Power issues

[Surfcal]

While camping, the circuit breaker switched off and lost all power.
 
 Next day, I opened up the power panel and behind the switches, there was an apparent overheating problem.  I carefully cleaned it all out and reswitched it back on.  Momentarily, the AC went on, but the power to the lights that also run on DC would not come on.
 
 I checked the power from the battery and it was on full charge.  In the past, I had also connected a DC light port that bypasses the converter and that had continuity.
 
 So, I'm thinking that the power converter totally went fritz.  What do you electrical gurus thing out there?
 
 Surfcal

[tlhdoc]

Did you check your 12 fuses?  If you did you might want to check inside the power converter, there can be an internal fuse, maybe you blew it.  Check the owner's manual for the converter and see if you have one.  

[garym053]

Surfcal, What kind of camper or more importantly, converter?
My BIL had a problem with their 12V side of things a year or two ago and I tore open the converter to find a little fuse inside had blown! Replaced it and it's been fine since. It was miserable to get to, and if you paid someone it would probably run $50.00 or more in labor!

See if you can get a schemtic of the Converter and see if there are any internal fuses!

[garym053]

Oops, sorry tlhdoc, said the same thing you did!!!

[Surfcal]

Hey, thanks for the insight. No, I did not know that there is an internal fuse. I checked all the obvious fuses of course. Otherwise, you can say, "here's your sign," ala Bill Engvall the comedian. But then again, if the fuse blew, then I'd have to find out the source of the short. Hmm, I might have to spend more than $50 overall.
 
  I have a 1998 Starcraft one-sided Meteor.
 
  Surfcal

[Surfcal]

I just called the dealer and he says it sounds like the circuit breaker.  Thanks for your help.
 
 Surfcal

[mike4947]

Well if you got 120 volts in the trailer anywhere it's not the circuit breaker. On that vintage trailer the converters usually had an internal 7.5 amp buss type fuse that would blow for any number of reasons. I don't know what function it performs, but I can tell you if it blows you won't have ANY 12 volt power.

[Surfcal]

You know Mike, you're right.  Maybe both, you and the dealer, of your reasons are right.  There was a moment when I was fiddling with it and the AC worked, but not the 12V system.  Then, the whole thing crapped out.
 
 As he told me, if there was a burnt wire behind the circuit breaker, then that is also busted.  I think your scenario happened first, the the circuit breakers went.
 
 I'll look into it again soon.  Thanks for the additional food for thought.
 
 Surfcal