bad inverter?

[Terry78]

I just got my trailer delivered 2 days ago. When I plugged it in to shore power the inverter was humming loudly and clicking on and off
This cycle would happen about every 10 seconds.
I was told on another forum to charge the battery so I did.
This time it still clicked and hummed but the Lights didn't dim as
They did before. When I unplugged shore Power i have NOTHING.
No lights no water pump no heater no information panel. Nothing.
What is causing this nightmare in my new home? Granted its 35 years old... But still! Any ideas?

[pianotuna]

Hi Terry78,

You need to get a meter of some kind.

Terry78 wrote:
I'm a little confused with the wiring on this trailer. It has a big red wire with a fuse. It has a big white wire and a big black wire. Also a small black
wire. I am pretty sure red is hot. But no clue on any of the others.
These wires run from trailer to the battery on the trailer

[Sam_Spade]

Terry78 wrote:
I'm a little confused with the wiring on this trailer.

What they ARE depends on what they are connected TO.

Sounds to me like you need some onsite help from someone with a bit more experience.

[Terry78]

I'm a little confused with the wiring on this trailer. It has a big red wire with a fuse. It has a big white wire and a big black wire. Also a small black
wire. I am pretty sure red is hot. But no clue on any of the others.
These wires run from trailer to the battery on the trailer

[Sam_Spade]

Terry78 wrote:
Thank you for the information. I am going to replace the ring terminals
Tomorrow. I will be checking this. Great info.

You NEED a multi-meter to test things.
Replacing parts based only on a guess often turns out bad.

[Terry78]

Thank you for the information. I am going to replace the ring terminals
Tomorrow. I will be checking this. Great info.

[MrWizard]

Most likely a MagTec brand converter
Something like maybe a 6130

The model number will be listed on the paper stuck on the inside of the flip down door where the fuses are

This will be 30 amps max, and may only have a 6 amp trickle charge, depends on model version

This must have a good battery properly connected to work correctly

The battery connections up front on the battery, will fool you

White is negative/ground , black is positive/hot

Your inside lights won't care, but the water pump well run backwards, when on battery only no shore power, the converter won't work correctly with the battery connected wrong, it will damage the battery

[Terry78]

Yes the trailer is old. Its a 1978 Terry 24'. No model # or name that I can
find. So I believe it's a T 24. They didn't have the Tarus line till around
The early 80's. Given its age I don't know much about it. My GMC Yukon
Moves it easily. This is gonna be a learning experience for sure.

[SoundGuy]

ScottG wrote:
Suspect you have a CONverter and your battery is shorted internally or installed backwards - but that should blow the reverse polarity fuses if present.

Certainly the OP is talking about a converter (120vac > 12 vdc), not an inverter (12vdc > 120 vac), and if this trailer truly is 35 yrs old that converter at best would only be capable of just single stage charging and certainly won't have reverse polarity fuses to protect it. More info about the trailer and converter would be helpful.

[2oldman]

converter. Weird. Nobody ever calls an inverter a converter.

[ScottG]

Suspect you have a CONverter and your battery is shorted internally or installed backwards - but that should blow the reverse polarity fuses if present.
I agree with getting the battery checked first.

[time2roll]

Have the battery checked. You just charged it and then nothing.
Converter might just be struggling to charge a battery that is shot.

[bob213]

In a 35 year old trailer I would think we are talking about a converter not an inverter. Check for a disconnect switch as pianotuna suggested and give us more details about your trailer. Good luck.

[MudChucker]

Start with the main fuse from the battery. Also look at any other fuses in the 12 volt circuit. The inverter / charger only charges your battery so it can be dead and you will still have 12 volt lights assuming you have charged batteries.

Solve this problem first and then we can look at your charger issues.

[pianotuna]

Terry78,

Make and model would help. There is often a main battery disconnect switch. It needs to be "on" to allow the battery to be used.