For many years, the only available converters delivered a simple single-stage, or fixed constant, DC “float” voltage output of approximately 13.2-13.7 volts. As their name implies, when plugged into shore power they convert 120-volt AC power into a 12-volt DC power supply for RV 12V systems that includes lights, water pump(s), refrigerator control boards, CO2 and gas sensors, and more.Ĭonverters also keep the RV house battery properly charged. Any converter can fail if it overheats from use in extreme ambient temperatures, or its shore power supply experiences a power surge, or delivers voltage that’s too low or too high.Ĭonverters have two basic jobs to perform. There is a good bit of anecdotal discussion across RV forums about Parallax 7155 Power Center 12V Converter failures and replacements.
RV POWER CONVERTER REPLACEMENT PARALLAX SERIES
With our Casita winterized and berthed for the winter season, I started the project to replace our dead Parallax 7100 Series 55 (7155) AC 120V to DC 12V power supply converter. If the reading is 12.8V or less, then the converter is not supplying current, and it’s likely dead.) (If you haven’t installed a battery monitor, and you have a multimeter circuit tester, place the multimeter probes on the converter terminals on the DC 12V power distribution fuse board in the power center to determine if converter is delivering a source 13.2V to 13.6V charge. So, it was clear converter wasn’t functioning. I also checked that the two 30A reverse polarity fuses were OK - if blown the battery would be isolated from the power center and converter charger. The output voltage from the Parallax converter, when functioning, should read 13.6V, not 12.8V.
RV POWER CONVERTER REPLACEMENT PARALLAX FULL
Next, the Victron ‘state of charge‘ battery monitor I installed in our Casita showed a voltage of just 12.8V, which is the normal full charge reading for our Casita AGM 12V house battery after a full day of on-the-road charging from our tow vehicle. I verified the AC 120V outlets were live, and the fridge had automatically switched over to AC operation, so I knew the converter had AC 120V power. Normally, I hear the buzzing noise of the DC 12V converter cooling fans running when connected to shore power. It’s always good to have a secondary backup.įirst, when I plugged into AC 120V shore power the converter was silent. Fortunately, our solar panels kept the battery charged to serve the onboard 12V system for that road trip. Our 12V converter probably died while our Casita was parked in its home berth connected to shore power between road trips, and I didn’t notice it. As many have repeated the same experience before us, we arrived at our destination campground on the first day of our road trip, parked, connected to shore power, and the DC 12V power supply was dead on arrival.
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