No Battery Charge

[Coach M]

My 1984 Funchaser's power converter (model 3230UL) is supposed to charge my battery.....but doesn't. I've been using my car battery charger.
Any suggestions?

 

[RichR]

Have you checked to see if you have a voltage increase to the battery when you plug into shore power? If not, the converter isn't putting out any power. There are fuses in the converter to the battery that can be bad. I assume your battery does provide power to the 12 volt systems when it is charged.

 

[Wrascal]

I don't know specifics ...

so these are only my assumptions, and how I'd troubleshoot this.

First, is the converter getting power?
Second, is the converter providing output power?
Third, is the power reaching the battery?

Each question/answer would led to a different trouble-shooting branch.

 

[Coach M]

charger out.

Hi Wrascal and Rich R,
I'm just now back from camping. My Hilo and power ::converter worked fine with 12 volt and 110 plug in. But when plugged in to 110, the battery did:: not receive a charge from the converter (no change showing on volt meter). The fuses on the outside of the converter are good. You say there there is a fuse "inside" the converter to the battery?

 

[Wrascal]

Speculation on my part

but if some of the 12v functions work then the converter is getting power AND providing output power to those functions.

My converter feeds a separate 12V power distribution box - with multiple fuses - before going to the numerous sub-systems. I suspect (but don't know) that the battery charge line is also fused similarly.

You may have a blown fuse within this box - or maybe a loose/broken wire that prevents power from going to the battery. Maybe just a bad connection at the battery itself?

Again, follow the charge line back from the battery and find where it "breaks".

NOTE: in my case MY 12V distribution box is close to the converter - mounted on the floor under the cabinetry. It has a removeable plastic cover on top of it, that when removed exposes a bunch of fuses.

 

[RichR]

Here is the manual for your converter. It mentions a relay that switches in to charge the battery. You may want to check it out. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parallaxpower.com%2F3200%2FParallax%25203200%2520Series%2520Owner%2520Operator%2520Manual.pdf&ei=G4nsUYzcFaTuyAGh54CgBw&usg=AFQjCNGgYEDWmLjjkh4IBwIOXcLsj-x9Iw&bvm=bv.49478099,d.aWc

 

[PopRichie77]

I would like to point out that My 2195T and 2209T, while similar have very different converters and the locations are different, also the location of fuses are different. There was a lot of different locations an configuration for the converter, circuit breakers and fuse location over the different models and years also my 95 has a circuit breaker similar to the ones in the battery box, located on the floor near the converter which is under the couch.
He needs to get locations and information from some one that has a year close to his.
Tracing it back is good to do, but it can be hard for someone not familiar with doing things like that. The converter in my 95 is the old transformer type with a single diode, while the one in the 2009 is solid state and also contains the AC circuit breakers and the DC fuses.
Point is they can be very different.
RichR, you posted before I did, glad you found the information on his converter.

 

[Wrascal]

Point is they can be very different.

and I see that he's got an 84 model. Do you suppose it's using vacuum tubes?

Of course I jest; but this relay and self resetting breaker sound like very probable items to look into.