise 35L W22 Chassis TigerTrak ScanGaugeII
Blue Ox tow bar - Brake Buddy
2013 Equinox
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06-17-2012, 07:53 AM
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#4
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Mesa, AZ USA
Posts: 263
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Indy Itasca
Well it's kinda hard to say. Are you sure the shore power is good, clean, and not reversed? If so then check all your house batt connections and make sure they are clean and tight. Also if you have lead acid house batts check the specific gravity on each cell to be sure your batts are good. Lastly check the output of converter to see if it is putting out a good voltage. If you need to replace the converter (ours is on the wall behind the drawers of a cabinet, Have to take the drawers out and it is a bear to get to.) I would check on an upgrade to one that is multi-stage. Mine runs 14.3 when first charging then drops to 13.2 or so and floats. The original Winnie converters don't do that. You can check your model drawings for the converter location. Usually in the kitchen area and inside the cabinet works somewhere.
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How can you reverse shore power?
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Wretched excess is just barely enough.
2002 Itasca Suncruiser - WH Chassis - 35U - 2006 Jeep Liberty
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06-17-2012, 08:42 AM
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#5
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Indianapolis Indiana
Posts: 124
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hamguy
How can you reverse shore power?
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Incorrect pedestal wiring.
__________________
2007 Itasca Sunrise 35L W22 Chassis TigerTrak ScanGaugeII
Blue Ox tow bar - Brake Buddy
2013 Equinox
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06-17-2012, 09:44 AM
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#6
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Buxton, North Dakota
Posts: 1,037
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Indy Itasca
Incorrect pedestal wiring.
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That wouldn't prevent the converter from working.
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2003 Winnebago Adventurer 38G F53/ V10 605 watts of Solar
1999 Winnebago Brave 35C Handicap Equipped
F53/V10
1999 Jeep Cherokee & 1991 Jeep Wrangler Renegade
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06-17-2012, 10:30 AM
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#7
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Indianapolis Indiana
Posts: 124
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hilley
That wouldn't prevent the converter from working.
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OK so don't waste 5 minutes checking the pedestal to be sure. Let's just try to help these folks fix their problem.
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2007 Itasca Sunrise 35L W22 Chassis TigerTrak ScanGaugeII
Blue Ox tow bar - Brake Buddy
2013 Equinox
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06-17-2012, 10:42 AM
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#8
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 6
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You might also check at the transfer switch. In our case we had the low voltage readings and it turned out it was due to loose connections inside the transfer switch. Which in the end burnt up the switch.
If you do check the transfer switch, make sure ALL electric is disconnected or you may get zapped.
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R & E
No RV at the moment
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06-17-2012, 11:17 AM
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#9
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Motor City, Mich
Posts: 1,003
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Did you check the circuit breakers? Mine's on the same circuit as the fridge. Is the fridge working on AC?
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Tim.
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06-17-2012, 12:45 PM
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#10
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Buxton, North Dakota
Posts: 1,037
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It sounds like he probably doesn't have any AC power problems, only a low battery reading when loaded with the lights. If TV and other AC appliances are working and the battery goes back to normal voltage when loads are removed it indicates a poor connection some place, more than likely the ground. Clean and tighten the battery terminal connections and the connection for the grounds to the frame.
__________________
2003 Winnebago Adventurer 38G F53/ V10 605 watts of Solar
1999 Winnebago Brave 35C Handicap Equipped
F53/V10
1999 Jeep Cherokee & 1991 Jeep Wrangler Renegade
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06-17-2012, 02:54 PM
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#12
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Summerfield. FL
Posts: 29
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Thank you all for replying so quickly.
Yes indeed the converter is under the stove and it seems fairly easy to get to.
The problem manifested itself when the readings were very low for several days and we had noticed the converter had not been running.
Strangely enough the converter kicked in late last night, just after I sent the message and it has been at 12.8v almost all day. Your long distance magic worked!
We still do have one set of the fluorescent lights in the kitchen area that keep flickering, even with new light bulbs and there does not seem to be a ballast to replace. We thought it might part of the trouble with the converter. What has stumped us is the fact that it is only the one set out of the 3 light fixtures. Could it just be a lose wire? These are the fixtures that are recessed in the ceiling.
This excersize has shown us how much the 2 light fixtures in the bathroom with 6 small bulbs draw down the batteries. Today we removed the top 2 ones and the draw went from .2 to .1 and there is still plenty of light.
Our dry camping days are mostly behind us but it is still good to know what goes on with these lights!
thanks again,
Ellen
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Ellen
Life is an adventure
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06-17-2012, 04:55 PM
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#13
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Winnebago Watcher
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1
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I thought it was my converter and two shops tested it and said it was ok. But one said maybe under a load it was not working right. after two weeks of checking every wire and relay,etc. I bought a new Intelli Power converter and hooked it up and everythingworks fine. I has a WFCO convertoer before in my Southwind.
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06-20-2012, 01:11 PM
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#14
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Summerfield. FL
Posts: 29
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Problem Solved.....
The battery output still was going from 12.7 down to 11.9, depending on which lights were on. My husband decided to go into the cabinet where the converter is located and pull the plug. It seemed the prongs were not as "clean" as new and he scraped each one till the were shiny clean.
When he plugged the converter back in the reading was....13.6. WOW. The reading has stayed above 13.2 constantly now.
Our coach was built in Dec. 2002 so it is almost 10 years old and we never did any maintenance like this, so simple but so effective. Thank you all for your input and putting us in the direction of thinking about flawed current flow. Ellen
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Ellen
Life is an adventure
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06-21-2012, 09:18 AM
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#15
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Skiatook, OK
Posts: 1,467
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Check the 12VDC connections at the converter. On an older Vectra we had the converter 12VDC connections were not tightened at the factory. Took months to trace it down as it would come and go.
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Grant & Pat
2014 Adventurer 35P
2021 Rapid Red 4dr Bronco OBX
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