Converter problem

[jayB]

BACKGROUND

I have a 2007 Palomino Yearling Pop-up. the Family and  I went on a three day camping trip.  I plugged the shore line (30 amp) into the provided outlet (30amp) at the campground.  On the third day (4 a.m.) an alarm sounded. I turned on the campers' ceiling lights and noticed that the lights were blinking to the same beat as the alarm and were very very dim. I also noticed that the exhaust fan was not running.  I pulled a fuse in the converter which stopped the alarm.

When we returned home I replace the fuse I removed from the converter, no alarm.  A day later I can hear the same alarm coming from the closed camper.  I remove the main fuse at the battery to stop the alarm.  I contact the dealer and take the camper to them. I tell the service manager that I removed the fuse.  Four weeks later I call them and they say it is done.  I picked the camper up yesterday. They say they replaced the converter. Before I leave I turn on the campers outside light, nothing, no light.   I question them about about the light they reply " The battery must be dead just plug it in the converter will charge the battery".  

I get the camper home and on a hunch I check to see if the if the fuse I removed at the battery was replaced.   The fuse holder was empty.  I replace the fuse and plug in the camper as instructed.  I turn on the outside light, this time I hear the low battery alarm and I see the light blinking.  When I turn off the light the alarm stops.

QUESTIONS

1) If you replaced the converter wouldn't they check to see if there was power to it?
2) If they did check for power how did they do that with no fuse in at the battery?  
3) Will the converter charge the battery?
4) If I am plugged into the shore line should the alarm sound and the lights blink or should the lights running on the shore line power?

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Jay

[AustinBoston]

When we returned home I replace the fuse I removed from the converter, no alarm.

That's because the battery was partly charged while towing.

A day later I can hear the same alarm coming from the closed camper.  I remove the main fuse at the battery to stop the alarm.  I contact the dealer and take the camper to them. I tell the service manager that I removed the fuse.

You assumed that they actually listen to customers.  Some are great, but some know that all customers are there to be stolen from.

Four weeks later I call them and they say it is done.  I picked the camper up yesterday. They say they replaced the converter. Before I leave I turn on the campers outside light, nothing, no light.   I question them about about the light they reply " The battery must be dead just plug it in the converter will charge the battery".

I would have insisted that they plug in the pop-up and prove that the converter is working.
 

I get the camper home and on a hunch I check to see if the if the fuse I removed at the battery was replaced.   The fuse holder was empty.  I replace the fuse and plug in the camper as instructed.  I turn on the outside light, this time I hear the low battery alarm and I see the light blinking.  When I turn off the light the alarm stops.

This is possible if the battery was completely drained.  Within 15 minutes, there should be enough juice to run both the alarm and the light while continuing to charge the battery.

1) If you replaced the converter wouldn't they check to see if there was power to it?

I replaced my converter myself once, and went through everything.  But that is ME, not THEM.  For them, time is money.

2) If they did check for power how did they do that with no fuse in at the battery?

There are places that the output voltage can be checked if the converter is not mounted yet.  In addition, if the BATTERY fuse is not in place, everything will run off the converter, so all they needed to do was turn on a light.

3) Will the converter charge the battery?

Most will.  Depending on the model, it may be a miserable battery charger that should be avoided all the way to a three-stage charger with an active maintenance mode.  Can you tell us what model converter you have?

4) If I am plugged into the shore line should the alarm sound and the lights blink or should the lights running on the shore line power?

If the battery is totally drained, AND you have a cheap converter, it may take a few minutes before there is enough juice to run both the lights and charge the battery.  But normally, the lights will run on shore power.

Austin