Question
What is the difference between an INVERTER and a CONVERTER?
Submitted via email
Answer
A converter is basically a battery charger that is connected to the distribution center either as an “all in one” unit or a separate unit in newer rigs. 120-volt power comes into the rig from the shoreline cord either plugged into the campground source, or by generator. That power goes to the distribution center just like your home and powers 120-volt appliances such as the air conditioners, outlets, refrigerator on AC, and other appliances. These all have circuit breakers in the distribution center. One of the circuits sends 120-volt power to the converter which is a battery charger connected to the house batteries.
An inverter is a separate component that is usually placed in an underfloor location and will take 12-volt power from the house batteries and provide 120-volt power to appliances. Smaller inverters can be found in the entertainment center for the TV/DVD player. Larger ones will have 2000 + watts to power the refrigerator on 120-volt power and other appliances. These will also typically replace the converter as they have multi-stage chargers like the Freedom 2000, some from Xantrex, and others.
Hope this helps!
Related video: How To Use An RV Inverter
You might also be interested in:
RV Power Converter Troubleshooting
Essential Guide To 120-Volt Power Converters For RVs
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Can you run water through the bathroom system without using the water pump?
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Thanks!
What size inverter do I need to run my 2 air conditioners which are 15,000 btu?
Hello Elliott,
Thank you for contacting us.
You would need at least a 3,000 inverter to run one air conditioner. If you want to run two, you would need to use a 6,000 watt inverter. If you want to run AC units off of batteries you will need a lot of batteries. One battery will run one air conditioner for about 20 minutes. An air conditioner puts an extreme draw on batteries, pulling around 150-200 amps when running. You need very large batteries and many of them to run an air conditioner. Because of this too, you will need to have a whole roof of solar panels to help recharge the voltage lost as well. I know people who have been able to do this to be able to run their AC units for a short period of time but if you are looking to run two AC units for a long time, you will need a generator.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
When I look for help in your awesome library for help, most of the info is for more modern units. If you know of groups for vintage campers, could you point me in the right direction. Thanx.
Hello Penny,
The videos are designed to be a source of help for all RV’ers. If you have a specific issue and you need to Ask the Expert for help you can ask the question here. Please include the make, model and the year of the RV.
Kind Regards,
Sarah
can a 1998 Generac 55G be replaced with a Westinghouse WGN5300S 6600/5300 electric start gen set
Hello Sid. They are the same wattage so they would power the same but you wouldn’t be able to replace the onboard generator with a portable generator. The portable wouldn’t fit into the compartment and also they are allowed in storage areas. RV generators are made to specifically work in a storage compartment with special venting and air intake. You would never be able to get a portable one to work properly in the current area. You can only replace onboard generators with other onboard generators made for RV’s.
Thanks
Dan
RV Repair Club
I have no power when running the generator only when plugged in to house
Hello Cindy,
Great question! The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members of our online community. By becoming a member, you will have access to our expert’s knowledge. With your membership you will also receive discounts on products and hundreds of hours of Premium content.
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Oops. Sorry. Thot it was a generic repair question, not Converters
Aluminum window frames.
Some screws are heavily oxidized
What screws are best for replacement?
Galvanized or aluminum screws
Does the inverter Aldo work as a converter?
Also
Hello Bruce,
Thank you for contacting us.
You would have to check the owners manual for the specific model to see if it can take 120v power and convert it to 12v dc. Some inverters have this option to charge the batteries when plugged into shore power. It does not power the entire 12v circuit like a normal converter would. Unless the inverter is installed within a circuit then most of the time the inverter does not act like a converter. If there is just something plugged into the inverter to get powered, then no it won’t. It has to be within a circuit connected to a breaker for it to convert to 12v and charge the batteries.
If you have any other questions, please chat, email, or call Customer Service.
Sincerely,
Sarah
RV Repair Club Video Membership
I need a wiring diagram for the 1997 diesel pusher coach. The old records were destroyed when the company was sold to its present owners.
Hello Thomas,
Here’s what the experts had to say about your question:
Unfortunately there isn’t a library of diagrams out there for older units. If the manufacture is no longer around or doesn’t have the records then there isn’t a good source available out there. You could try looking into owners forums and see if someone might have gotten one for your specific model but the chances of that are very rare.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
The last time we were hooked up to city electric in the morning our coach was dead. Started the rig up and left run and after a while we were able to have tip out retract back in. House batteries are both new. Inverter or converter?
Hello Bruce,
Great question! The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members of our online community. By becoming a member, you will have access to our expert’s knowledge. With your membership you will also receive discounts on products and hours of Premium video content.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please click on the special offer below:
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Thanks!
Unapprov
Unit leans to right I assume from the super slide. How can I level it up. Thanks
Hello Ronnie,
Thank you for contacting us.
What is the year, make, and model of your RV?
Thank you,
Sarah
RV Repair Club Video Membership
My 120 Volt not charging house battery
Hello Robert,
Thank you for contacting us.
What is the year, make, and model of your RV?
Sincerely,
Sarah
RV Repair Club Video Membership
What is the pinion and wheel crown and how hard is it to replace it
Hi Carrie,
Can I please get the make, model, and year of your RV and I will submit your question to our experts?
Have a nice day!
What size converter inverter charger should be used in it
Hello Dana,
This is for members to our online community. We do have a $3.21 USD annual entrance offer if you are interested? This would include access to expert advice (like this), plus discounts, hours of Premium videos, etc. Below is the link to join if you are interested: https://www.rvrepairclub.com/?add-to-cart-multi=1&products=79&skipcart=1&coupon=C30503&vscid=C30503&skipcart=318900
Sincerely,
Sarah
RV Repair Club Video Membership
We were hooked up to 50 amp shoreline at our house. A thunderstorm hit. There was a brief power outage. Tried to switch to generator… nothing. Control panel showed batteries were fully charged. Could the outage cause a problem with the automatic transfer switch. I don’t think the PD52 has a surge protector.
Hello John,
Thank you for contacting us.
What is the year, make, and model or your RV? We would be happy to help!
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Sarah
RV Repair Club Video Membership
We were hooked up to 50 amp shoreline at our house. A thunderstorm hit. There was a brief power outage. Tried to switch to generator… nothing. Control panel showed batteries were fully charged. Could the outage cause a problem with the automatic transfer switch. I don’t think the PD52 has a surge protector.
Hello John,
Thank you for contacting us.
What is the year, make, and model or your RV?
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Sarah
RV Repair Club Video Membership
How do I use this video distribution system, I have 3 TVs and can only get the main TV to play DVD and VHS ??
Hello Robert,
Thank you for contacting us.
Most setups only allow for the main tv to play videos from the DVD player. The other TV’s usually only have access to the coax system which is for antenna, cable or satellite. To have video at all other TV’s there would have to be A/V or HDMI cables run from the player to the TV’s directly. Most of the time RV’s don’t come with this option. If there are A/V cable inputs near the main TV that output to the other TV’s you can use these. You would most likely have to install a selector switch from the player to all the outputs. This is really the only way it can be done.
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Sarah
RV Repair Club Video Membership
I picked up my RV to prep for a trip. I had the battery disconnect turned on, and the inverter switch inside rig was on. After some time, I noticed a beeping sound coming from the basement compartment behind the batteries. I know the inverter is behind a panel and although I can’t see the inverter I think that’s where the beeping was coming from. Any idea why? Thanks, Steve
Hi Steve. Inverters have different warnings but usually they beep to alert you of low battery voltage. There should be a diagram or LCD screen on the inverter telling you what the beeping is. If the beeping goes away when plugged into shore or when you have a charged battery then most likely it was a low voltage alarm. If it always beeps no matter what, then the issue could be something internal with the inverter.
Dan
RV Repair Club
Ticket 38184 We bought this motorhome a few months ago and haven’t used it yet.
Made the mistake of not crawling under the mh. The plumbing system is not insulated at all, it is all exposed to the cold weather underneath. Any way to enclose plumbing and send heat to keep lines from freezing? Tanks have heating pads attached to them but all of the lines are exposed. Very disapointed with that part of the mh.
Hello Domingo!
Here is what our experts had to say:
You can get corrugated underbelly material and secure to the framing to block the contents from the elements. You can also add more insulation to help as well. The only way to really add heat is to attach a new duct to the furnace and run into the underbelly or tap into an existing duct to run for a little bit of heat. This is all that is done for RV’s set up for colder weather camping. You could also get line heaters but I only recommend this for severe cold weather camping. I will share a link to a website that sells this material for underneath.
https://www.recpro.com/1-8-extreme-duty-corrugated-rv-underbelly-material-76-3-4-wide/
Sincerely, Dan RV Repair Club Technical Expert
Hi Domingo!
Here is what our experts had to say:
You can get corrugated underbelly material and secure to the framing to block the contents from the elements. You can also add more insulation to help as well. The only way to really add heat is to attach a new duct to the furnace and run into the underbelly or tap into an existing duct to run for a little bit of heat. This is all that is done for RV’s set up for colder weather camping. You could also get line heaters but I only recommend this for severe cold weather camping. I will share a link to a website that sells this material for underneath.
https://www.recpro.com/1-8-extreme-duty-corrugated-rv-underbelly-material-76-3-4-wide/
Sincerely, Dan RV Repair Club Technical Expert
While trying to fill potable water tank, water is not going to tank but to gray water tank. It is a powered system. Do I need to turn the water pump to fill the tank?
Hello Mark,
Here’s what the experts had to say about your question:
The pump is only used to pull water from the tank. Most likely there is a valve that is needed to divert the water to the fresh tank. Normally these valves are in the wet bay where the water connections are located. Sometimes there are series of valves that need to be positioned to get the setup correct. Also water should never be going directly into the grey tank. Water can go directly into the black tank when using the “tank flush” connection. It is possible you have the water hose connected to the tank flush instead of the water inlet. For systems that don’t use a gravity fill it is common to use the city inlet to fill the fresh tank, this is when a diverter valve is used to send the water to the fresh tank instead of the water lines.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
Looking for adjusting procudure for the front slideout
Hello Barry,
Here’s what the experts had to say about your question:
It really depends on what type of slide system you have. There are a few systems that can be adjusted and others that can’t be adjusted at all. Above or below floor systems that use a drive arm to push out the room have adjustments at the end or beginning of the arms. They are either on the outside at the exterior wall of the slide or underneath the bed if on a bedroom slide. There are bolts that can be adjusted to adjust the slide. If you have a cable system, the in and out cables can be adjusted for the sides to get a better fit. These adjustments are made at the cable by the motor which is usually on top of the slide. Hydraulic systems are done on the exterior as well. If you have an in-wall system like a Schwintek or SlimRack there are no adjustments and something is wrong with the system itself if something is needed. We do have a video showing the most common slide adjustment out there, I will share the link below.
https://www.rvrepairclub.com/video/adjusting-rv-slide-out-seal-011521/
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
On a 50 amp system if I only plug my 120 will my batteries still charge? I have 2 x 120 cords which must be on ground line if I want to keep batteries charged, because they charge on 50 amps but after winter plugged on 120 I have no power on batteries
When driving on road does house batteries get a charge? If so how is it connected?
Hi Robert!
Yes they should be getting a charge while traveling from the alternator. There is usually a battery isolater switch in the engine compartment that is connected to the ignition switch. When the ignition is on it connects the house and chassis batteries together. When the ignition is turned off the switch is deactivated and it prevents the chassis battery from draining when the house batteries are being used.
Here is a link to a commonly used one:https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Tow-Ready/TR118665.html
Sincerely, Dan RV Repair Club Technical Expert
I recently had Renogy solar panels installed on my RV. All seemed good but a few hours later. Some of the LED burned out. The gauge for tank level stopper working, Refrigerater and Water heater stopped working, radio stoipper working. Seems like over voltage as the 2 amp fuse on circuit board the waterheater was blown. I replace the fuse and blows immediately, The same for the radio- fuse blows immediately, The 3amp mini glass fuse on the fridge was also blown. All of the fuses in trhe fuse box and good and none of them were blown. I tralked to Renogy, Battle Borne and WFCO and I check the voltage and it was bouncing all ove rthe place. I was told top unplug everything and let it “rest”. I did that and unplugged t o solar controller and unplugged the panels. The output voltage from the fuse box is all good at 13 volts on all the connections but I had to replace all the LED lights and they are working now but the appliance and gauge are not. I think the circuit board on the WH and refrigerator are all fried as well as the gauge. Any ideas on how to proceed to get the appliances back working? Should I replace the boards and hope that solves the issues and leave the solar disconnected- So bummed out
I am sorry to hear about all of the issues you are having. It does sound like an overload of voltage coming into the system. I would make sure to check the solar system connections on how it was hooked up. I might be in series and not parallel which would double the voltage going to the system. With everything burning out from that surge I can only assume that is the issue for the appliances as well. Most likely you will have to replace the boards to get them working again. It is possible there is a fuse blown on the board so make sure to check this first before replacing anything but a voltage surge can cause damage quickly to control boards before a fuse would blow. I would not use that solar setup until it is inspected. Even a slight voltage spike from a controller failing shouldn’t cause this. It is most likely the solar controller is bad and not regulating the voltage or there is something messed up with the way it was installed. If you got it installed from someone else, I would take it back to them and have them pay for all the repairs needed as it sounds like a faulty system or faulty install.
how to check fuel pressure?
Hello! Great question! The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members of our online community. By becoming a member, you will have access to our expert’s knowledge in XXX. With your membership you will also receive discounts on products and hours of Premium video content.
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Thanks!
Electrical outlets do not work while driving…..there would be no generator or shore power available. Any ideas on my problem?
Hello Larry,
Thank you for contacting us.
What is the year, make, model or your RV?
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Lindsay
RV Repair Club Video Membership
Can’t activate starter on built-in generator beyond brief attempt noise as it tries to turn motor.
Hello Joseph,
We would love to answer this expert question for you but I would need the year, make, and model of your RV. Once we receive the information, we can pass it along to the experts.
Sincerely,
Danesha
RV Repair Club Video Membership
If I replace the coach Led Acid batteries with 2 Battle Born batteries, Do I have to replace the inverter or any other electrical components. and if so what and why?
Hello Dell,
Thank you for contacting us.
Most of the time for lithium batteries it is best to switch the converter charging system to one made for lithium batteries. This is because of the charge rate for wet cell batteries is lower and charges slower than what lithiums can handle. Usually having a specialty charger allows better performance out of the lithium batteries. I did check on the ones you have mentioned and according to their website a modern standard converter will charge their batteries just fine. They say their batteries are made to handle a 14.4v bulk and 13.6v float charge. This is what most standard converters put out. If your converter is older than 10 years I would recommend upgrading but if recent it should be fine. Other than that nothing is needed to converter to these battery types.
https://battlebornbatteries.com/faq/
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Lindsay
RV Repair Club Video Membership
Trying to light the furnace in my rv
Hi Tim. Can we please get the Make, Model and year of your RV? Then I will forward your question on to our experts.
Thanks
Jean
RV Repair Club Video Membership
can i remove my house batteries & still be able to drive it ?
Hey Kenneth,
We would love to answer this expert question for you but I would need the year, make, and model of your RV. Once we receive the information, we can pass it along to the experts.
Sincerely,
Danesha
RV Repair Club Video Membership
We have an inverter on our rig but don’t understand what, if anything it is doing. We cannot use plugs, refrigerator or Tv without shore power or generator, what is the inverter doing ? Does it have anything to do with our solar panel?
Hey Toni,
We would love to answer this expert question for you but I would need the year, make, and model of your RV. Once we receive the information, we can pass it along to the experts.
Sincerely,
Danesha
RV Repair Club Video Membership
When the unit is plugged in to 120v land line, should the inverter be on or off. ???
Hey Bill,
We would love to answer this expert question for you but I would need the year, make, and model of your RV. Once we receive the information, we can pass it along to the experts.
Sincerely,
Danesha
RV Repair Club Video Membership
Hi I have 3 tvs 2 in and 1 out so all 3 tvs do not work exept if I do put on cord and it get on..
Hey Wagner,
We would love to answer this expert question for you but I would need the year, make, and model of your RV. Once we receive the information, we can pass it along to the experts..
Sincerely,
Danesha
RV Repair Club Video Membership
During the winter months, I store my motorhome in a indoor, climate controlled building. After I plug it in, should the brass toggle switch, on the house batteries , be on or off? And the same question for the 12v switch at the entry door, on or off while plugged in while in storage.
Hey Rick,
We would love to answer this expert question for you but I would need the year, make, and model of your RV. Once we receive the information, we can pass it along to the experts.
Sincerely,
Danesha
RV Repair Club Video Membership
how do you connect solar plug to battery to charge battery?
Hey Don,
We would love to answer this expert question for you but I would need the year, make, and model of your RV. Once we receive the information, we can pass it along to the experts.
Sincerely,
Danesha
RV Repair Club Video Membership
it appears that the converter supplies power to the fridge when plugged into 120v , but can’t find literature on how the fridge will run when travelling. The fridge has a 2 way control panel that only allows for “auto”, which allows for the 120v operation when plugged in, or LP gas. Apparently older fridges had a 3 way system that allowed for adequate fridge operation when travelling. From what I’ve read the newer fridges (after early 90’s) are only 2way. Question: How can the fridge work if the converter only supplies 120v elec power when plugged in not when travelling? If the LP gas is shut off when travelling (legal purposes), how can the fridge be kept cold? There is a 3000w inverter, but it only supplies the one 120v coach plug outlet for small appliances (blender, coffee pot, etc.). There is also solar that keeps the batteries charged up. If no 120v from converter to fridge when travelling, can I run an extension cord from inverter to fridge compartment plug box for 120v power when travelling?
Neil
Hi Neil,
It looks like your question was submitted via Customer Support email, we have sent an answer to your question to your personal email, I will also copy the expert’s response here:
In the USA there is actually no law against driving with open LP containers. There are certain areas like tunnels, on ferry’s and at gas stations where it is not allowed but technically you will not get into trouble running the fridge in gas. It is not recommended by most mainly because of the open LP containers. If you were to run over a stick or rock and it kicks up and hits the gas line and opens it you would have constantly leaking gas. The same could be on the inside as well. If a fitting came loose during travel and leaked gas inside you wouldn’t know and it could create a dangerous situation. I know many people that do run the fridge on gas during travel but many don’t recommend it. For your fridge this is really the only option. When RV’s come with an inverter to run the fridge it is because they have a residential 120v fridge, not an RV fridge. The inverter allows them to keep it cold during travel. There used to be more 3 way fridges but these were smaller fridges. These are still found in pop up and truck campers but are not regularly found in most RV’s. It is hard to run the larger fridges off of battery power because it requires a lot of DC voltage. The larger fridges would be tough to keep cool and still have a strong battery when getting to the destination. For your fridge, if you were set it to auto it goes off of the main power supply. When plugged into shore it will run on electric. If there is a power loss or you unplug it will go to gas to keep it running. When you restore power it will switch back to electric. It will not run on battery. You do have an inverter that can be used to power an outlet but it will not work the fridge how it is setup. You could find a way to connect the power cord from the fridge to your current inverter to run the fridge on electric while traveling. This would make it work and you don’t have to use gas to operate while traveling, it would be much safer. If you are only traveling a few hours away you really don’t need to run the fridge. Dave and others have tested this and the fridge only goes up a few degrees after 4 hours. This is if you get the fridge cold the day before and have everything inside cold. The fridges are well insulated and as long as your door seals are good and have a lot of cold items in the fridge it will stay cold during travel from place to place. If you drive more than 10 hours then it might be worth looking into something to keep the fridge running but really it isn’t that necessary.
Sincerely, Dan RV Repair Club Technical Expert
Let us know if other questions come up!
Sincerely,
Codi
RV Repair Club Video Membership
Hello Allan,
Thank you for contacting us.
In the USA there is actually no law against driving with open LP containers. There are certain areas like tunnels, on ferry’s and at gas stations where it is not allowed but technically you will not get into trouble running the fridge in gas. It is not recommended by most mainly because of the open LP containers. If you were to run over a stick or rock and it kicks up and hits the gas line and opens it you would have constantly leaking gas. The same could be on the inside as well. If a fitting came loose during travel and leaked gas inside you wouldn’t know and it could create a dangerous situation. I know many people that do run the fridge on gas during travel but many don’t recommend it. For your fridge this is really the only option. When RV’s come with an inverter to run the fridge it is because they have a residential 120v fridge, not an RV fridge. The inverter allows them to keep it cold during travel. There used to be more 3 way fridges but these were smaller fridges. These are still found in pop up and truck campers but are not regularly found in most RV’s. It is hard to run the larger fridges off of battery power because it requires a lot of DC voltage. The larger fridges would be tough to keep cool and still have a strong battery when getting to the destination. For your fridge, if you were set it to auto it goes off of the main power supply. When plugged into shore it will run on electric. If there is a power loss or you unplug it will go to gas to keep it running. When you restore power it will switch back to electric. It will not run on battery. You do have an inverter that can be used to power an outlet but it will not work the fridge how it is setup. You could find a way to connect the power cord from the fridge to your current inverter to run the fridge on electric while traveling using an extension cord. This would make it work and you don’t have to use gas to operate while traveling, it would be much safer. If you are only traveling a few hours away you really don’t need to run the fridge. Dave and others have tested this and the fridge only goes up a few degrees after 4 hours. This is if you get the fridge cold the day before and have everything inside cold. The fridges are well insulated and as long as your door seals are good and have a lot of cold items in the fridge it will stay cold during travel from place to place. If you drive more than 10 hours then it might be worth looking into something to keep the fridge running but really it isn’t that necessary.
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Lindsay
RV Repair Club Video Membership
I’ve had the furnace out and replaced the sail switch…. now the wall mount thermostat won’t turn furnace on……
Hello David,
Thank you for contacting us.
What is the year, make, and model of your RV?
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Lindsay
RV Repair Club Video Membership
I have a Generac Guardian 6500 generator and I’m looking for some advise and guidance on how to fix the transfer switch. Can someone help please.
Hi Marc. The transfer switch has levers and relays to switch between the power sources. There might be some components that can be replaced inside of the transfer switch but most of the time if the switch is faulty it is best to replace with a new transfer switch. If you could give me some more information on what is wrong with it I might be able to help tell you what can be done but like I said, most of the time the transfer switch would need replaced if faulty. You want to make sure it has good connection and voltage from the sources before replacing anything though. If the generator is not sending proper voltage the transfer switch might not activate and allow voltage through.
Dan
RV Repair Club
I HAVE TWO 110V CABLES COMING OUT OF MY INVERTER. ONE GOES TO MY RESIDENTIAL FRIDGE, BUT THE OTHER ONE I CAN NOT DETERMINE WHERE IT GOES. IVE TURNED OFF THE SHORE POWER AND CHECKED EVERY OUTLET TO SEE IF IT FEEDS ANY OUTLET, BUT DOES NOT SHOW UP ANYWHERE. HOW CAN I TRACE THE AC LINE COMING FROM MY INVERTER?
Hi John,
Here is what our expert had to say:
That is actually going to go to the breaker at the main power distribution center. This is so when on shore power the inverter is connected to the breaker for protection as the inverter is also a charger for the batteries as well. The fridge will also go off of this breaker when on shore power. The inverter will not power anything else, only the fridge.
Sincerely,
Dan RV Repair Club Technical Expert
Does the engine alternator also charge the deep cycle batteries when you are driving down the road? Thanks
When storing for and extended period of time on a gravel pad should i let down the stabilizers or just leave the weight on the tires?
Hi David! To get the best possible answer for you from our experts can I please have you send over the year, make, and model of your RV?
We’ll be glad to help further when we here back.
Sincerely,
Codi
RV Repair Club Video Membership
My rear driver side jack won’t retract
Hi Deborah,
Thank you for contacting us. Please resubmit the question with the make, model and the year of the RV. This is something the experts will need in order to help.
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Ayan
RV Repair Club Video Membership
Ticket# 35404 I’m replacing my factory fridge/freezer with a 120 vac 1 amp 6 cu ft New unit. The 12 vdc power to my fridge measures only 7 vdc, but I have 12 vdc at the Batteries and coming into the converter. What should I look at for the only 7 vdc coming in at the refrigerator? What size inverter do you recommend from my fixed 12 vdc to the fridge?
Hello Joseph,
Thank you for contacting us. Here is the experts response:
If there are only 7vdc at the wires to the fridge then there is a loose connection in the wiring or the fuse panel is only putting out 7vdc. I would start at the fuse panel and test the voltage there as well to make sure it is at least 12v. If it is then you have to trace the wiring to the fridge, see what else is on that circuit and check all connections. Somewhere there is a voltage loss. If the fuse panel reads low but the battery reads good, make sure you have good connections at the battery and to the panel. Is the old fridge you are removing 12v only? Typically they are controlled by 12v but operate off of either propane or electric (120v). Most of the time there should be an outlet to plug the new fridge into. If you don’t have an outlet then yes you would need an inverter. Since the amp draw of the new fridge is low you would technically only need a 200w inverter to be fine. It can be larger, it will only use what is needed
https://www.rvrepairclub.com/article/what-is-the-diff…-and-a-converter/
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
Had to change my converter which had no fan but my
Trailer is wired like a house to the converter woth fan now everything is acting crazy.you can’t get the WFCO FP-01 now it gives you regular style 60 amp converter I stead when you look it up. Need help as my washing machine is now burnt up and not sure what’s going on .
Hi Calvin. There are two different style converters, open converters which will look like a computer circuit board with a lot of components on it and usually has a fan and then there are closed converters which are just a solid box with a vent on one side. These are both the same just one has a housing. Typically the open converters attach to the housing of the distribution center itself, usually slid into the bottom or side. The closed converters are usually installed on the rear of the power center as they are larger systems and better to be isolated rather than attached. All converters attach to a breaker on the 120v side and then have wires that connect to the fuse panel to power the 12v system. If you have an open converter you can replace it with a closed model, you will just have to make room for it elsewhere. You also have to make sure you are connecting the wires to the proper places as there are 120v wiring and 12v wiring. The model you provided WFCO FP-01 is not a model number. WFCO is a manufacture but they use a series number, 3000, 5000, 8900, 9000 etc. The FP-01 just means what filler plate was used for the breaker space. You will need to find the series number to find the correct converter for the system. As for the washing machine, these work off of 120v and not the 12v system so the converter doesn’t come into play when operating a washing machine. If a different converter was installed then there could be an issue with the wiring if it damaged components. Make sure to check the wiring diagrams and connections to make sure everything is correct.
Dan
RV Repair Club
Where is the converter on the 88 Allegro?
Hello Peter,
I unfortunately don’t have access to schematics so I can’t give you an exact location. The converter is usually behind the main power distribution center, most of the time it has to be pulled out to gain access unless there is another access point to that area. The converter connects to a breaker and also to the fuse panel so the best way to find the converter is to trace the wires from there to its location.
Sincerely,
Dan, RV Repair Club Technical Expert
The RV has been in storage since 1996 and I just purchased it and I cannot figure out how to get the 12 volt system to work
Hi Peter,
Great question! I will need additional information from you to get your question answered. What is the year, make and model of your RV.
If you have further questions, please chat, email or call Customer Service at 1-855-706-3536.
Sincerely,
Shelley
RV Repair Club Video Membership
The furnace refuses to stay lit, when I turn the thermostat on it doesn’t engage the heat from the propane so I am thinking that The internal light is out? I know not to light anything, I was just wondering is it something You/I can fix? Thanks
Hello Colette,
Great question! I will need more information from you. Please resubmit your question and include the year, make and model of your RV? Also the make of the furnace.
Sincerely,
Joan
RV Repair Club Video Membership
How can one empty old gasoline from the tank?
Hi Alex,
Thank you for reaching out. Looks like your question has been submit.
Sincerely,
Shelley
RV Repair Club Video Membership
I am totally new to fulltime RVing. I am renovating a 1989 Georgie Boy Cruuse Air II and I need to know where is a good online source for ordering. Appreciate the help
Please help..
Hello Mike!
How can we help?
Thanks!
Jessica
RV Repair Club Video Membership
I have a guardian RV generator is a 3600 watt units the model is a quiet pact 40g.
I am new to rving and new to this rig had it out for my first week and ran into troubles with the generator
I could get it started I gave it time to get warm up and then I added stuff like my AC etc
after a few more minutes it would shut down
There’s oil in the machine there’s more than a quarter tank of fuel in your RV
it would be difficult to start requiring me to fire the vehicle backup does anybody know what’s causing it to not continually to run.
Hi Steve!
There are a few things that can cause this. It can be a clogged fuel filter, the quality of fuel, clogged air filter, old oil, clogged spark arrestor or varnish build up inside the carburetor. Most of the time a good tune up helps, changing the oil and filters and cleaning out the arrestor is the best place to start. If that still doesn’t help cleaning out the carburetor is the next thing to do. It is best to have a professional do this if you don’t have experience with it yourself as it has many small parts and gaskets that need to be cleaned and put back together.
Sincerely,
Dan RV Repair Club Technical Expert
My eyebrow will not light up, so I can’t turn on or off. 5amp was blown, replaced, 3 weeks later still good. Could the electric panel behind on switch need replacing?
Hi Dorene. Yes these panels fail and if the fuse is now good, most likely the panel will need replaced. I would first make sure you have voltage just to be sure but if there is voltage to the fridge, the panel most likely needs replaced.
Thanks
Dan-RV Repair Club
where is the best place for an inverter on my HR thinking of a 2000 watt, will the batteries handle that?
You want the inverter in a storage compartment close to the batteries. The inverter wattage just tells you what wattage it can use up to so it is important to know how much wattage is needed for what you are trying to operate. The batteries can handle any wattage, the more wattage just means the batteries will drain faster. It depends on what you want the inverter to run and how much wattage you will need to operate that component.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
Hi can you do a video on how to replace the bailey channel in my sliding g windows on my bus.
How to take the windiws and channel out along with the windows and how to replace them thank you in advance. Heather
Hello Heather!
I will forward this to our content team as feedback for future creations!
Thank you!
Jessica
RV Repair Club Video Membership
Got my new RV home plugged it into a 30 amp outlet made for an RV and my inside breaker bid started to smoke. Any ideas, and is something ruined?
Anytime there is smoke that is not good. That is from heat build up which is usually caused by a loose connection. Typically the damage is confined to just that area but you should inspect everything else as well. There could be an issue with the outlet you are plugged into, the shore cord or the wiring at the breaker itself. This can be dangerous so it is important to check over the wiring of the system and make sure nothing else was damaged.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
When I empty my Black tank, on the panel , senor reads 1 light indicating empty. When I treat my Black tank using the GEO METHOD…mix Boraxo, dawn dishwater soap, Calgon and pinesol and mix with Warm water with 1 gallon of toilet water and add my orange treatment. When I go to the panel, it will read 2 or 3 lights. Are the chemicals giving me a false reading? Not sure why it is reading 3/4 the full .
Can you explain?
Thank you
Don Colicchio
Member of RV Repair Club
(814) 440-4499
Erie, PA 16510
Hello Don,
Thank you for contacting us. I’m sorry for the inconvenience but can you resubmit your question and include the make, model and the year of the RV. The experts will need that information in order to assist.
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Joan
RV Repair Club Video Membership
Do you have to remove the ceiling to change roof top AC units
Hello Gordy,
Thank you for your patience while I asked the expert, here is the reply:
No, thankfully they are fairly easy to do. It depends on what type of AC unit you have but there are typically two ways of removing the AC. If you have the standard AC with the vent and return air filter in the center of the ceiling you should be able to remove the vent cover to gain access to everything. With the cover fully removed you should see the wiring for the AC control panel and it needs to be unplugged. You then need to look at the 4 corners for 5/16″ hex bolts. These are the bolts that hold the AC to the roof. Remove them and the AC will be free to take off of the roof. If you have a low profile AC unit and your return air filter are on the sides of the ceiling and not in the center, all of this is done on the roof. Remove the shroud of the AC and look for screws or bolts holding it into place, there will be four and can sometimes be hard to find but they are there. Once they are removed you can tilt the AC on its side and disconnect the wiring and then remove the unit from the roof. Taking the AC unit on and off the roof is the hardest part about replacing them. I hope this helps!
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
Tried to start my coach, waited for the dash lights to disappear. Turned on the ignition switch to start and nothing happened. I remembered the switch at the rear was off. I left the ignition on and went to the rear of the coach to turn that switch on. After I turned the switch on I heard something trying to start. Not knowing what was happening I turned the rear switch off. I then went back to the front and turned the ignition switch off. I went back to the rear & turned that switch on and then went to the front and tried to start the motorhome. All the dash lightrs came on & closed. The vehicle was in park with the brakes on. The diesel genererator started OK. When I turned the ignition switch to start there was nothing. It made no attempt to start.
Hello Jerry,
Here is the response for our expert:
It is possible there might be a blown fuse but if the switches and everything are in the proper position it could be the starter as well. It is possible there is something wrong with the switch as well. Really the only way to know is to remove the switch and test for continuity between the terminals. You said the lights went out on the dash, could it be a low battery issue? You might have the battery selector switch in the wrong position or it is possible the starting battery doesn’t have the load capacity to start as well. Most likely the issue you have is an electrical one as opposed to a single component but tracing it could be difficult. The best thing to start with is double checking and making sure everything is in the proper position and setting and make sure the battery is fully charged with clean terminals. After that you want to check the fuses for the chassis and then test the switches. I hope this helps narrow it down!
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
While watch tv last evening it started going on and off. Then it finally stayed off and the refrigerator, fan and my recliner. I don’t know what connects all these things.
Hey Milton!
That’s a great question. I would be happy to submit this to our team of experts, but I need more info first:
What is the year/make/model of your RV?
If you have any questions or concerns, please chat, email or call us at 1-855-706-3536.
Thanks!
Madeline
RV Repair Club Video Membership
White water tank where are the shut off valves to keep the water in?
Hey John,
Great question! I would be happy to submit this to our team of experts for their input, but I do need some additional info from you.
What is the year/make/model of your RV?
What is the year/make/model of your water tank?
If you have any questions or concerns, please chat, email or call us at 1-855-706-3536.
Best,
Madeline
RV Repair Club Video Membership