1980 Dodge Class C Converter Issues?
Posted: July 8th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Q & A | Tags: 1980, Class, converter, DODGE, Issues | 1 Comment »I have a 1980 Dodge Country Camper Class C motorhome and I believe the converter is out on it. The frig, and lights work on the battery but not when we plug the RV in to the elec. at campsites. They run fine til the battery runs dead. The electrical outlets don’t work on the battery or the elec at the campground. We think the converter is bad but I have no idea where to find the converter or what it looks like. Anyone know? Thanks
frig is 3-way. frig works great off the battery, but the generator is not working so it runs the battery down. We have fuses & breakers in the breaker box. We replaced the fuse that runs the frig & that didn’t help. There are 4 breakers & 6 fuses. The breakers are on. Could the big black cord be bad? It is frayed. When we plug it in,nothing happens. Is there a way with an electrical meter to check if the breakers are working? We filled the propane & couldn’t get anything in the RV that runs on propane to go on & then all the propane came rushing back out the valve you fill at so we have to get a new fill valve. We will do that & try again. We only have 1 propane tank. I couldn’t smell any leaks inside the RV so I don’t know why the propane wasn’t working in the stove/oven. It only leaked outside the RV. We would like to use the water heater & debated putting in an elec. instant heat for hot water. It’s nice to be able to take a shower in there.
your motor home has 12 volt lights, and the fridge probably is set on 12 volt, It would be unlikely you have a converter in your motor home, usually you will have a few lights that will run off the battery, and then you will have a thick, probably 30 amp cord to plug in when you are at a campsite or rv park this is the same thing you use in your house hold appliances, so coffee makers toasters, will work fine, you do not need special appliances..You will have a few lights that work off 12 volts and the rest will work once you turn on the breaker box.. If none of this works at all when you plug in your rv, start looking for a breaker box inside the rv in a cabinet (often times right over the sink, you have a two circuit breaker box, probably two 15 amps, but it could be a 20 and a 10 amp breaker if nothing works, someone has turned off the breakers, find the breaker box, and make sure to turn on the breakers. Its a good idea to shut off the breakers when you store it for winter. If the breakers are missing, you can buy them at any rv store, they are a little spendy, and personally if they look really old, do yourself a favor, and spend 50 or 60 bucks, and get new ones. And most of the parts guys at an rv store will be glad to help you out. your refrigerator has a panel usually just below the door that should come off, or there is a switch, to go to propane, or 12 volt, this is called a 2 way fridge, if a fridge has 12 volt, and propane, and electric this is a three way fridge.
I saw your propane question too. There is supposed to be a pressure regulator that the two propane tanks screw in to, If it leaks internally, turn off the tanks so you do not waste propane. PROPANE IS DEADLY, IF YOU SMELL THAT ROTTEN EGG SMELL DON’T BET YOUR LIFE, TURN OFF THE TANKS. YOU HAVE TO FIX ANY LEAK. PROPANE IS HEAVIER THAN AIR, IF IT LEAKS INSIDE THE RV , IT WILL FILL IT UP FROM THE BOTTOM, AND MOVE AIR OUT, IF YOU ARE SLEEPING THE AIR IS GONE, THE PROPANE WILL KILL YOU , PLEASE BE CAREFUL. PEOPLE HAVE DIED, THEY GO TO SLEEP, A LEAK HAPPENS, THEY DO THE FIX IT TOMORROW, AND NEVER WAKE UP. I WOULD BUY A NEW TWO STAGE REGULATOR, just for safety (about a 100 bucks) THAT is usually where the worst of the leaks come from. take a spray bottle of water and liquid dish soap, and spray all the connections on the front of the trailer, (keep in mind the hoses on the tanks have a reverse thread, if those hoses look old and cracked, buy new ones and this will last another 20 years. If you plan to use the water heater, and the heater in the rv, it takes lots of propane, you may have to get some 50 lb tanks, or bigger. but I always heated up my hot water on the stove, and I put two radiant oil heaters, one in the front, one in the back, and in an rv park, you stay toasty and warm no matter what the weather. Those rv companies did not care about energy efficient anything in the 80s. so to recap, you have a 12 volt system, and a separate 30 amp plug which is your 120 for all the house hold plugs and the other lights that don’t work on 12 volt. 12 volt bulbs, are different than the 120 bulbs.your fuse box is probably turned off, there is no inverter, or converter. and I covered the propane, any other questions, feel free to ask, hope this helps.