Basic Electrical Questions?? HELP??

[Handyman]

I just bought a 1992 Coachman Camper Pop-Up Trailer. It's in good condition. Although my handle is Handyman, I'm far from it. I need some basic electrical questions. The electrical panel has a spot for the fuse, has a switch for converter,off, and battery. And it also has 2 buttons I can push which I can seem to figure out which does which. I plug an extension cord into the outside and it seems to make the plugs inside work, but I'm not sure which button or which position I should have the switch in battery or converter? Also, the guy I bought the trailer from said the light bulbs just need replacing, so we replaced the bulbs but neither light works, I'm not sure if they are actually dead spots or whether I'm not flipping a switch somewhere. I know these are really basic questions but I'm pretty dumb and I could use some help before I try and get the lights replaced. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks

Handyman is cause my last name is Hand...I'm far from Handy!!!

[wavery]

I just bought a 1992 Coachman Camper Pop-Up Trailer. It's in good condition. Although my handle is Handyman, I'm far from it. I need some basic electrical questions. The electrical panel has a spot for the fuse, has a switch for converter,off, and battery. And it also has 2 buttons I can push which I can seem to figure out which does which. I plug an extension cord into the outside and it seems to make the plugs inside work, but I'm not sure which button or which position I should have the switch in battery or converter? Also, the guy I bought the trailer from said the light bulbs just need replacing, so we replaced the bulbs but neither light works, I'm not sure if they are actually dead spots or whether I'm not flipping a switch somewhere. I know these are really basic questions but I'm pretty dumb and I could use some help before I try and get the lights replaced. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks

Handyman is cause my last name is Hand...I'm far from Handy!!!

The lights should work from the 12v current coming from the converter while plugged into house current (110V) while you are switched to "Converter".

They should work from your battery when you are switched to "Battery". That would, of course, require that your battery be hooked up and charged.

If they don't work in either position, you may have a safety switch somewhere in the camper that needs to be turned on. On my camper, the switch is located on top of the lower portion of the galley. When the top portion of the galley is lowered onto the lower portion, it sits on that switch and turns it on. When the upper portion is lowered, it turns it off for towing.

You should also have a couple of fuses in the converter that may need to be checked.

Next, there is a wire that goes up inside the canvas to the top. There is usually a connector in that wire, where it meets the top. Make sure that is plugged in. Sometimes, they come unplugged or the wire may get pulled out of the connector (like mine did). The wire on my Coleman PU is located by the left rear support post. It may be in a different spot on yours.

If that is all OK, then you need to take a test light and follow the wire from the converter and check to see where you have power and where you don't. If you have power coming out of the converter but not at the light fixture socket, then you may have a wire separated somewhere in between.

[Nemesis56]

I just bought a 1992 Coachman Camper Pop-Up Trailer. It's in good condition. Although my handle is Handyman, I'm far from it. I need some basic electrical questions. The electrical panel has a spot for the fuse, has a switch for converter,off, and battery. And it also has 2 buttons I can push which I can seem to figure out which does which. I plug an extension cord into the outside and it seems to make the plugs inside work, but I'm not sure which button or which position I should have the switch in battery or converter? Also, the guy I bought the trailer from said the light bulbs just need replacing, so we replaced the bulbs but neither light works, I'm not sure if they are actually dead spots or whether I'm not flipping a switch somewhere. I know these are really basic questions but I'm pretty dumb and I could use some help before I try and get the lights replaced. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks

Handyman is cause my last name is Hand...I'm far from Handy!!!

Not sure I understand everything.  Is there a fuse installed in the panel?  If so plug the converter into the extension cord.  Does the converter have it's own power cord? with the fuse inplace and the converter on put the switch to converter and you should power your lites.  does the converter look like this?

 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/coleman-pop-up-camper-trailer-power-converter_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50069QQihZ011QQitemZ320122808485QQrdZ1#ebayphotohosting

[Handyman]

Yes the panel is pretty much exact to that one. There is a working fuse installed in the converter and there is an exterior plug that I plug the extension cord in to. I'll make sure that I have it on converter. Also I'll check the wires. I love these forums. I'm sooo happy I found PUT. Having great people around to help a NEW-B like me is going to hopefully make my camping experience that much better and not soo much stuff to worry about and enjoy the life for many years to come with my little guy. Thanks again and if I have more questions I'll be sure to post.

[Nemesis56]

Yes the panel is pretty much exact to that one. There is a working fuse installed in the converter and there is an exterior plug that I plug the extension cord in to. I'll make sure that I have it on converter. Also I'll check the wires. I love these forums. I'm sooo happy I found PUT. Having great people around to help a NEW-B like me is going to hopefully make my camping experience that much better and not soo much stuff to worry about and enjoy the life for many years to come with my little guy. Thanks again and if I have more questions I'll be sure to post.

If it works, I'll take the credit.  If it dosen't..blame Wavery.... :p
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