Can't locate inverter on Montaqna High Country

[Drought Buster]

SOS! I can't locate the inverter on my Montana High Country DBRS. I hooked up shore power and put the battery in after storing it all winter. The battery had a good charge as the lights all came on bright when I tried them. Unfortunately, the Refrigerator, AC and stereo did not come on. I quickly realized that I made a rookie mistake and attached the battery cables wrong (positive cable to negative terminal...). I reveresed it and everything worked great. Waited a few days to put out slides, no problems. Five days later while hooked to shroe power the whole time, battery is completely dead. I assume I did something to the inverter when I hooked up the battery wrong, though I am confused about why the 12 volt lights worked fine both with the battery hooked up wrong and after I switched the cables. I would have thought if I fried the inverter at that point, the 12 volt lights would not work. Anyway, shore power still on (microwave works...), but battery is dead. Anyone know where I should look for the inverter or have any idea why I have no battey power?

[DQDick]

It's the converter your looking for and there are fuses to protect it from what you accidentally did. First thing to do is look in your fuse panel. There should be a couple of large fuses that are there to guard against just this type of situation. Our rigs are the same age so if they used an Iota box in yours also it's the two 40amp fuses on the left looking in. Since we don't have the same rig I'm not sure where your converter would be located. Ours is under the stairs.

[Drought Buster]

Thanks. I was thinking the same thing. I have an WFCO Panel Box and there are only 15 amp fuses in there. I see no higher amp fuses and nothing marked "reverse polarity". I did find a 30 amp fuse in the battery compartment, but that did not seem to help (I also think that goes to the slides as I have blown it before and had to repladce it to make the slides work again). Any other thoughts on where these fuses might be?

[Irlpguy]

Here is a link to the WFCO 75amp converter manual. These models all use the same location for the Reverse Polarity fuses and depending on your model they use different fuses.
They may not be marked as reverse polarity but they will be side by side where the 12V connects to the converter and will either be 35 amp or 40 amp.

As has been said they are there to protect your converter in the event of an accidental incorrect hook up of the batteries.

LINK: http://www.wfcoelectronics.com/Image...rDocs/13-3.pdf

[Drought Buster]

Ed, thanks so much. One final question. Do you know where the converter is on a fifthwheel (333DB)? I have been looking for two days and can't find it. Could it actually be behind the electrical panel box so that I have to remove that to get to it?

[Drought Buster]

I found my converter behind a hidden panel in one of the storage lockers. Both 40 amp fuses are blown. I am practically to the promised land. Thanks so much for all the advice and help.

[Drought Buster]

Good news. I found the converterbehind a hidden panel in one of the storage bins. Both 40 amp fuses were blown. I will replace these and hope this is it. Thank you all so much for all of the help.

[Irlpguy]

quote:Originally posted by Drought Buster

Good news. I found the converterbehind a hidden panel in one of the storage bins. Both 40 amp fuses were blown. I will replace these and hope this is it. Thank you all so much for all of the help.

Good to hear you have found the converter and the likely problem. I could not tell you where it was located on that model, my 3402RL has the panel in the bathroom and is easy access.

[Drought Buster]

On my rig, the front storage compartment rear wall looks to be solid all the way across and load bearing. It is covered with the charcoal grey felt like fabric. But if you look very closely you could see a seam about a foot into the compartment. If you look even closer you could find two black screws at the top and two black screws at the very bottom. Take out those screws and that small piece of the wall comes off and the converter is right there. Easy once you know that wall comes apart. Changed the fuses and it seems to be working fine now. Thanks again for all the advice.

[rohrmann]

Just a quick comment, depending on which converter is on these rigs, there can be 2, 3, or 4 fuses in the reverse polarity circuit of various amperages. The manual says to replace them, if blown, with the exact same sizes.

[CraigK75]

Originally Posted by Drought Buster

On my rig, the front storage compartment rear wall looks to be solid all the way across and load bearing. It is covered with the charcoal grey felt like fabric. But if you look very closely you could see a seam about a foot into the compartment. If you look even closer you could find two black screws at the top and two black screws at the very bottom. Take out those screws and that small piece of the wall comes off and the converter is right there. Easy once you know that wall comes apart. Changed the fuses and it seems to be working fine now. Thanks again for all the advice.

This is the same on my 2013 High Country. Unscrewed this panel and behind it was my inverter.

[thegumbos]

I, too, am having a problem trying to locate the converter on our 2017 305RL High Country. I've looked behind the distribution panel, behind the walls in the basement and under the stairs. No luck! Anyone have this same rig and know where to look?

[DutchmenSport]

Originally Posted by thegumbos

I, too, am having a problem trying to locate the converter on our 2017 305RL High Country. I've looked behind the distribution panel, behind the walls in the basement and under the stairs. No luck! Anyone have this same rig and know where to look?

I watched a video on your model and it has the gas-electric refrigerator, unless it's been modified or removed. "Inverters" come equipped when the camper has a residential refrigerator (all electric, no gas). So that is probably the reason you are not able to find the "inverter".

If yours had an inverter, it would probably be located in the front pass-through, on the ceiling. You need to access it to manually turn it on and off when desired. Also, in your front bay area, you should have a separated switch to disconnect the battery that goes directly to the inverter. This is a separate switch than your main battery disconnect switch (probably located in your wet-bay area). If you do not have a battery cut off switch in your front bay, near your batteries, and you do not have the residential refrigerator, your unit does not have an inverter.

[Carl n Susan]

The Gumbos asked about a converter not an inverter as I read their question. I have no idea what power distribution system is in a 2017 MHC. The Progressive systems in the Montana have an integrated converter. The MHC might have a lesser power distribution system with a separate converter. What brand/model power system is installed?

If the converter is separate, it is usually under the steps behind the passenger side rear wall (which removes easily) of the pass through compartment. There will be a 120V outlet to supply power and cables to the battery and 12V fuse panel.

[jsb5717]

On my 305RL the converter is located behind the basement wall on the door side, near the fuse panel. It is mounted upside down under the main floor. It's a very easy change out...3 screws, 2 main wires, a ground wire, and the plug that plugs into the back of the fuse panel. Just pull the fuse panel from the interior wall by the stairs, unplug the converter and drop it through the hole you'll see there. I dropped a cord through the hole to tie onto the new plug and pulled it up through.. The wires are color codes and require a hex wrench. Easy peazy

Also, for safety I disconnected from shore power and turned off the breaker to the converter. I also disconnected the batteries.

[thegumbos]

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I'm looking for the CONVERTER, not the inverter. Our old Montana 3280RL had the converter located alongside the distribution panel. Not our 305RL, and I can't seem to find it anywhere!

[jsb5717]

Originally Posted by thegumbos

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I'm looking for the CONVERTER, not the inverter. Our old Montana 3280RL had the converter located alongside the distribution panel. Not our 305RL, and I can't seem to find it anywhere!

See my answer above

[Ram Montana High Country]

I had a 2017 305RL - the converter is found by removing the back wall in the basement - it is attached to the bathroom floor - a pure devil to get to. Had to replace mine it went out.