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Old 07-19-2012, 04:08 PM   #1
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Trillium Wiring

Does anyone know a link or website that shows how to completely wire a Travel Trailer from scratch. The problem that I have is sometimes I forget to unplug the Tow Vehicle before I plug into Shore Power. I have read that this should not be a problem but I definitely have one.
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Old 07-19-2012, 07:20 PM   #2
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..........I have read that this should not be a problem but I definitely have one.
What are the symptoms of the problem that you are having?
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Old 07-19-2012, 08:52 PM   #3
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If your tow vehicle is powering your trailer, you might want to consider installing a solenoid on the 12V to the trailer.
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Old 07-20-2012, 06:48 AM   #4
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My Daughter borrowed the trailer and forgot to unplug the tow vehicle before plugging into Shore Power. It blew two fuses and one fuse holder had to be replaced.
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Old 07-20-2012, 06:50 AM   #5
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Hi Roy, That's what I was thinking of doing. I just thought that someone who had done wiring on a large trailer might know how to get around this problem. I do not have the same problem on our 30ft Toy Hauler but, do not know how it was wired.
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Old 07-20-2012, 08:16 AM   #6
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My Daughter borrowed the trailer and forgot to unplug the tow vehicle before plugging into Shore Power. It blew two fuses and one fuse holder had to be replaced.
It is not immediately obvious why the fuses would have blown. The converter would be trying to charge both batteries, but after driving, the batteries should not have been trying to pull much of a load.

You should definitely have a relay or other isolator between the two batteries in any case.
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Old 07-20-2012, 09:41 AM   #7
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The power converter that came in the Trills of that era were sort of funky. There is a switch on it to run off the battery. I still have not figured mine out. I just keep pushing buttons until the lights work. With the converter so close to the cushions sometimes the buttons inadvertantly get pushed without knowing.
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Old 07-20-2012, 11:21 AM   #8
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The converter in the Trillium that I use does not charge the battery. I am not sure how it does this, I assume that there is a diode that prevents the battery from receiving power from the converter. The battery and tow vehicle do supply power to the lights when the switch is down, and the converter supplies power to the lights, (but not the battery) when the switch is up. When the switch is in the middle, no lights.
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Old 07-20-2012, 12:54 PM   #9
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Thanks David,
I presume that is for the switch labelled bat or battery? I'll have to print that up. Now what do the other buttons and switches do?
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Old 07-20-2012, 01:06 PM   #10
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Thanks David,
I presume that is for the switch labelled bat or battery? I'll have to print that up. Now what do the other buttons and switches do?
The button to the left of the unit is a 10A AC breaker. It pops out when you have a greater then 10A load on the plugs in the trailer. Otherwise it does nothing. I am not sure if you have the same converter as me, but the documents that came with my trailer included this:
Fiberglass RV - Document Center - Progressive Dynamics Power Converter Manual
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Old 07-20-2012, 01:21 PM   #11
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Hmmmm........so why would the fuses blow when the converter is plugged in without disconnecting the TV?
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Old 07-20-2012, 01:37 PM   #12
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Hmmmm........so why would the fuses blow when the converter is plugged in without disconnecting the TV?
I would guess that the 12 VDC output is incorrectly connected to the battery. It is only supposed to feed a maximum of 6 to 9 amps is trying to charge the TV. Maybe a large diode, to prevent the trailer trying to charge the TV, where the trailer plug comes into the trailer would work. If the trailer has a battery, the diode should come after that, so the TV can charge the battery without the 0.7 VDC drop, and the converter could not charge the trailer battery.

BTW - This converter would make a terrable battery charger. As far as I can tell it is just a 120 VAC to 12 VAC transformer, (10:1) with a full wave bridge. It would boil a battery dry.
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Old 07-20-2012, 05:15 PM   #13
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Trillium Rewired

I have to let you know that I completely rewired the Trillium. I put in a new Converter, new Battery and new Distribution Center. I'll draw up what I have done and post it. Maybe then you will have a better idea what I did and did not do right.
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Old 07-20-2012, 05:17 PM   #14
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By the way Roy, I see that Princess Auto has put the LED Tail Lights on Sale again at $39.00. I'll be going down there on Tuesday to pickup a set.
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Old 07-20-2012, 05:29 PM   #15
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I have to let you know that I completely rewired the Trillium. I put in a new Converter, new Battery and new Distribution Center. I'll draw up what I have done and post it. Maybe then you will have a better idea what I did and did not do right.
Yea, sounds like a polarity is reversed some where.
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Old 07-23-2012, 04:06 PM   #16
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I have drawn up what I have done to the wiring of the trailer. When the Shore Power and Tow Vehicle are plugged in at the same time you will see that I blow 2 fuses and one of the fuse holder and wires. If you have any suggestions I will gladly accept them. NOW if I can only figure out how to insert a image?

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Name:	Trillium Wiring <a title=Renovation.jpg Views: 69 Size: 162.5 KB ID: 49161" style="margin: 2px" />
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Old 07-23-2012, 06:00 PM   #17
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Alex,

When you say two fuses blow, do you mean the one at the tip of the red arrow and the circled one? These are in series.

Does this happen only when the refrigerator is running on 12 volts?
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Old 07-23-2012, 08:16 PM   #18
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What size are the 2 fuses that keep blowing?
What new converter did you put in?
What do you have on the TV end of the 12V? A solenoid, isolator or circuitbreaker?
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Old 07-23-2012, 09:44 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex C View Post
I have drawn up what I have done to the wiring of the trailer. When the Shore Power and Tow Vehicle are plugged in at the same time you will see that I blow 2 fuses and one of the fuse holder and wires. If you have any suggestions I will gladly accept them. NOW if I can only figure out how to insert a image?

Attachment 49161
The converter is attempting to charge your battery and/or provide some of the cranking power to start the tow vehicle. Simple answer like if it hurts when you do that, don't do it. If the fuses blow when shore power and the tow are connected don't connect them both at the same time.
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Old 07-24-2012, 07:13 AM   #20
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Yes, the fuses indicated by the read circle and arrow. When the Frig is on 12V both fuses (circled 10ams and arrow 5amps) blow but the 10am fuse and holder burns up. When the Frig is NOT running only the 5amp fuse blows.
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