Charging Problem

[Garybricker]

I have a 2015 3611RL. I don’t know if I have a inverter or converter. My batteries are not staying charged when connected to shore power. How do I check the inverter/converter

[AZ Traveler]

Gary,

You likely do not have an inverter which takes 12 v DC battery power and inverts it to 120 v AC power unless you have a residential refrigerator.

Check that the battery disconnect key in your convenience center is in the position where the key can not be pulled out. Check the circuit breaker for your converter is on and not tripped.

Next check the voltage at your batteries. It should be 13+ with shore power connected if the converter is working. Even if it shows 13+ indicating the converter is working you could have bad battery(s). You could take the batteries out and have them checked at auto parts store.

Do a search of the forum and you will find several threads on this subject.

[Carl n Susan]

Here is some info from a previous discussion of a similar problem.

The 12V flow from the converter to the batteries is pretty straight forward. As others have pointed out, here are the places to look. All connections should have 13.5 +/- Volts if the converter is working.

• The converter is part of the power distribution panel -Ensure the CB for it is On
• There are Reverse Polarity Fuses on the converter which protect against connecting a battery backwards. - Ensure they are not blown.
• Check the output voltage at the converter. - it should be in the 13.5V DC range.
• The power then runs to the Disconnect Switch in the Convenience Center. - Ensure the Red Key is in the position where it can *NOT* be removed. If removed, this interrupts the power charging the battery. The Disconnect Switch is not know to fail, but you can remove it to check there is power in and out of it just to be sure.
• The power next flows to the group of 50 amp self-resetting CBs behind the battery. We all know about the one that hiccups and interrupts the hydraulic system. That one also passes power to/from the converter and batteries. You want to check it and it's brother (it is in the current flow to the battery) to ensure there is 13.5V on *EACH* side of the CB.
• The last connection is the one from the 50 amp CBs to the batteries. Ensure you have clean connections and the cables are not corroded (watch out for internal corrosion under the shrink wrap).

Somewhere along this path there will be the problem. A simple VOM should find it. I hope this helps.

The full blown discussion is *Here* The most common causes are :
o - the Battery Disconnect Switch in the convenience center is in the wrong position (the Red Key should be in the position where it can't be removed)
o - The red plastic covered self resetting 50 amp circuit breakers behind the battery have failed.