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06-23-2021, 08:30 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,397
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12 volt systems surging?
All of a sudden all of our 12 volt lights are dim. They surge from dim to a little brighter. We've been in some hot weather with hotter weather to come. If I lose 12 volt I lose the TStat so no AC. My first suspicion is the power converter but thought I'd ask y'all to see what the broader wisdom is.
Any thoughts? Thanks
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Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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06-23-2021, 08:41 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,676
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What is the condition of your batteries? I've had the same thing happen when one battery went south and was cannibalizing the 2nd. Replaced them and all was good.
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Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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06-23-2021, 08:53 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,397
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sourdough
What is the condition of your batteries? I've had the same thing happen when one battery went south and was cannibalizing the 2nd. Replaced them and all was good.
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Thanks, Danny, will give that a look
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Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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06-23-2021, 09:57 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,397
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Batteries are both under 12v. Put a meter on the leads going to the batteries...zero voltage coming to the batteries.
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Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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06-23-2021, 10:58 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: South Jordan, Utah
Posts: 2,223
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I'm guessing if you are worried about the Tstat and A/C you are likely on shore power.
I'd suggest disconnecting the batteries and measure the output from the converter. If that's 0 then the converter is suspect for sure. If it shows 13-14vdc then it's at least one battery. My bet is at least one will read 10.5 vdc indicating a bad cell. 0 vdc indicates a dead short within the battery. Either way it's new battery time and definately replace both of them.
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2017 Cougar 279RKSWE
2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Retirement Training Completed
I think the little voices in my head have started a chat group.
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06-23-2021, 11:02 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,326
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jsb5717
Batteries are both under 12v. Put a meter on the leads going to the batteries...zero voltage coming to the batteries.
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If your plugged in and getting no voltage, check the reverse polarity fuses first. If a battery went bad it may have blown them.
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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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06-23-2021, 11:02 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,397
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I have my battery charger with me. I connected that to the batteries and all systems are back and running. I now have a converter on order to me us at our next CG. I'm reasonably sure that's the culprit. I'll let you know when I get it installed. Thanks for the replies...
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Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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06-23-2021, 02:28 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,743
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I would suggest pulling the batteries and take them to an autoparts store and have them load tested. Good possibility if they were discharged deaply they could be damaged. It would be counter productive to install a new converter just to have it destroyed by a battery with a shorted cell.
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Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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06-23-2021, 03:32 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Weare
Posts: 8
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I had the same thing happened to me. It was the power converter. Swapped it out, which took about 15 minutes, and the problem was totally gone.
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06-23-2021, 05:35 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,397
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Ding, ding, ding...those on the "bad batteries" bandwagon win the prize. Took the batteries into town to have them checked. Yep, both bad. Returned with 2 new batteries, fully charged, and things are running again.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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06-23-2021, 06:08 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,743
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Glad to hear you're "up and running" again.
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Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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06-23-2021, 06:27 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: South Jordan, Utah
Posts: 2,223
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Thanks for the follow up to let us all know what the problem was. Glad it was something simple! And you were able to keep things COOL 
__________________
2017 Cougar 279RKSWE
2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Retirement Training Completed
I think the little voices in my head have started a chat group.
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