Testing a magnetek power converter professional#

If you see a buildup of battery acid on the resistor gates (connection points), then your resisters could be the problem. These resistors can be riveted into the circuit board, making them almost impossible to replace yourself. They are buried behind the circuit board so take great care when trying to locate them, to prevent other problems. For those who do not know, resistors are used to control the voltage coming from your 12 volt DC power sources. Some RV converter circuit board use resistors.

If that does not change anything, then your RV converter is bad. When dry, hook your power sources back up. Once you have finished, give the board some time to dry off. With a q-tip or cloth, gently clean away the battery acid. Next, mix one teaspoon of baking soda with 12 ounces of water. You will be working with water, so you want to protect yourself and your coach from electrocution. Disconnect your shore power, solar panels, and batteries. Cleaning it is simple.įirst, make sure you do not have any electricity running through your coach. You can identify it by seeing a white, flaky substance on the connections. Battery acid can build up on the circuit board in various connections. They come color-coded to help you distinguish between which fuse is for which amperage. Kits can be around $20 and have blade fuses between 5-30 amp versions. You can buy them either individually or in kits. It is always a good idea to have a set of backup fuses in your toolbox. If one looks burnt, and the metal bridge inside of it is cracked, you will need to replace it. Your fuses are designed to take electrical surges and break before it burns out your electric amenities or melts wires. If the power does not return when you open it, you know it’s not the breaker. For example, if you lost power in your bathroom sink vanity area, open and close the breaker. Open and close each breaker individually to see if power is reaching its destination. A good strategy to test your circuit breakers is to keep your main breaker on, but turn off the other breakers.

Testing your circuit breakers one by one is another troubleshooting technique to tell if your RV converter is bad. If the power reading is not within the proper range, that could be your issue. To check this, again use your meter on both sides of the sensor. If it feels above normal, it could be your temperature sensor that has begun to malfunction. If it is not your fan, still check the temperature of your converter. If using a different fan, make sure the fan runs on the same voltage and amperage. You are taking a risk when using a different type of fan. It must fit correctly and cool the converter properly. They are designed for your converter’s specific needs. If the fan needs to be replaced, use the same fan part. To test this, use your meter at the entry point of the fan’s power line to see if it is running within the AC volt acceptable levels. If your converter reaches higher temperatures, you could have electrical issues inside your RV. When working properly, the fan will turn on and off intermittently depending on the internal temperature inside the converter. The purpose of the fan on your converter is to prevent the converter from overheating. Installing it incorrectly could end up burning out your entire electrical system.

Testing a magnetek power converter professional#

Replacing a converter should be done by professional technicians due to the complexity of the procedure. For your RV, be prepared to spend above $400 or more. The difference in price depends on the amount of amperage you are dealing with. If you do need to replace your converter, prices vary between $150 – $1,600. Your batteries should run between 11-13 volts. When running properly, the shore power voltage should be between 108-130. Conversely, the inverter does the exact opposite. Your RV converter changes the 110 volt AC shore power to your house batteries 12 volt DC power. If they are drained and will no longer hold their charge, this could be your converter not doing its job. Part of the converter’s job is to send power to your house batteries for charging purposes. A third indicator could be your devices won’t work because the outlets are not getting the proper amount of electricity.Ī more serious indicator is your house batteries. Another indicator is your refrigerator having a hard time maintaining its temperature. Other clues would be your electronic devices do not work as well. If you are seeing your lights dimming, your converter could be in trouble. Your interior lights are the easiest indicator. To tell if your RV converter is bad, you will start to see warning signs.