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12-24-2023, 08:07 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: Harrisburg
Posts: 3
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Converter question
Our camper has a WFCO 55 amp converter. It also has a small fridge in the outdoor kitchen that stopped working, I replaced the fridge with one from Lowes but when I plugged it in the converter started smoking. Can someone explain why? I can't figure out what the outside refrigerator plug that is 120v would have to do with the converter. Thanks
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12-24-2023, 08:39 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,357
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Welcome to the forum
Both the outside fridge and the converter are 120VAC appliances. Only thing is the converter uses the 120VAC to produce 12VDC to charge the battery(s) and power the 12V stuff in the trailer. What year is your trailer?
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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12-24-2023, 10:30 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: Harrisburg
Posts: 3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckster57
Welcome to the forum
Both the outside fridge and the converter are 120VAC appliances. Only thing is the converter uses the 120VAC to produce 12VDC to charge the battery(s) and power the 12V stuff in the trailer. What year is your trailer?
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2020 cougar
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12-25-2023, 04:54 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Henniker
Posts: 2,183
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Do you have any kind of EMS on the incoming power? By EMS, I am not referring to a $50 “surge protector”, but a true Electrical Management System ($250+).
It sounds like you had an “event” that killed the weakest thing first (mini fridge), then it moved on and killed the converter. I would NOT use the air conditioners or anything else until you have a handle on what exactly happened, otherwise it could get really expensive really quick
__________________
Rob & Amy
2019 Passport 240BH SL (for sale)
2024 Cougar 29BHL (Taking delivery 5/11/24)
2022 Ford F250 7.3L Godzilla Crew Cab FX4
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12-25-2023, 05:46 AM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: Harrisburg
Posts: 3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog
Do you have any kind of EMS on the incoming power? By EMS, I am not referring to a $50 “surge protector”, but a true Electrical Management System ($250+).
It sounds like you had an “event” that killed the weakest thing first (mini fridge), then it moved on and killed the converter. I would NOT use the air conditioners or anything else until you have a handle on what exactly happened, otherwise it could get really expensive really quick
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Everything works fine expect for the old fridge obviously. I do not have any ems but will have before our next trip. The fridge didn't work when we bought the camper used a few months ago.
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12-25-2023, 01:08 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Wickenburg
Posts: 3,314
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Quote:
Originally Posted by All4mtb
Our camper has a WFCO 55 amp converter. It also has a small fridge in the outdoor kitchen that stopped working, I replaced the fridge with one from Lowes but when I plugged it in the converter started smoking. Can someone explain why? I can't figure out what the outside refrigerator plug that is 120v would have to do with the converter. Thanks
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Let me drop back five yards here -- I think there is terminology confusion.
The power center box contains the fuses, breakers, and the converter. Smoke is coming from the box. Dollars to donuts it's not coming from the converter, since 120V issues never result in converter smoke (unless the issue is in the 120V going into the converter itself).
__________________
2019 Cougar 26RBSWE
2019 Ford F-250
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12-25-2023, 01:38 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,357
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LHaven
120V issues never result in converter smoke (unless the issue is in the 120V going into the converter itself).
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I have personally seen 2 converters “smoke” on a brand new unit (Grand designs Reflection) and found the shore cord faulty.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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12-25-2023, 02:42 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: "Murvil, TN
Posts: 2,212
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Smoke is possible almost anywhere there is electricity involved, from small battery powered stuff to the obvious stuff powered with higher voltages both AC and DC.....When the smoke comes out, usually the "badness" has crept in.
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2016 F350 King Ranch Crew Cab Dually Diesel 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M
2023 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+
Excessive payload capacity is a wonderful thing
"If it ain't Fast....It ain't Fun"
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12-25-2023, 04:06 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Rolla, MO
Posts: 363
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xrated
.....When the smoke comes out, usually the "badness" has crept in.
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True...
But in the Muscle car world, Sometimes you just have to stop and let the smoke out. At least that's what I tell the wife.
I know some of you will get that.
__________________
2022 Cougar Half Ton 24RDS
2019 GMC 2500HD (gas)
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12-25-2023, 04:16 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,357
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RollaMo
True...
But in the Muscle car world, Sometimes you just have to stop and let the smoke out. At least that's what I tell the wife.
I know some of you will get that.
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Oh yeah!!!!
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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12-25-2023, 04:32 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: "Murvil, TN
Posts: 2,212
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RollaMo
True...
But in the Muscle car world, Sometimes you just have to stop and let the smoke out. At least that's what I tell the wife.
I know some of you will get that.
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Yep, that is true!
__________________
2016 F350 King Ranch Crew Cab Dually Diesel 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M
2023 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+
Excessive payload capacity is a wonderful thing
"If it ain't Fast....It ain't Fun"
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12-25-2023, 08:43 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Wickenburg
Posts: 3,314
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckster57
I have personally seen 2 converters “smoke” on a brand new unit (Grand designs Reflection) and found the shore cord faulty.
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Well sure, but as I said, that's converter source power -- not power to some unrelated 120V unit in the trailer.
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12-26-2023, 10:48 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2023
Location: Corona
Posts: 119
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RollaMo
True...
But in the Muscle car world, Sometimes you just have to stop and let the smoke out. At least that's what I tell the wife.
I know some of you will get that.
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Courtesy of Lucas, Prince of Darkness!!
OP, you need to check your connections, stat. In the box, look for loose wiring, smoke can be an indicator of arcing. My old Jayco had the WORST assortment of cheap wire nuts sloppily thrown together - the merest movement of the wires would result in a wire nut popping off and a loose wire flopping out. Get rid of those wire nuts and get WAGO connectors.
Check the AC bus bars, make sure the solid core wires are firmly inserted and the screws tightened.
Since you already have seen smoke, check for signs of overheating in your bus bars and terminals. Any bluing or visible arc damage?
__________________
2022 Springdale 202QBWE.
Mods: 800w Solar, Victron Multiplus 3000 inverter, Victron 100/50 MPPT, Battle Born GC2 LiPo (x5), FOS07TASF Furrion backup camera, RVLock v4, Mopeka PRO (x2) LPG tank sensors, TireMinder i10 TPMS, Micro Air 364 soft start capacitor, 40" TV, Garnet See Level 709P3W1003 tank monitor system, RVLovent 14" Roof Fan.
Coming attractions: 9880 Dirt Devil central vacuum, Nautilus RV shower door system.
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12-31-2023, 11:02 AM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2023
Location: Canterbury
Posts: 50
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WFCO also makes inverters and that would make a lot more sense that it would smoke if the load of a (even small) fridge were put on a unit that is not operating properly. What is the model number of your WFCO unit?
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2021 Alpine 3220RL
2018 Ford F250 6.7 diesel
Sinister and Banks found under the hood.
AirLift system
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