Converter not charging battery

[NYMike]

Hi, I am having a problem with the converter charging the battery. When I'm plugged in to shore power the batteries are not charging. The solar panels disguised the problem during the day time. I thought it was the stock WFCO 55amp converter. I ordered the Boondocker BD 1260 DL to replace the stock converter. I replaced the converter and I'm still having the same problem. I have a 2018 International Serenity 30 ft. Has anyone had this problem? Thanks, Mike.

[GCinSC2]

Mike,

How about back to basics, have the batteries checked out.

In my shoes, I'd pull them out and charge on a small shop charger then after a charge cycle take them to auto parts store for testing.

See if they have deep cycle testing on their tester.

Good luck and welcome to AF.

Gary

[NYMike]

Hi Gary,
The batteries seem to be ok. They can be fully charged by the solar panels and by an external battery charger I was forced to use on a trip when the night came and no solar help was available. It looks like its a problem between the fuse box and the battery. Maybe a fuse in the line somewhere. Thanks for your reply.
Mike

[azflycaster]

A volt meter should enable you to find the problem. Either the converter is not working (no power to the converter or malfunctioning converters) or the power from the converter is not getting to the batteries. There should be a fuse or two in that circuit.

[NYMike]

Hi Richard, I'm in the process of checking (with my meter) systematically from the converter out. I have power coming to the converter from shore power. I have DC power coming out of the converter. So the converter is working. The solar is charging the batteries right now. 13.5 volts at each battery. The 7 prong plug from my truck will charge the batteries. An external charger will charge the batteries. (not the batteries) It's a problem between the fuse box under my refrigerator and the batteries.

[NYMike]

Everything seems to be working well tonight. No sun out and battery is charging from the Boondocker converter. The Boondocker converter works differently than the stock WFCO converter. It will hover around 85% charge (around 13.5 v) with no strong load demand until a power requirement (like the furnace turns on) springs it into action. It then charges the battery to keep up with the demand. I was fooled by the solar charge during the day charging to 100% most of the day until the sun went down then the Boondocker took over. I will finish the install tomorrow. (bolting down the converter and closing the fuse box). Thanks to all that read my first post and for those of you who made suggestions.
Mike

[chugchug]

I recently upgraded to a PD 4655 which was a big improvement over the stock converter, but still couldn't get anything better then 20A of charge current, even when the battery was very low. I determined that the problem was the connection between the fuse panel in the front where the charger is installed and the distribution buss in the back where the battery is connected. AS used #12 wires between those 2 points.

My solution is to bypass the AS wiring with new 4 gauge wires directly from the PD charger output. Now I can get 50A charging current.

[Rich W]

Originally Posted by NYMike

Hi, I am having a problem with the converter charging the battery. When I'm plugged in to shore power the batteries are not charging. The solar panels disguised the problem during the day time. I thought it was the stock WFCO 55amp converter. I ordered the Boondocker BD 1260 DL to replace the stock converter. I replaced the converter and I'm still having the same problem. I have a 2018 International Serenity 30 ft. Has anyone had this problem? Thanks, Mike.

This probably doesn't apply to your 2018 model but do you have the Use/Store switch in Use? Older AS will not charge batteries unless in Use mode but that changed at some point. Still, might be worth a shot.

[NYMike]

Hi Rich,
The store switch was in the on position. Just finished wrapping up this upgrade, and everything is working like planned. I disconnected the camper from shore power and shut off the store/use switch. My camper has solar and the batteries will charge from the solar panels regardless of the position of the store/use switch. Thanks for the input.
Mike

[NYMike]

Originally Posted by chugchug

I recently upgraded to a PD 4655 which was a big improvement over the stock converter, but still couldn't get anything better then 20A of charge current, even when the battery was very low. I determined that the problem was the connection between the fuse panel in the front where the charger is installed and the distribution buss in the back where the battery is connected. AS used #12 wires between those 2 points.

My solution is to bypass the AS wiring with new 4 gauge wires directly from the PD charger output. Now I can get 50A charging current.

Hey Chugchug,
You went a step further by increasing your wire size. Good idea. And you avoided the job of trying to find the problem somewhere in the walls and floor of your Airstream. I would have to have done that if that was my problem. My issue was that my solar was doing all the work on a bright sunshiny day and I had to wait till dark before I realized the converter was working fine. Thanks for the reply.
Mike

[Rich W]

Originally Posted by NYMike

Hi Rich,
The store switch was in the on position. Just finished wrapping up this upgrade, and everything is working like planned. I disconnected the camper from shore power and shut off the store/use switch. My camper has solar and the batteries will charge from the solar panels regardless of the position of the store/use switch. Thanks for the input.
Mike

Yes, my solar doesn't care about the Use/Store either, only the converter does. Like I said, with a 2018 model it probably doesn't make a difference. Guess you'll have to trace the lines back to the batteries. There's probably an inline fusible link or loose wire somewhere that's not allowing the voltage to come through to the batteries.

Good luck