ExRVTech
California
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Joined: 05/06/2009
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Apparently Martyn needs some education in converters. While yes they charge the batteries, they also supply full 12V to any 12V appliances and or lights. You DO NOT need batteries to run 12V lights the converter will supply the 12V. These units were plugged in with standard shore power cords all the way down the assembly line and left the factories that way. NO batteries in FEMA units. If you found a battery box behing the LP tanks, this was put in aftermarket, not from the manufacture of the unit. I'm not seeing any forum posters who worked on these FEMA lines except myself, so take my advice, start at your converter.
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Salvo
California
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Joined: 06/01/2008
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Installing a battery right now is about the worst thing you can do. If you want to get your light working then you need to find the converter and see why it doesn't output 13V. If you have a voltmeter and know how to use it we can further assist you in troubleshooting the problem.
Sal
cbaygents wrote: ... and they will require a battery. Hopefully, I can get one put in today and see if everything works.
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cbaygents
Waynesboro, MS
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Joined: 05/30/2009
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I bought this unit from a dealer that purchased 484. All have cables for batteries. Most units have batteries but some don't. I went back and looked at the breakers to make sure that I didn't miss one that was tripped. OOPS, I overlooked the 15amp fuses. There is only one fuse in the panel. I don't remember which one it was plugged into. Anyway, I checked the plug ins and they work so I am going to put in the fuses and check out the lights. It makes sense to me that the manufacturers would make them so they would not require a battery but if that was the case then why go to the trouble to intall converters and have the 12volt lights??? If only made to work on shoreline then looks like the convertor would not be needed.
On my fiver yesterday I needed to raise it up but the batteries were down so the jack would not work. If you don't need a battery to use 12volt then why would I have to charge the battery to get the jack to work???
Maybe I don't understand and I certainly don't know very much but some of this doesn't make sense to me.
CarolynCarolyn
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glorio
Metairie, LA, USA
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Joined: 08/20/2004
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I live close to New Orleans and saw hundreds of fema trailers and
there were many different configurations of plumbing and appliances
in them but a lot of them had batteries. I think you need to hook up
a 12volt battery to the terminals and see if the lights work.
hope this helps
less is more
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Gdetrailer
PA
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Joined: 01/05/2007
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ExRVTech writes "If you found a battery box behing the LP tanks, this was put in aftermarket, not from the manufacture of the unit. I'm not seeing any forum posters who worked on these FEMA lines except myself, so take my advice, start at your converter."
Wrong! Any trailer that excedes 3,000 lbs is REQUIRED to have a emergency breakaway system. That means that the trailer MUST have been outfited with a on board battery to at least provide power for the breakaway system.
In the case of Fema trailers most likely a battery was installed until the unit arrived at the destination then would be removed.
Back to the OP's problem. You need to determine if the converter is working at all. The combo panel which houses the 120V breakers and 12V fuses should also be housing the actual converter in a compartment inside the panel.
There should be one 15A breaker to control the 120V power to the converter. The output of the converter goes to the 12V fuse panel.
The 12V fuse panel should have at least one large amperage fuse which is normally away from the others (amperage will depend on the size of the converter).
If you have a digital voltmeter you can check each side of each fuse to see if converter is providing at least 13V.
If no output from the converter then chances are converter may be bad.
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cbaygents
Waynesboro, MS
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I think I found the problem. I went back and checked the breakers again to be sure I didn't overlook one that may have been tripped. I never noticed that there was only one fuse in the fuse box. I am going to put new 15amp fuses in and that should fix my problem.
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thomhack
central florida
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cbaygents wrote:Lots of answers!!!
Another question on batteries...I got a 99 5th wheel Savanna, it has 2 batteries, neither of which is hooked up. I always use the electric at campground. Are these batteries only for 12volt lighting?
When I bought it the lady said she didn't think the batteries were charged up enough to let out the slides. Are they also for powering the slideouts? Someone said they were possibly for furnace lighting too?
Thanks for all the replies.
Batteries need to be hooked up (and fully charged) when towing...this is what operates the emergency brake system on your trailer.
On edit. I should also point out that the 12 volt system operates the fridge(control system) , slides,furnace, etc. etc.
* This post was
edited 11/12/09 06:15pm by thomhack *
2005 Jayco Jay Flight 27.5 bhs, 2005 f-250 power stroke diesel,
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cbaygents
Waynesboro, MS
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I have 2 batteries on the fiver. Charged them this weekend and hooked them up. I am learning alot from the forum. Lots of helpful info out there if your not embarassed to ask!
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ExRVTech
California
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So Gdetrailer, I assume you worked on a FEMA line as an electrician Right, If not then keep your opinions to yourself.
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Gene&Ginny
North Kingstown, RI
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Joined: 03/16/2004
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FWIW, I just Googled images for "FEMA trailer". Didn't see a battery box on any of them. These were NOT built as travel trailers, they were built as temporary housing. I believe ExRVTech is correct. As he stated, he worked on them and knows how they were wired.
Gene and DW Ginny
2008 Toyota 4Runner 4.7L V8 w/factory towing option
2002 Sunline Solaris Lite T2363
Reese Dual Cam Straight Line HP Sway Control
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