Ive been running the Alde Heater on shore power 2k the last few days and it has been in the 20s here in Dallas. Have used much of the lights, and the pump and fan not at all. Just the fridge. The battery has gone from 12.6, to 12.4 to 12.2 and now at 12.1 over a 72 hour time period. We have had no sunshine to speak of. So i am guessing that the fridge and heater get first dibs at the electricity, and the batteries get what little is left over? In the real world, camping with shore power, i would have to cut off the heater for a few hours every day and suffer the cold on cloudy days? Or hook up the TV , crank up the engine? Or maybe go to LP heat? Any other ideas?
Karen and Chris
2021 T@B 400, 2018 Land Cruiser
Dallas, Texas
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” Edward Abbey
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2021 T@B 400, 2018 Land Cruiser
Dallas, Texas
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” Edward Abbey
2018 Nissan Titan Pro 4X "Big Bird"
Leadville Colorado
2021 T@B 400, 2018 Land Cruiser
Dallas, Texas
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” Edward Abbey
2021 T@B 400, 2018 Land Cruiser
Dallas, Texas
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” Edward Abbey
2021 T@B 400, 2018 Land Cruiser
Dallas, Texas
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” Edward Abbey
2023 Tab 400 / 2022 F150 XLT Sport 3.5EB
Traded in - 2018 T@B 320 S/2019 Toyota 4Runner SR5
2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
2023 Tab 400 / 2022 F150 XLT Sport 3.5EB
Traded in - 2018 T@B 320 S/2019 Toyota 4Runner SR5
2021 T@B 400, 2018 Land Cruiser
Dallas, Texas
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” Edward Abbey
Observation 1:
When trailer is on House Outlet 15/20AMP circuit with everything on the House Breaker normally trips.
@CruiserCamperChris, house breaker is OK. So everything is not on.
Observation 2:
When on Shore Power or House Outlet power the 12VDC outlets normally read > 13VDC.
That is because the Convertor is on . . . the actual voltage will very based on the 'charging stage'
of the Convertor.
@CruiserCamperChris, reports the trailer 12VDC outlet voltage varies with how much sunshine
there is . . . clearly only the battery & solar panel is providing VDC . . . nothing from the
Convertor.
Observation 3:
When battery Cut-Off is OFF there is no 12VDC available for lights/radio/etc
So Convertor is not on or producing 12VDC power
Possible Problem Source:
a) Convertor is not on. Power Center AC Breaker has tripped or the breaker has failed.
b) Convertor is on however one or both of the Power Center Battery connection/charge fuses
have failed. These fuses Do Not Have Failed LED Indicators.
The bottom two fuses should be removed and checked (believe one is 30A the other 40A).
c) The Convertor section of the Power Center has failed
If a) & b) above appear OK. Suggest visiting a RV Repair location to check the Power Center.
DIY checks are possible but can become complex for the not electrical wiring comfortable.
TV: '17 Colorado V6 Z71 4x4, Tow Package, GM Brake Controller
Adventures: 54 Nights: 341 Towing Miles 43,780
If turning the battery switch off results in no 12V to your Tab, yet the shore power is connected, then the converter is not providing any power to the 12v side.
The fault is probably one of the fuses that @MuttonChops described. The breakers in the power center are only for the 120v circuits, so they can be ignored.
Edit /correction:.
In a DM, @MuttonChops pointed out :
@MuttonChops. Will have to check my own when it thaws out.)
2014 S Maxx
2011 Tacoma 4cyl ... edit: 2022 Tacoma 6cyl - oh yeah!
A_Little_T@b'll_Do_Ya
Power flows from battery to 30A DCV Breaker (fuse) to Cut-off switch to Power Center.
So nothing would work if the 'at battery breaker/fuse' failed ---
keeping in mind there is no Convertor output for original failure mode.
TV: '17 Colorado V6 Z71 4x4, Tow Package, GM Brake Controller
Adventures: 54 Nights: 341 Towing Miles 43,780
2021 T@B 400, 2018 Land Cruiser
Dallas, Texas
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” Edward Abbey
I removed and inspected all fuses. All good. No breakers were thrown. I threw all of them back and forth anyway. My breaker in the battery cut off location was not open. The light is on my charging plug and my surge protector. My Victron smart shunt app says my battery is low, @ 12.15 and not going up much at all today, because it is very cloudy today. I've turned off the fridge. Guess I will turn off the Alde heat, too. Saving my propane for next weekend.
So, it appears that I have a bad inverter. I have to take it to a RV Repair center and have it replaced. Darn. The whole unit? Or just part of it?
1. how do I go about finding the best service center? ExploreUSA? Holiday World? or an independent?
2. we have plans to do some dry camping next weekend with several friends. Its a two hour drive. We've been tent camping for 20 years. I suppose we will arrive with a full battery. Just use the Propane heat and fridge and the LED lights, and we should be ok for two nights and days, right? Just wondering if I am not thinking of something.
thanks again.
2021 T@B 400, 2018 Land Cruiser
Dallas, Texas
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” Edward Abbey
Cheers
@CruiserCamperChris A couple of things to clarify: First, it’s your *converter* that’s potentially gone bad, not your inverter. They are two different devices, and you’ll want to specify the right one when calling about a repair.
Second, regarding charging before your trip. At 12.15v, you’re at 40% charge right now on those big AGM batteries. Unless you have some spectacular sun directly on that solar panel at the right angle most of the day all week, you may not be able to count on those batteries being fully charged. It takes time for that to happen. Driving will not charge them if your converter isn’t working, as current from the alternator goes through the converter. (Corrected, see post below. Two hours drive time may or may not add much charge, depending on your setup.) Solar is directly attached to the batteries and bypasses the converter.
Here’s where I’m a bit blind, because the 320 batteries are much more accessible. If you can access the battery terminals, you can charge them via a portable charger while you still have access to 120v power at home (NOCO & Schumacher make good ones). These can be attached via alligator clips, or if there’s an SAE port to attach solar panels, adapters are often available for that. This would at least put a solid charge on the batteries in the meantime. Hopefully other 400 owners can advise on the feasibility of this with your model.
As far as repairs go, I’d suggest Googling for a mobile RV repair in your area. Replacing a converter is a very common job (we likely have a few folks here who could walk you through it if you’re at all handy), but using a mobile mechanic is likely to get you on the road a lot quicker than waiting on a dealer to fix the issue.
2015 Subaru Outback 3.6r (unsafe 200lb tongue weight limit until 2020 models)
2020 Subaru Outback XT
Pacific NW
The 12v line from the TV does not go through the converter. It is a direct connection to the battery (through the 30A in-line breaker). The TV will charge the batteries through the trailer pig tail if it is wired properly.
2015 Subaru Outback 3.6r (unsafe 200lb tongue weight limit until 2020 models)
2020 Subaru Outback XT
Pacific NW
2021 T@B 400, 2018 Land Cruiser
Dallas, Texas
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” Edward Abbey
Yes, the Converter is converting 120v from your 30 amp power cord to 12v to charge your batteries.
Inverter “inverts” that process, producing 120v from your batteries for certain outlets on your trailer. As I have a 320, I’m not sure where the inverter is on a 400, but I’m sure someone else here does.
2015 Subaru Outback 3.6r (unsafe 200lb tongue weight limit until 2020 models)
2020 Subaru Outback XT
Pacific NW