Inverter not charging batterys

Carbon18 · 05-27-2018, 03:20 PM

Keystone carbon 2017. When connected to 50 amp service or run generator, battery’s do not charge. When rv connected to truck , battery’s charge. Is this an inverter issue? No fuses/breakers popped or blown. Battery’s test ok

**chuckster57** · 05-27-2018, 03:34 PM

Sounds like either the CONveter is shot or maybe the fuse(s) on the converter.

INVerter takes 12VDC and makes 110VAC. CONveter takes 110VAC and makes 12VDC.

If your converter is separate from the fuse panel then there are 2 fuses on the backside where the battery leads connect. If you have power at the outlet where the converter plugs in and don’t have 13+ VDC at the leads, either the fuses are blown or the converter quit.

Converter is probably behind the breaker/fuse panel and you may have to access it from the front storage.

Carbon18 · 05-27-2018, 03:55 PM

Sorry for double post. Could not easily locate converter. i will look behind fuse/ breaker panel.

**chuckster57** · 05-27-2018, 03:56 PM

No problem. Let us know what you find.

SC Dreamer · 05-27-2018, 06:10 PM

The converter may be built in with your breaker panel, mine is all in one spot. There is a breaker marked for converter

**chuckster57** · 05-27-2018, 06:40 PM

If the converter is part of the panel, it will be visible at the bottom half once you take the cover off. Separate is more common and some panels have a built in outlet on the backside for the converter.

jlb27537 · 05-28-2018, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carbon18

Keystone carbon 2017. When connected to 50 amp service or run generator, battery’s do not charge. When rv connected to truck , battery’s charge. Is this an inverter issue? No fuses/breakers popped or blown. Battery’s test ok

Is the battery switch in the on position? Plugged in, with the switch off, everything will work ok off the converter and not charge the battery. With the switch off the truck charge wire will charge the battery. Will the frig run on lp when un plugged?

Inverter produces 120vac from 12vdc. Converter produces 12vdc from 120vac.

MattE303 · 05-28-2018, 08:31 AM

I'm having converter issues with my Carbon as well. Not exactly the same problem as you, but you may find some useful info in my thread:

http://www.keystoneforums.com/forums...ad.php?t=33158

Carbon18 · 05-28-2018, 12:05 PM

Everything in normal positions. Battery’s not receiving charge from shore or generator. When hooked up to truck battery’s being charged. ((I will admit, When installed battery’s after storage, did install one backwards ( a past post mentioned will blow converter). Dropped off to fix shower drain pipe that cracked (only over 1 year old)). Will post what the electrical fix was and going to have them show me exact location and if converter has fuse/breaker on itself besides ones on panel..

**JRTJH** · 05-28-2018, 12:41 PM

If you connected one of the batteries backwards, the reverse polarity fuses on the converter are blown. Their only function is to protect the converter from "hooking up a battery backwards" and they do their job in a millisecond. Just an "instantaneous" spark from reverse polarity will cause them to blow.

The result of them blowing is that the battery/batteries will not receive any power from the converter, so they will not charge on generator or on shore power. The charge line from the tow vehicle does not go through the converter. It is connected directly to the battery, so the tow vehicle will continue to charge the battery, although it is a small wire and has limited capacity to recharge the trailer's battery bank.

Hopefully your converter's reverse polarity fuses "worked as designed" and protected the converter from damage. If so, then the cost shouldn't be much more than the price of a couple of 40 amp fuses and the labor to identify the problem.... Let's hope that's all it is !!!!!

**chuckster57** · 05-28-2018, 01:04 PM

Sure sounds like the reverse polarity fuses to me. You only have to TOUCH the wrong terminal with a trailer lead to blow the fuse...ask me how I know

**JRTJH** · 05-28-2018, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Sure sounds like the reverse polarity fuses to me. You only have to TOUCH the wrong terminal with a trailer lead to blow the fuse...ask me how I know

yup, Yup, YUP (four times YUP)..... Instantaneous means like "oh crap" (too late)

limit4 · 05-29-2018, 04:42 AM

I reversed the leads when putting the battery back in and as John said it blew 2 40 and fuses to protect the system. Have used it a lot since then with no problems. Let us know.

MattE303 · 05-29-2018, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limit4

I reversed the leads when putting the battery back in and as John said it blew 2 40 and fuses to protect the system. Have used it a lot since then with no problems. Let us know.

Glad you got yours figured out. Do you ever keep your trailer plugged in to shore power for extended periods (like in the driveway at home)? I would love to know how low your batteries get before the converter kicks in. As I indicated in the other thread, mine initially charges them correctly, but after that it lets them get very low (like 11.0v or even less) before recharging. Everyone says this isn't normal, and it certainly is problematic when I want them fully charged before leaving for a trip.

limit4 · 05-29-2018, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattE303

Glad you got yours figured out. Do you ever keep your trailer plugged in to shore power for extended periods (like in the driveway at home)? I would love to know how low your batteries get before the converter kicks in. As I indicated in the other thread, mine initially charges them correctly, but after that it lets them get very low (like 11.0v or even less) before recharging. Everyone says this isn't normal, and it certainly is problematic when I want them fully charged before leaving for a trip.

To be honest I have not put a voltmeter on it to see how low it goes.

**JRTJH** · 05-29-2018, 02:27 PM

I'm guessing you have a WFCO converter/power center. Here is the description from WFCO on how the battery charging system works:

5. Automatic Microcontroller Operation
TheWFCO series of 3-stage switch mode power converter are fully automatic. The converter senses which mode it needs to be in by checking the condition of the batteries.

The three modes include:
Absorption Mode: During this mode the converter output is at 13.6 VDC range. This is the mode that the converter will function at normally. This mode provides the 12 VDC and the current required by the RV.
Bulk Mode: When the converter senses that the battery voltage is less than 13.2 VDC the converter will automatically go into the Bulk Mode.
Float Mode: If the RV is not being used for a period of time
and the shore power has been left plugged in, the converter will automatically go in to float mode. The converter senses if there has been any demand. If there is no activity for a period the converter will automatically go into float mode.
When the converter senses a demand by turning on lights the converter automatically goes into buck mode and returns to absorption mode.

The only situation, actually a malfunction that would alter the above and affect your operation would be the reverse polarity fuses. If you did, accidentally touch the battery cables to the wrong posts, those fuses will stop all charging activity to the batteries. Otherwise, your converter "should" act as a "conventional bulk charger" until your batteries are fully charged, then switch to "trickle charge status" and stay there until you have a 12 volt demand by turning on lights or furnace, etc. In any case, your converter "should" maintain a fully charged condition on all batteries (that are serviceable and don't have problems).

If your batteries are dropping to 11 volts, then either the converter reverse polarity fuses are blown or your converter is faulty (assuming your batteries have been checked and are in good condition).

To check the converter output voltage, completely disconnect all batteries from the system, read the voltage across the pos/neg battery cables. That voltage should be 13.6 VDC. If it is anything else, there is a problem with the converter, the trailer wiring or a corroded/open DC breaker that Keystone may have put in the wiring system.

Carbon18 · 05-31-2018, 09:01 AM

Two 30 amp fuses blown on converter. All fixed ready to go to pocono nascar weekend . Thanks for all the help.

**JRTJH** · 05-31-2018, 09:44 AM

Good deal, now go have fun camping. Just don't connect your batteries backwards any more !!!!!

MattE303 · 05-31-2018, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

I'm guessing you have a WFCO converter/power center. Here is the description from WFCO on how the battery charging system works:

Hi John,

Thanks for the info! I actually have a thread going on this issue over in the General RV Issues forum. I just posted an update and would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions you may have given the latest development!

Here's a link:
http://www.keystoneforums.com/forums...0&postcount=17

You may also like: