Dear Mark,
For most RVs (I have a travel trailer) is the battery necessary to operate 12V appliances and accessories when you are plugged into shore power? In other words, does the AC current flow through the converter (converted to DC current) and then to the battery? or does the AC current flow through the converter and then directly to the 12V appliance and/or accessory?
For my trailer, if I'm plugged into shore power and I do not have the battery connected, only those appliances and accessories that operate on 120V will work (eg, air conditioner, microwave, etc). It would appear, therefore, that the battery is necessary even though I have shore power. (this was a surprise to me before I studied the AC / DC systems in a RV -- I initially thought that when plugged into shore power, my battery was not being used and all power consumption was coming directly from the AC current (converted to DC via the converter). I'm just trying to confirm that it's normal for only the 120V appliances/accessories to operate when (1) plugged into shore power and (2) battery is not connected.
Mark Says:
If the converter is operating properly you should not need the battery when it is plugged into electricity. The problem with not having a battery on the TT is the break-away system won't work when towing the RV. If you have no 12 volt devices operating (lights, fans, radio etc) when you are plugged into electricity (without a battery) something is probably wrong with the converter.
With someone that disconnects the battery, there is a chance that the battery cables can be mistakenly hooked up backwards. Even momentarily, this can cause the fuses that protect the converter from reversed polairity to blow. this will cause no 12volt DC output from the converter. There should be a battery for the 12 volt system as this acts as a capacitor that will absorb Spikes in the DC System. Also with older converters, there is a potential of Dirty DC Voltage. This is when there is A/c ripple coming out of the DC Output Side of the converter. The battery will be helpful in protecting sensitive d/c circuits in this case
ReplyDeleteI find my ref quits if my batteries arn't hooked up due to the switch that auto switches to gas. This is on a Pace Arrow.
ReplyDelete