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can I seperate the 12 volt from the 110 system?

Terry78
Explorer
Explorer
Yeah. Fulltimer with a problem.
I am pretty sure my converter is shot. My question is can I
Seperate the 12 volt system from the 110 system?
I can use lamps for lighting. But would really like to use the wall
Outlets to plug stuff in. I use a heater buddy for heat.
I think the 110 side is ok but there's a problem with the 12 volt
side. The trailer is a 79 Terry 24 foot. No serious electronics
In this model. Can I? Huh? Pretty please?
I did put a new heavy duty battery on. But still get loud hum and
Clicking from the converter.
22 REPLIES 22

Terry78
Explorer
Explorer
I think that will be my next step. Then I need to dig into the propane side and
see what works there.

Terry78
Explorer
Explorer
I think that will be my next step. Then I need to dig into the propane side and
see what works there.

jplante4
Explorer
Explorer
Terry78 wrote:
Hey thanks for all the help.
I left the black wire, charing circuit dis connected. (I think that's the charger wire) the hum and Clicking have stopped. I have 12 volt lights
and the 110 outlets that I wanted.so whew! Problem seems to be solved.
Thanks again to all you guys!


Until the batteries die. Get a small battery charger from Wal*Mart.
Jerry & Jeanne
1996 Safari Sahara 3530 - 'White Tiger'
CAT 3126/Allison 6 speed/Magnum Chassis
2014 Equinox AWD / Blue Ox

Terry78
Explorer
Explorer
Hey thanks for all the help.
I left the black wire, charing circuit dis connected. (I think that's the charger wire) the hum and Clicking have stopped. I have 12 volt lights
and the 110 outlets that I wanted.so whew! Problem seems to be solved.
Thanks again to all you guys!

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Explorer III
I will make an adjustment on my earlier post
12 volt system includes
Factory installed lights
Slides if you have 'em
Power jacks if you have 'em (See note below)
Water pump
Furnace
Control power for A/C Water heater and Fridge
IF YOU HAVE AN INVERTER the batteries may supply power to SOME outlets Microwave, television and releated places. Some. or all or none depending on the inverter.

120 volt outlets. A/C, 120 volt DEVICES like Microwave.. MAY not work at all without shore power. (or generator power).

Large (1000 watt and up) Inverters are often also chargers.
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times

Terry78
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for the help guys. Now i got some work to do.
Will be checking out all thes ideas. My multi meter arrived from Amazon
This morning. Pretty fast. I ordered it yesterday at about 3.00 pm.
It got here at like 9 am.

wnjj
Explorer II
Explorer II
time2roll wrote:
Just get a new converter already.

Give Randy a call. www.bestconverter.com

You could send him one. ๐Ÿ˜‰

I'm assuming that in a full time 1979 trailer where he said he doesn't even need 12v, buying a converter is not a priority or good use of his budget.

time2roll
Explorer II
Explorer II

MrWizard
Moderator
Moderator
Your 120v breakers and your 12v fuses and charge converter are separate systems
Contained in one box

You have to disconnect from shore power
Open the box
And disconnect the 120v for the charger part, only the charger part
You need to leave everything else connected

It's clear that you need another person that knows how to do this

Once this is done
You have to have another way to charge and maintain your batteries
Install another stand alone converter and connect it to the batteries
Or
Use a portable battery charger, doable but not the best option
I can explain it to you.
But I Can Not understand it for you !

....

Connected using T-Mobile Home internet and Visible Phone service
1997 F53 Bounder 36s

wnjj
Explorer II
Explorer II
joebedford wrote:
I don't understand why (some of) your 115V outlets don't work. Maybe the breaker labelled portable outlets powers your outlets?

Why do you think your converter is shot? In any case, if you disconnect it, all your ac devices should work.

I donโ€™t think he ever said they donโ€™t work (except it appears he has unplugged from shore power to stop the โ€œloud humโ€).

He just wants to know if he can run only 120v. Based upon what he listed as uses (full time=no breakaway, 120v lighting, not using RV heat), the fridge may be the only possible issue but did they even use 12v in 1979?

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Explorer III
Old-Biscuit wrote:
120V AC and 12V DC systems ARE already separate.water pump, Lights, Fridge/Water heater Propane controls, fans, etc


As Biscuit said they are different systems The ONLY common point is the converter or Inverter/Charger

Converter: Converts 120 volt AC to Battery power. (13.6 to 14.6 VDC) charges batteries..

Inverter/Charger: Does above if shore/generator present. else it does the INVERSE (converts battery power to 120vac) Not all RV's have one.

I have both

YOu may skip this next part:
12 volts may be used by some 120 volt stuff for CONTROL.
Examples include Fridge, Water heater and Air Conditioners

Back to read on:

If the Converter or charger is ... toast.. you may hook up a SMART charger as a temp measure (just hook it to the batteries) Mine is a Deltran Battery Tender PLUS. the unit I have can do 1-2 amp Tend. 20 Charge and 70 Jump start. about 100 bucks at AutoZone Works well
(My converter failed in 2017, my inverter as well so I had no 12 volt once the battery died.. on a Sunday.. AUTO ZONE Was open so I had power back quickly. Replaced converter 2 days later).


Finally converters for this post come i 2 flavors. ONE is integrated into the power distribution panel.. LIke a Parallex 7300 or some WFCO models.. IF you have this type and have confirmed the converter is toast go with a Progressive Dynamics 4600 series. it replaces JUST the converter part.

The other is a Stand alone (Independent box). And to replace that a Progressive Dynamics 9200 is the box of choice

Mine is a 9180 with charge wizard (Equal to 9280 with dongle).
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times

Bobbo
Explorer II
Explorer II
Folks, his 12v side is working OK, except for possibly recharging the battery. He doesn't have 120v to the outlets. His messages are cryptic, but include:

Terry78 wrote:
I can use lamps for lighting. But would really like to use the wall Outlets to plug stuff in.

and

Terry78 wrote:
Right now I'm running a power strip on an extension cord.

Sounds like low voltage on the 120v side and the converter is not happy with that.
Bobbo and Lin
2017 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab w/Max Tow Package 3.5l EcoBoost V6
2017 Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB

BFL13
Explorer II
Explorer II
Old time converter will be noisy and be a poor battery charger as well. Looks like it is sharing a breaker with something else, so find the breaker it is on and take the converter's black wire from that breaker, but leave the other black wire(s) on it.

EDIT--the converter in the 1981 TC we had was a plug in type to an outlet, so that was easy to replace. It was a heavy metal box with relays that clicked, sort of primitive. Made in Winnipeg ๐Ÿ™‚

Now replace the converter or just use a battery charger when that battery runs down some.

Go down the left to "extra info" here for examples from guys who have done that.

http://www.bestconverter.com/
1. 1991 Oakland 28DB Class C
on Ford E350-460-7.5 Gas EFI
Photo in Profile
2. 1991 Bighorn 9.5ft Truck Camper on 2003 Chev 2500HD 6.0 Gas
See Profile for Electronic set-ups for 1. and 2.

rockhillmanor
Explorer
Explorer
Just remember that your air cond/heat and refrigerator has to have 12 volts to run the thermostats.

If no 12v or even low 12v, the fridge 'will' come on with shore power but when it hits the temp set and shuts off, it will NOT be able to turn back on without 12v running to it. Same with air cond/heat. Been there done that. ๐Ÿ˜ž

Did you shut off all the breakers to converter and turn them back on?
I found many times it will trip a breaker but not all the way. Visually at a glance you can't see it. And then check the volts on the converter. You could also just have a cooked battery.

We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.