DC power confusion
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Topic: DC power confusion
Posted By: Happy Tripping
Subject: DC power confusion
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2016 at 1:45pm
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Hello. Where electricity is concerned. I am a little baby wandering in the woods. When I am on shore power, everything is good. When I discontinue it, nothing works, including the little panel that tells me the water levels, battery status etc. I just got back from a trip and am still attached to the tow vehicle, car starts so car battery is fine, on shore power the panel says the trailer's battery is fine. Based on history, I know that this is some small thing I didn't do right. Thanks to all for your comments.
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Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2016 at 2:28pm
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Sounds like there is a problem with the battery on the trailer. The symptoms match. Plugged in to shore power--converter supplies 12V. Everything works. Plugged in to TV--car's battery supplies 12V. Everything works. Unplugged from shore power and TV--nothing works. Don't believe that the light showing everything is fine when you are plugged in to shore power. It is reading the 12V supplied by the converter, not the status of the battery. Things to check: 1. Is the battery connected properly with clean terminals? 2. If you have a volt meter, what is the reading of the battery when you test it at the battery's terminals? 3. Can you remove the battery easily? If so, take it to a place like Sears, Walmart, Auto Zone, Batteries & Bulbs (AKA Batteries Plus), etc. Ask if they will test the battery. My suspicion is that you will find that you have a bad battery. You did not say how old the battery is or under what conditions it has been used/stored. It could also be that your TV is not charging the battery. While we were camping this summer, we encountered a family with a pop-up that had a problem with their truck not charging the battery. They found out about it when their propane detector started going off due to low power. It was quite annoying. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2016 at 2:30pm
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Your pod battery is dead or missing. When hooked to shore power, the pod makes it's own 12v through the converter/charger, so everything is working. When hooked to your truck, the truck should be sending 12v to the pod. But if when disconnected from shore power and tow vehicle, you have no 12v, then the issue is with the pod's battery. ------------- |
Posted By: Happy Tripping
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2016 at 4:51pm
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Many thanks to both of you. 'No one is totally useless, they can always serve as a bad example.' I checked - Surprise!! I didn't load the battery. Now I have added ANOTHER item on my travel trailer 'check list'.
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Posted By: Shelpod
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2016 at 6:21pm
At least it wasn't stolen.  Good reminder for those that remove their batteries for charging at home.------------- Pod: 2013 178 TV: 2014 Explorer Limited with tow package |
Posted By: birderdiane526
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2016 at 9:01pm
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Well, that was an easy fix! Yay! ------------- Diane and Michael 2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE) 2007 Toyota Tundra BLOG:Podding in Paradise, birderdiane526.blogspot.com |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 06 Oct 2016 at 9:32am
I've had a few of those "Doh!" moments myself. I'm glad it was not a bad battery. The fix was cheap. Living it down is another matter. 
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |