General Camper Power Question!

• Dec 24, 2017

• #1

frankwright

Senior Member

My hunting buddy bought an older camper to put on our hunting land.
I don't know anything about campers and he knows less.

He installed a deep cycle battery and it has some sort of power inverter for generator or battery..

Everything works with the generator but nothing works with 12V.

Could there be or is there usually a switch to select between power sources.

Just trying to get an idea before I go down and actually look at it. I have not been inside it yet.

Thanks!

 

• Dec 24, 2017

• #2

georgiadawgs44

Senior Member

I recently bought a camper and had this same issue. The lights worked with 120V power but would not work off the battery. It ended up being one of the circuit breakers mounted on the trailer frame on the tongue. It doesn't look like a circuit breaker but that's what it is. It had Shortcircuit 12v 40 amp printed on it. I'll try and find a link do you'll know what it looks like. I replaced the one that didn't have continuity through it and fixed the problem. I's not anything that can be reset.

This is the one I ordered.
https://www.delcity.net/store/24V-A...MIjZ6qsIak2AIVBJ7ACh3hhAvjEAQYAyABEgKWrPD_BwE

 

• Dec 24, 2017

• #3

frankwright

Senior Member

I appreciate it.

I will bring a meter with me and maybe I can figure it out.

 

• Dec 24, 2017

• #4

Hooty Hoot

Gone but not forgotten

I would check my ground first.

 

• Dec 24, 2017

• #5

frankwright

Senior Member

Definitely will. Thanks

 

• Dec 25, 2017

• #6

O

Oldstick

Senior Member

georgiadawgs44 said:

I recently bought a camper and had this same issue. The lights worked with 120V power but would not work off the battery. It ended up being one of the circuit breakers mounted on the trailer frame on the tongue. It doesn't look like a circuit breaker but that's what it is. It had Shortcircuit 12v 40 amp printed on it. I'll try and find a link do you'll know what it looks like. I replaced the one that didn't have continuity through it and fixed the problem. I's not anything that can be reset.

This is the one I ordered.
https://www.delcity.net/store/24V-A...MIjZ6qsIak2AIVBJ7ACh3hhAvjEAQYAyABEgKWrPD_BwE

Click to expand...

I agree, most campers have a 30 or 40 amp fuse or circuit breaker installed in the main line from the battery, usually near to where the battery is located. For protection in case of a short circuit somewhere causing the battery to overheat and/or explode.

If that fuse is blown (or gone bad in case of a breaker) there will be no voltage from the battery.

 

• Dec 25, 2017

• #7

frankwright

Senior Member

Thanks, I will check the battery for power and work from there.
I thought you maybe had to flip a switch or something to select power source.

 

• Dec 26, 2017

• #8

KDarsey

Senior Member

And some campers have a battery cut-off switch near or inside the battery box.

 

• Dec 26, 2017

• #9

frankwright

Senior Member

KDarsey said:

And some campers have a battery cut-off switch near or inside the battery box.

Click to expand...

Thanks!

 

• Dec 27, 2017

• #10

imkevdog

Senior Member

mine had little glass fuses on the inverter

 

• Dec 27, 2017

• #11

frankwright

Senior Member

Thanks. I will check there also.