Finding Manuals and Fixing 12V Power on a 1988 Corsair Medallion

[Playmusic]

All good advice, but nearly all of us long-term RVers are more than willing to help in an emergency. If you have no time or way to contact an expert, and you are at a campground, just ask for help from someone who has a similar RV.

Frankly, we were all once in your situation of not knowing how to manage our motorhomes, and have learned a lot of things the hard way. Plus, most of us like to give advice so just knock on a door if you have to!

Morning Judy.. You're absolutely right about just asking the experienced folks with rv'ing for some advice, but up here in British Columbia Canada ( especially on Vancouver Island where I am ) I did talk to a couple people who couldn't help and quite frankly I'm surprised they even managed to tow/drive their unit's here in the first place. Most of the rv'er's I see around here are more the Glampers instead of Camper's and so they just hook up at home and drive to their destination. It seems it's more mid 30's to 40's people with all these big rigs and trailers nowadays and they do everything on the internet ( most can't change a flat tire they just make a call to BCAA and have someone else change it for them ) having zero knowledge on how to survive let alone try and fix something hahhaaha. At least that's the impression up , everything for them is plug and play unlike people experienced such as yourself who may learned the hard way.
Anyways the help is "ALWAYS" appreciated, I hope one day I'll be able to return the favor
Happy Sunday
Tim

 

[Larry N.]

'm 58 from Canada so when am I old enough to become a Snowbird hahahaha and just drive down south to the warmer weather lol.

You're plenty old enough for that now, but you also need to have the freedom (from job, etc.) to do the snowbird bit. So age isn't the current problem -- it's already adequate and then some.

 

[Playmusic]

You're plenty old enough for that now, but you also need to have the freedom (from job, etc.) to do the snowbird bit. So age isn't the current problem -- it's already adequate and then some.

Hey Larry... Although I'm still rather young lol ( if I was a tree ) , I was retired from my health and safety/first-responder job years ago ( been on long term dis for a while now ) , so as the late great Lynyrd Skynyrd once said " I'M AS FREE AS A BIRD NOW " lol. Income is okay I guess so for me it's just a matter of having the guts to just up and leave.. I love Canada as a patriot but I'm tired of our immigration laws/standards and a dozen other things going wrong here so for me it's time to head out just need a push I suppose. I've actually been looking at different places south of the border to go but there are just so many it's hard to decide so more searching and asking questions is the right way for me to decide.
Cheers my friend hope you're having a wonderful day.
Tim
Vancouver Island Canada.

 

[CharlesinGA]

Progressive Dynamics 9300 series deck mount converter

If the box with the slots in the top is the converter, then carefully measure the space available and see if the unit above in 45 amp would work. It may have to be mounted on its side but as long as the cooling fan and outlets are not obstructed it will be OK.

I am not at all familiar with the power center, its Canadian made and I've never seen it pictured before. There are probably cheaper converters but you will need a "deck mount" model.

As an alternative the replacement of the entire power center with new circuit breakers, fuses, and converter is actually not that expensive. If the motorhome is in nice condition and you intend on keeping it, the money would be well spent.

For more inexpensive deck mount converters you could call Best Converter and talk to them. Tell them you want to email them some pics so they understand what is going on. I understand money can be an issue and if so there are some other good MULTI-STAGE converters that you can get. THIS would be an excellent alternative.

Just stay away from anything with the WFCO name on it.

Charles

 

[Alaskansnowbirds]

Famousguitars​

You mentioned that you're running the RV engine to charge the house batteries. Until you can get the converter changed out, go to an auto parts store or Walmart and get a battery charger. You have 110V available to power the charger. That will get you by without running the RV engine until the converter is fixed.

 

[Playmusic]

Progressive Dynamics 9300 series deck mount converter

If the box with the slots in the top is the converter, then carefully measure the space available and see if the unit above in 45 amp would work. It may have to be mounted on its side but as long as the cooling fan and outlets are not obstructed it will be OK.

I am not at all familiar with the power center, its Canadian made and I've never seen it pictured before. There are probably cheaper converters but you will need a "deck mount" model.

As an alternative the replacement of the entire power center with new circuit breakers, fuses, and converter is actually not that expensive. If the motorhome is in nice condition and you intend on keeping it, the money would be well spent.

For more inexpensive deck mount converters you could call Best Converter and talk to them. Tell them you want to email them some pics so they understand what is going on. I understand money can be an issue and if so there are some other good MULTI-STAGE converters that you can get. THIS would be an excellent alternative.

Just stay away from anything with the WFCO name on it.

Charles

Good Morning Charles..
Thank you very very much for this help , I'll certainly work on your suggestions.. Unfortunately your right, with my sons current issue ( and mine I suppose ) I'm going to have to wait til my LTD payment at months end and then I'll do as you suggest ... I had someone come by that told me the unit in my pictures was the converter but now you've got me wondering if it actually is. I've tried finding a picture of what it should look like but no luck and again the person who came and had a look wasn't an actual Rv mechanic, he was just a fellow who replied to my help question and has experience with rv life so maybe he's wrong.
Thanks again for your great suggestions I'll be sure to post when I'm able to get this fixed..
Cheers and have a great rest of your day..
Tim

 

[ferfer]

The picture of the label (post # 19) says it is a converter/charger.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Turns out my engine battery is fine, it's the 2 coach batteries that aren't being charged so I have to start my rv every day for about 20 minutes to charge the house batteries in order to use the fridge and the water pump.

20 minutes of alternator runtime doesn't do much, even though it solves the immediate problem. Barely a "surface charge". Would be much better to use at least an hour of charging. Better yet, buy an inexpensive 12v battery charger, plug it in, and leave it hooked to the house batteries 24/7 until you get it fixed. Even a 3A-5A "trickle" will slowly bring the charge level up and the first couple hours will be enough to get you through the day.

 

[CharlesinGA]

Any flea markets around? You can usually find old battery chargers on the vendor tables. I bought a old time, heavy as a brick 6 amp and put new clamps on the cables (from another vendor) and it is my favorite charger I have four total). Second to that is an estate sale or a yard sale that appears to have tool/garage items.

I just looked, new chargers are stupid expensive, $50 and up for a simple 6 amp with a couple of LED indicators.

Charles

 

[Playmusic]

Good Morning Charles..
Thank you very very much for this help , I'll certainly work on your suggestions.. Unfortunately your right, with my sons current issue ( and mine I suppose ) I'm going to have to wait til my LTD payment at months end and then I'll do as you suggest ... I had someone come by that told me the unit in my pictures was the converter but now you've got me wondering if it actually is. I've tried finding a picture of what it should look like but no luck and again the person who came and had a look wasn't an actual Rv mechanic, he was just a fellow who replied to my help question and has experience with rv life so maybe he's wrong.
Thanks again for your great suggestions I'll be sure to post when I'm able to get this fixed..
Cheers and have a great rest of your day..
Tim

Hey Everyone.. I'm not sure how to send all who helped a message so I'm going to just post here.

Seems now that the problem with my battery issue is this little gem. Gonna grab a new one and see how it turns out but thanks to all for the help so far, this is a great place to be.
Tim

 

[CharlesinGA]

Thats the isolator that separates the engine and house batteries so you can charge the house from the engine but cannot run the engine batteries down by accident from the house. Later RV's use relays operated by the ignition circuit, as these solid state isolators did cause problems.

Just be aware that your old power converter, even if working, will boil the batteries and ruin them in short order, so as soon as practical consider a multistage power converter.

Charles

 

[OldWEB]

As mentioned, if your house battery is charging from the alternator , the isolator is good.

 

[Lou Schneider]

Seems now that the problem with my battery issue is this little gem. Gonna grab a new one and see how it turns out but thanks to all for the help so far, this is a great place to be.

That's a battery isolator. A pair of heavy duty diodes that lets the alternator charge the house and starting batteries while keeping the two systems separate.

I prefer an isolation relay like they use in large motorhomes. Wire it's coil so it's only energized when the engine is running. Put it on a circuit that's only energized when the ignition switch is in the Run position, not the Accessory position. If you want you can also add a switch to directly put 12 volts on the relay coil so the house batteries can jumpstart the engine if the starting battery drains.