crtundra
Castle Rock, CO
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I've searched and read a few posts that discussed if a travel trailer can run on shore power alone but I can't find a post that matches my issue. If I unhook the battery, electrical will not work even though I'm still plugged into shore power. Does that sound right? I've read the manual on my 2008 Keystone Outback and it doesn't mention having a battery in place to run everything when on shore power.
The previous owner said the battery was four years old so I decided to replace it with a Walmart Everstart today. I checked the voltage on the battery while plugged into shore power and it was 12.49 volts.
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garym114
Bluff Dale, Texas
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Some converters need a battery connected to work, others do not. Apparently yours requires a connected battery.
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bldrbuck
one or the other
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You should talk to your dealer or Keystone. They can explain how the converter is wired.
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crtundra
Castle Rock, CO
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Thanks Gary. I don't have a great feeling about being dead in the water if my battery goes south. Can I replace my converter so that I can run shore power without a battery?
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garym114
Bluff Dale, Texas
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crtundra wrote:Thanks Gary. I don't have a great feeling about being dead in the water if my battery goes south. Can I replace my converter so that I can run shore power without a battery?
I failed to read your entire post.
Your battery should read over 13v because the converter should be charging it. A voltage reading of 12.49 volts says the converter is not charging the battery. Check the output of the converter directly, on the 12v wires coming out of the converter, whatever they are connected to first. If it is still the same you need to replace the converter. That may solve your original problem.
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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Check and make sure converter is getting 110V AC power.....usually piggy back from a breaker for outlets and may not be marked on panel.
Just remove panel and visually see which breaker feeds it....check that it has power.
Then check converter output without battery.......should be ~13.6V DC
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snowdance
Yreka, Ca
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Some rigs need more power to start things and run every thing ect than the converter puts out. So many rigs I have seen you need a converter and battery in the 12 volt loop to run things. That way they can put a smaller converter in the rig. And it keeps charging the battery but does not have the power to run every thing. This works fine as you are not running every thing full time. But you need both to run things.
I question why you would want to run on shore power only.. Unless you will be living full time and never moving it. Many converters will tend your battery while stored or not being used and shut down until needed. Mine is one of those and it is also not large enough to run every thing in my 12 volt system at once.
As others said many are wired so all 12 volt comes thru the battery and the converter only charges the battery. So with the battery unhooked even when pluged in to 110 nothing works. My 72 Airstream was that way..
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KD4UPL
Swoope, VA
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Your converter isn't working if you've only got 12.49 volts when plugged into shore power. That's why you have no 12v power when you remove the battery.
Fix the converter and then you can remove the battery. But, I wouldn't. Especially if you tow the trailer. The battery is legally required when the trailer is being towed on a public highway to activate the brakes in the event it becomes unhitched.
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YakFishMo
Saint Marys, Georgia
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KD4UPL wrote:Your converter isn't working if you've only got 12.49 volts when plugged into shore power. That's why you have no 12v power when you remove the battery.
Fix the converter and then you can remove the battery. But, I wouldn't. Especially if you tow the trailer. The battery is legally required when the trailer is being towed on a public highway to activate the brakes in the event it becomes unhitched.
Yup. I agree, your converter is not working. The big user of power is your slides. Don't try to operate slides without a battery. The converter is not designed nor capable of powering the slide motors.
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crtundra
Castle Rock, CO
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Thanks everyone. I found the manual for my WFCO in the documentation from the previous owner. I'm going to run through the tests recommended by the manual and let everyone know what I come up with. My goal isn't to run without a battery, it's peace of mind that I can still run on shore power if my battery goes dead or grows legs and walks away  .
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