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Old 10-04-2015, 05:15 PM   #1
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1986 34' Limited
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Confirming Converter is Toast

No 12v or 115v in the son's 69 Globetrotter. He reported the power cord plug was smoking hot. So I started troubleshooting.

All four of the breakers were on, not tripped. Main, converter, AC circuit 1 and AC circuit 2.

I found the 115v AC wires going into the transformer of the converter are dead shorted. Seems like the coil has melted down, although it doesn't smell like a shorted electrical device (e.g. motor). This converter is not a Univolt.

So if I have continuity (1 olm resistance) between black (hot) and white (neutral) going into the old converter. Should I can start shopping for another one? I'm not going to power up until I understand this.

I also found the male plug on the end of the power cord to have loose spade connectors. It is a plug that has molded rubber around the spade connectors and round ground prong. I cut it open and found the "swaged" wire ends to the spade connectors were loose. That may have generated a lot of resistance and cause the plug to get hot. A classic loose connection. A lot of fires have started that way.

Is my converter shot? I'm assuming there is a rectifier in there somewhere that might be confusing me.

David
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Old 10-04-2015, 05:30 PM   #2
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In my view a bad converter wont cause no 120 volt power in the trailer, and a dead short in the converter would trip a breaker.

I think I would try replacing the faulty plug and then see whats up.


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Old 10-04-2015, 06:03 PM   #3
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1986 34' Limited
1975 27' Overlander
1969 21' Globetrotter
Conifer , Colorado
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You are right. The 115v circuits are powered by the "shore' power cord through the breaker box. Only one of the breakers goes to the converter.

I can replace the plug, leave the converter out of the picture, and verify all is good on the 115v side. I can hope the old breakers are still good.

But I sure don't know if my converter is any good showing continuity hot to neutral going into the converter enclosure.

David
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Old 10-04-2015, 06:30 PM   #4
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It is difficult for me to guess the resistance that the devise will generate when properly working, but my GUESS is that your issue is going to be entirely due to the defective plug.

The chance of the plug and the converter going bad at the same time is not going to be large. (Especially since it didn't trip its circuit breaker).

I think the simple fix is going to be the right fix this time.


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