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11-12-2019, 02:49 PM
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#1
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Lake Havasu City
Posts: 93
M.O.C. #20488
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12Volt problem
2012 295RK. When turning on any inside light, or awning switch my DC Voltage drops to 7.5 v. 2 lights and it is under 5v. Slides, stab. The entire 12v section up in the front compartment seems it be constant battery voltage. Battery has been checked. Switch panel has been checked for loose wires and every connection is tight. Disconnected (1 at a time) wires going to the fuse block. Removed each wire 1 at a time, turned on a light and watched the voltage drop. Hoping to find 1 circuit causing the problem. I am starting to think it may be the converter. I can not think of anything else that is common? Does any one know where they hide the converter. I am using clip on lights that work on 120v. I am open to suggestions. The lack of information from Keystone is surprising.
__________________
Odd Job Al
2012 Montana Mountaineer 295RKD
2006 Dodge Megacab 2500 5.9 Diesel
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11-12-2019, 04:18 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,328
M.O.C. #17894
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oddjobal
2012 295RK. When turning on any inside light, or awning switch my DC Voltage drops to 7.5 v. 2 lights and it is under 5v. Slides, stab. The entire 12v section up in the front compartment seems it be constant battery voltage. Battery has been checked. Switch panel has been checked for loose wires and every connection is tight. Disconnected (1 at a time) wires going to the fuse block. Removed each wire 1 at a time, turned on a light and watched the voltage drop. Hoping to find 1 circuit causing the problem. I am starting to think it may be the converter. I can not think of anything else that is common? Does any one know where they hide the converter. I am using clip on lights that work on 120v. I am open to suggestions. The lack of information from Keystone is surprising.
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With ALL power disconnected, take the cover off the electric panel. Check all connections and make sure they are tight. Check all ground connections in the front compartment area.
Your converter is most likely built into the panel box.
__________________
2018 Chevy 3500 LTZ Dually Diesel 4x4 CCLB
2011 Montana 3455 SA. 6 point level up. Disc brakes. Curt Q24 Hitch. 5 step glow steps
Progressive EMS. Valterra tank valves. Sailun G637 tires. ARP fridge control. All led lighting. Mor Ryde IS
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11-12-2019, 05:38 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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On my 2010 the converter was under the stairs.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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11-12-2019, 05:57 PM
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#4
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Rossford
Posts: 68
M.O.C. #23846
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My converter is screwed to the bottom of the bathroom floor. To access, I remove the wall of the front pass thru storage area. It is hard to work on it there with pipes etc., but that’s where they put it for me.
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Ken & Margaret
2019 372RD
2019 F450
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11-12-2019, 07:45 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,361
M.O.C. #6433
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A loose or poor connection in your main power wire can cause a voltage drop like that. Good voltage until current starts to flow. But with current flow the resistance of the bad connection causes a voltage drop. And often overheating at that connection.
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Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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11-13-2019, 09:26 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Pensacola (mail forward service)
Posts: 3,198
M.O.C. #13740
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If you aren't seeing 13 plus volts on the battery, your converter is not charging the battery. Don't know how they wired your unit, but you may want to check the auto reset breaker in the front compartment that isn't used for the hydraulic pump. People sometimes think these are connection blocks, but if one is flakes it won't reliably pass 12v current to the rest of the circuits.
__________________
2012 F350 6.7 L dually, 2013 3800RE with 6 pt leveling, Sumitomo 17.5" load range h tires, Samsung 18 cu ft residential fridge, 8k Morryde I.S. with disc brakes. Full timing since 2012.
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11-14-2019, 02:33 PM
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#7
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Lake Havasu City
Posts: 93
M.O.C. #20488
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all has been checked
Quote:
Originally Posted by beeje
With ALL power disconnected, take the cover off the electric panel. Check all connections and make sure they are tight. Check all ground connections in the front compartment area.
Your converter is most likely built into the panel box.
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Still have not found the converter/inverter. All wires and lugs tightened. Still the same. I will hunt for the converter. Everything works using the remote. including the awning. Have not tested the scare lights.
__________________
Odd Job Al
2012 Montana Mountaineer 295RKD
2006 Dodge Megacab 2500 5.9 Diesel
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11-14-2019, 03:42 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,328
M.O.C. #17894
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oddjobal
Still have not found the converter/inverter. All wires and lugs tightened. Still the same. I will hunt for the converter. Everything works using the remote. including the awning. Have not tested the scare lights.
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Ok, plan B. Turn on ALL 12 volt items in the camper you can find to create a big draw on the converter, lights/water pump etc. See if you can hear its fan kick on. Follow the sound. Just guessing
__________________
2018 Chevy 3500 LTZ Dually Diesel 4x4 CCLB
2011 Montana 3455 SA. 6 point level up. Disc brakes. Curt Q24 Hitch. 5 step glow steps
Progressive EMS. Valterra tank valves. Sailun G637 tires. ARP fridge control. All led lighting. Mor Ryde IS
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11-14-2019, 06:54 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,690
M.O.C. #4831
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They used to hide the converter in the wall behind the breaker/fuse panel in the bathroom on older 3400's. It can't be too far from the panel. Have you pulled the breaker/fuse panel out and explored behind it?
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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11-15-2019, 07:02 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: POINTBLANK
Posts: 1,916
M.O.C. #19944
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohioken7
My converter is screwed to the bottom of the bathroom floor. To access, I remove the wall of the front pass thru storage area. It is hard to work on it there with pipes etc., but that’s where they put it for me.
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My '17 305RL was screwed to the bathroom floor also. Double check the ground cable going to the frame. Mine was BARELY making contact. Measure the voltage at the battery and then unplug shore power and truck - check it again.
__________________
RAM 22' DRW 3500 Crew LB 40 gal reserve tank / RETRAX Bed Cover / 2020 373RD HC / IS / MOPEKA Tank Monitor / Furrion Side&Rear Cameras
Slide Toppers / EMS-HW50C / Sailun 85's
3rd AC / Dometic 320
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11-15-2019, 08:23 AM
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#11
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: owen sound
Posts: 491
M.O.C. #17566
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Likely the converter and it is likely behind the wall in the pass through front compartment. There is generally a 50amp fuse and on occasion they have been known to blow. I carry extra's and I've had to install them in others converters. I blew one once and started carrying them, haven't had that issue myself but have seen it a few times in the past few years. To test the theory hook up a 12 volt battery charger to the battery and see if the voltage still drops. It shouldn't...... The other issue Could be a manual reset circuit breaker is tripped on the power supply line from the converter... Just traced it down and fixed one for a neighbor in the RV park that is beside us last week. Small little reset was hidden behind the wires but with a multimeter I managed to trace it down and was in process of removing wire from the CB when I seen the little reset. Could only see 11 volts on the system when everything off, went to 7 volts when trying to run any 12volt equipment. Pushed the reset and away everything went. Why they didn't install an auto reset CB on that circuit is beyond me........ good luck
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11-21-2019, 01:02 PM
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#12
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Lake Havasu City
Posts: 93
M.O.C. #20488
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12V problem
OK. #1. Thank you all for the great response. I pulled the fuse panel out. Tightened all the connectors and blocks.. On the DC side. I disconnected 1-12v wire at a time hoping that I might be able to isolate the problem. NOT. The converter/ inverter was not there. I did find it. It is under the bathroom behind the front compartment walls, behind the duct work, Not the easiest place to get to. I am sure it is not blown but there is a loose wire. I need to bench test it. I don't boondock, but I will fix the problem. I will add pictures for anyone to get a idea where it is located. Thanks again. I will post again
__________________
Odd Job Al
2012 Montana Mountaineer 295RKD
2006 Dodge Megacab 2500 5.9 Diesel
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11-24-2019, 04:00 PM
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#13
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Lake Havasu City
Posts: 93
M.O.C. #20488
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12v problem
Behind the middle panel, under the bathroom, all the way in the rear is the converter. Remover the 2 tank heater vents. AC plug goes through the wall and plugs into the fuse panel. If you have short arms, it is hard. Isolated the converter and measured 4.3VDC output. I will not remove the old one. Just disconnected the +/- and ground. Have enough lead length to relocate. Fuses showed good. I posted a few pictures. This is not a fun job. The AC plug is plugged into the rear of the fuse panel and is a 120v20A plug. Modified a junction box to test this. I will put it back together after Thanksgiving and will post an update
__________________
Odd Job Al
2012 Montana Mountaineer 295RKD
2006 Dodge Megacab 2500 5.9 Diesel
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12-04-2019, 09:14 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: STAYTON
Posts: 1,118
M.O.C. #18157
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Well, I see it was built before they quit using zip ties and semi-organized things. LOL
Hope you find your issue.
Mark
__________________
“Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.”
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12-06-2019, 12:05 PM
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#15
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Lake Havasu City
Posts: 93
M.O.C. #20488
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12v problem found
Quote:
Originally Posted by oddjobal
Behind the middle panel, under the bathroom, all the way in the rear is the converter. Remover the 2 tank heater vents. AC plug goes through the wall and plugs into the fuse panel. If you have short arms, it is hard. Isolated the converter and measured 4.3VDC output. I will not remove the old one. Just disconnected the +/- and ground. Have enough lead length to relocate. Fuses showed good. I posted a few pictures. This is not a fun job. The AC plug is plugged into the rear of the fuse panel and is a 120v20A plug. Modified a junction box to test this. I will put it back together after Thanksgiving and will post an update
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Purchased a new converter and have it in a better location. I installed it and ran a test. Turned on a lot of lights, fans and everything with in reach that work off of 12V. Voltage is holding solid. I left the old converter in, to hard to reach the back screws. Found a suitable location for new converter. Now it is time to put it all back together. This has been a problem from the time I purchased the Montana. What a can of worms. Now time to fish
__________________
Odd Job Al
2012 Montana Mountaineer 295RKD
2006 Dodge Megacab 2500 5.9 Diesel
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