Maintenance & Restoration

donnaeb · 11-25-2017, 04:05 PM

HELP! Is it normal for battery to be able charge from electric shore power? We know it will not charge from TV because the plug was changed and that's ok....but why wont it charge from campsite post? Thanks. Donna in NJ. Scamp 13 1994

floyd · 11-25-2017, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donnaeb

HELP! Is it normal for battery to be able charge from electric shore power? We know it will not charge from TV because the plug was changed and that's ok....but why wont it charge from campsite post? Thanks. Donna in NJ. Scamp 13 1994

Look behind the converter and be sure that it is plugged in.
Some converters plug into a standard outlet and they fall out. A gentle twist of a few degrees of the prongs will hold it snug, but hard wiring into the box will solve the problem best, then check just inside the bulkhead in the right front of the trailer for a fuse holder. There is one in the battery box as well.

Cathi · 11-25-2017, 05:15 PM

Did you flip to "on" in the post?

Do you have a little hand-held battery tester and a DC outlet to test with? They are handy.

Dudley · 11-25-2017, 07:28 PM

my guess is that you have the old megatech power converter/charger and if so then in the bottom portion (behind the grill) is a ceramic resistor and next to it is a plastic black box that are attached to the back metal plate. Check those with a ohm meter to see if the fuse or the resistor is blown open. The resistor is the current limiter for the battery charger. It can be replace with a resistor used in the old dodges as a ballast resistor for the coil. I don't recall what the amp rating for the fuse is.

Some very good info here

gordon2 · 11-25-2017, 07:39 PM

Yes, the converter coming unpluged is # 1 suspect. blown fuse(s) is # 2...
But one question... What is a scamo?
(also adding the year of your Scamp? will help people figure out what might be wrong)

Cathi · 11-25-2017, 07:41 PM

[QUOTE=gordon2;673632]I have two questions...

1:

What "post"?

The OP referred to a post that I call a pedestal. I have seen many names.

gordon2 · 11-25-2017, 07:45 PM

[QUOTE=Cathi;673633]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gordon2

I have two questions...

1:

What "post"?

The OP referred to a post that I call a pedestal. I have seen many names.

Ahh you are too quick for me.. I saw that reference right after I made my reply and edited it out.

Dudley · 11-26-2017, 09:40 AM

One item that should be in every camper is a multimeter that will read voltage and resistance. They can be had for very little money but can save your butt on trip. If you are checking for the battery charging, then a simple voltage check will show it. Disconnect the battery and read the voltage across the 2 wires that you removed, if it shows around 14v DC then you are charging. If no voltage then the converter is not working and you should be looking at the power to the converter, first are you getting 110v AC from your AC pull in, if no, check the power panel at the post outside. If yes, check the breakers and fuses in the trailer. If you have 12v for your lights with the battery disconnected then the converter is half working but not charging the battery. At that point you will have to get into the bottom half of the converter and check the load resistor and fuse on the back wall of the converter(may have been blown if the battery was connected backwards even for a second).

Having a multimeter is the first part, basic knowledge on how to use it is the second part. Lots of good websites that will show what settings to use and how to use them. Don't forget that there is AC and DC voltage in the trailer and if the meter is set to the wrong voltage type you will get wrong readings.