Converter problems

[Rbjewell]

I have a 2024 Pottery Barn and the batteries won’t stay charged. About every 2 weeks I notice the batteries losing a charge and I have to turn off and then Turn the converter back on and it will start charging.

The Airstream dealer says there is nothing wrong, I think its a faulty converter. Anyone having these issues?

Thanks

[uncle_bob]

Hi

It's a pretty good bet that you have lithium batteries and your converter / charger is programmed for lead acid.

Bob

[waninae39]

likely mis-programmed converter settings

[Rbjewell]

I do have lithium batteries.Are you saying that they could have given me a converter that runs the other type of batteries? Are they able to program the converter or do they need to install a new one.
Thanks for your help.

[Forester2]

The newer ones are "auto detect" meaning they will figure out if you have lithium. That being said, if you have a WFCO power center/converter, they may have put a permanent bridge into it because their original AD worked poorly. I know because I put one in my old camper and it was terrible charging with either generator or pedestal. On our 24 FC the WFCO has performed perfectly

[os1r1s]

I have a 2024.5 27ft Globetrotter with lithium and solar. My converter is a PD9360. It was absolutely set wrong from the factory. I'm still convinced it doesn't work right so I'm literally about to swap for another 9360 tomorrow morning.



If yours is in the same place, it is painful to get to. You can pull the fuse box *and* you can open the panel under the closet. The tool to change the battery mode is taped to the side. You can also just use a paperclip. If you use a mirror or remote camera, you can see the light shining through one of the holes. There is a good chance it is green which is for lead acid. It needs to be blue. Note it seems to only stay lit periodically so don't freak out if you don't see it.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Rbjewell

I do have lithium batteries.Are you saying that they could have given me a converter that runs the other type of batteries? Are they able to program the converter or do they need to install a new one.
Thanks for your help.

Hi

There are multiple versions of converters that AS has used in various models and in various years. For a while they used "auto detect" converters. Those had issues with not detecting properly in some cases. They *appear* to have gone back to a unit that you program for the battery you have.

They also have gone to "dealer installed" batteries in some years / models. That means the converter gets programmed at the dealer rather than at the factory. If the dealer forgets to do that, the default is lead acid.

Bob

[Rbjewell]

Thanks Bob, i’ll pass this along!

[Rbjewell]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

There are multiple versions of converters that AS has used in various models and in various years. For a while they used "auto detect" converters. Those had issues with not detecting properly in some cases. They *appear* to have gone back to a unit that you program for the battery you have.

They also have gone to "dealer installed" batteries in some years / models. That means the converter gets programmed at the dealer rather than at the factory. If the dealer forgets to do that, the default is lead acid.

Bob

Thanks, Uncle Bob. You were right.

I told the AS dealer about what you said and showed the thread, and voila, you were right. The program was set to Lead Acid and not Lithium. Some wiring needed to be changed, and apparently, they did that, too.
They said this happens more than not when the AS trailers are delivered.
Again, many thanks.
RBJewell