2011 Montana has no 12 volts with shore power connected even with battery power 12.7v

[FrankP]

Can’t figure out why I have no 12v power

[Carl n Susan]

Here is some info from a previous discussion of a similar problem.

The 12V flow from the converter to the batteries is pretty straight forward. As others have pointed out, here are the places to look. All connections should have 13.5 +/- Volts if the converter is working.

• The converter is part of the power distribution panel -Ensure the CB for it is On
• There are Reverse Polarity Fuses on the converter which protect against connecting a battery backwards. - Ensure they are not blown.
• Check the output voltage at the converter. - it should be in the 13.5V DC range.
• The power then runs to the Disconnect Switch in the Convenience Center. - Ensure the Red Key is in the position where it can *NOT* be removed. If removed, this interrupts the power charging the battery. The Disconnect Switch is not know to fail, but you can remove it to check there is power in and out of it just to be sure.
• The power next flows to the group of 50 amp self-resetting CBs behind the battery. We all know about the one that hiccups and interrupts the hydraulic system. That one also passes power to/from the converter and batteries. You want to check it and it's brother (it is in the current flow to the battery) to ensure there is 13.5V on *EACH* side of the CB.
• The last connection is the one from the 50 amp CBs to the batteries. Ensure you have clean connections and the cables are not corroded (watch out for internal corrosion under the shrink wrap).

Somewhere along this path there will be the problem. A simple VOM should find it. I hope this helps.

The full blown discussion is *Here* The most common causes are :
o - the Battery Disconnect Switch in the convenience center is in the wrong position (the Red Key should be in the position where it can't be removed)
o - The red plastic covered self resetting 50 amp circuit breakers behind the battery have failed.

[Daryles]

I'm saving this one for future reference.
Perfect troubleshooting flow chart.

[FrankP]

I have high voltage at the panel and all fuses are good in the panel. Mine is under a desk area off the kitchen. But I don’t have the metal panel frame which probably has the wiring schematic on it so I don’t know where to check for low voltage coming out of the converter or where the converter circuit breaker is. The key in the convenience center is in the right position are you saying if I don’t have low voltage at the breaker and fuse panel the converter is bad? Is the converter suppose to produce low voltage any time it’s connected to shore power?

[ChuckS]

You have an issue with the battery Cutoff switch and the Converter as well...

The battery cutoff switch is in the ON position ( as you just stated ) so you should have 12 volts DC to the power center panel DC BUS bar

The converter WILL SUPPLY all 12 volt DC power needs for the RV plus charge the battery...

To check the converter output remove the battery terminal connections and with shore power connected you should see 13.4 to 13.8 volts DC without the battery connected and your interior lights, etc should be working

If NO to above then you need to pull the TWO reverse polarity fuses on the converter and verify they are not blown.. If they are not blown then verify the converter itself is actually getting 120 VAC power to operate

If YES to 120 volt power to converter AND NO to the tow reverse polarity fuses being blown then converter is BAD

[FrankP]

Thanks. I’m going to check all that this morning. I’ll update on what I found.

[Carl n Susan]

What model 2011 Montana do you have? If it is a High Country or Mountaineer (if they still made them in 2011), it likely has a separate converter located independently of the power distribution panel.

[FrankP]

No it’s the Hickory edition. Model 3455SA. I checked and I have no power coming out of the two big leads going to the battery or the four leads going to the inverter. It’s all in the same panel. I’m going to remove the disconnect switch and check it but I believe it’s suppose to have power there regardless of the position of the switch. Still learning.

[Carl n Susan]

This sure sounds like a converter problem. Here is a link to the Progressive Dynamics converter troubleshooting manual. It shows how to test the converter to see if it is dead or alive.

https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...?do=file&id=58