No 12v Power when only using shoreline

[Jon651]

Hello All,

This issue literally began today.

I have a 2019 2670MK and so far everything has been fine. This morning I just received my new 50A surge suppressor and plugged it in. Before I did, I turned the battery disconnect to OFF and removed the knob. Everything went together just fine but when I went into the camper, all of my 110v items still work but the 12v system was out. I know that I will get 12v even with the battery disconnected from my inverter, but this time I get no 12v power.

I re-connected the battery at the switch and all of my 12v items came back on - so I know 12v power is flowing. But whenever I disconnect the battery at the disconnect switch all 12v goes dead. So apparently, the part that makes 12v power in the converter has gone bad.

Is there a reset switch or a specific fuse/relay for that? None of my breakers have tripped and I cannot find any blown fuses.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Always Learning]

It sounds like it is working as designed. Try disconnecting your battery terminals and turn on your battery disconnect switch, plug into shore power and make sure converter breaker is on and see if you have 12v.

 

[FT4NOW]

I think you mean converter, not inverter, it really depends how GD wired everything. No two rigs are the same in terms of wiring, so if your converter is upstream of the battery disconnect switch, then you wouldn't have 12v power unless the switch was on.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[huntr70]

Ditto, sounds like it is working as designed.

 

[Jon651]

Thanks for the input so far!

Let me add this twist, because I am still diagnosing. Before today, even with the battery completely removed I would still get 12v power in the camper so long as I had the shoreline plugged in. There is a converter/charger that charges the battery and provides 12v to the rest of the camper (Part No. 430021). There is a 15A breaker that supplies AC power to this converter/charger - I checked and it was not tripped (I reset it regardless).

Right now, I can only get 12v to the camper if the battery is installed and the battery switch is in the ON position. Turn the switch to the OFF position or disconnect the battery and my 12v goes away - it has never done this before so long as I have had shoreline power. Therefore, I am only getting 12v power from the battery regardless of shore power.

The converter/charger has two 12v fuses built into the back of it. I do not know where it is located - heaven forbid they would put it someplace I can find it!

Any clues???

 

[Always Learning]

Thanks for the input so far!

Let me add this twist, because I am still diagnosing. Before today, even with the battery completely removed I would still get 12v power in the camper so long as I had the shoreline plugged in. There is a converter/charger that charges the battery and provides 12v to the rest of the camper (Part No. 430021). There is a 15A breaker that supplies AC power to this converter/charger - I checked and it was not tripped (I reset it regardless).

Right now, I can only get 12v to the camper if the battery is installed and the battery switch is in the ON position. Turn the switch to the OFF position or disconnect the battery and my 12v goes away - it has never done this before so long as I have had shoreline power. Therefore, I am only getting 12v power from the battery regardless of shore power.

The converter/charger has two 12v fuses built into the back of it. I do not know where it is located - heaven forbid they would put it someplace I can find it!

Any clues???

You state
“ Before today, even with the battery completely removed I would still get 12v power in the camper so long as I had the shoreline plugged in.” Was your battery shut off switch on or off? I suspect that it was on and you are now turning it off.

 

[FT4NOW]

Thanks for the input so far!

Let me add this twist, because I am still diagnosing. Before today, even with the battery completely removed I would still get 12v power in the camper so long as I had the shoreline plugged in. There is a converter/charger that charges the battery and provides 12v to the rest of the camper (Part No. 430021). There is a 15A breaker that supplies AC power to this converter/charger - I checked and it was not tripped (I reset it regardless).

Right now, I can only get 12v to the camper if the battery is installed and the battery switch is in the ON position. Turn the switch to the OFF position or disconnect the battery and my 12v goes away - it has never done this before so long as I have had shoreline power. Therefore, I am only getting 12v power from the battery regardless of shore power.

The converter/charger has two 12v fuses built into the back of it. I do not know where it is located - heaven forbid they would put it someplace I can find it!

Any clues???

These fuses are on the converter directly and are only there for reverse polarity protection. If you've removed the battery and accidentally crossed the battery cables, this would cause these fuses to blow.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Jon651]

Ok and thanks again. Here's where I am so far...

I am 110% positive I know which way is which on the battery disconnect switch - when it is OFF the handle falls out and I have no power; when it is ON the handle is retained and I get 12v power in the camper.

I am also 110% certain that I used to get 12v power in my camper even with the battery disconnected/removed and the disconnect switch in the OFF position so long as I had shore power connected. It has always been this way until today.

I found the converter/charger. It was located inside the built-in bureau behind the power center - I had to remove the lowest drawer just to see it.

I checked the 2x35 amp fuses on the converter - both are fine.
I checked the 110v outlet the converter is plugged into - it has power.
I checked to ensure the 12v wires into the converter were firmly mounted - they are.
When I disconnect my battery the converter does not provide 12v out even though it still has 110v coming into it.

At this point my conclusions are:
1. The converter/charger has failed; or
2. Something is disconnected/blown between the converter and the rest of the 12 wiring that I cannot find.

Can anyone refute either determination? I'm going to start the shopping process for a new converter unless someone can give me something else to look at.

Cheers!

 

[FT4NOW]

Get a multimeter and measure the output of the converter, that will tell you what's going on with it.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Always Learning]

Ok and thanks again. Here's where I am so far...

I am 110% positive I know which way is which on the battery disconnect switch - when it is OFF the handle falls out and I have no power; when it is ON the handle is retained and I get 12v power in the camper.

I am also 110% certain that I used to get 12v power in my camper even with the battery disconnected/removed and the disconnect switch in the OFF position so long as I had shore power connected. It has always been this way until today.

I found the converter/charger. It was located inside the built-in bureau behind the power center - I had to remove the lowest drawer just to see it.

I checked the 2x35 amp fuses on the converter - both are fine.
I checked the 110v outlet the converter is plugged into - it has power.
I checked to ensure the 12v wires into the converter were firmly mounted - they are.
When I disconnect my battery the converter does not provide 12v out even though it still has 110v coming into it.

At this point my conclusions are:
1. The converter/charger has failed; or
2. Something is disconnected/blown between the converter and the rest of the 12 wiring that I cannot find.

Can anyone refute either determination? I'm going to start the shopping process for a new converter unless someone can give me something else to look at.

Cheers!

Since you found the converter disconnect the DC wires and measure the output of the converter. If the converter is not putting out DC volts and you know it has AC power to it then the converter is bad. Your converter may have a plug on it. If so plug it into a good source of AC and measure for DC volts.

 

[Jon651]

I'm a little late, but thanks to everyone who lent a hand here. This was my first time diagnosing and working on my camper's 12v system.

Now that I know what to look for, I realize that all the signs were right in front of me of a bad converter. I will say, however, Grand Design certainly didn't make working on it easy! My converter is located in the bedroom INSIDE the built-in dresser. To get to it I have to remove both drawers, stick my head in one drawer opening and only one arm in the other. To compound that, they must have tightened the terminal bolts with an impact wrench because I had to rig up a small breaker bar just to loosen the 12v terminal connectors and the ground clamp - an "interesting" process using only one hand...

So now my new converter is in place, mounted, hooked up and everything is working just fine - thanks again, everyone!