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Dear Mark,
We have an older model Komfort SE-36, we love it,
but…
- We are having problems with the fluorescent lighting…all of the ballasts are going. I'm sure that this has to do age, but there seems to be an electrical problem. When the light over the bed is turned on any electrical item that is on makes a huge noise the TV's go to fuzz. Do you think this is a ballast problem or a larger one? Or could it be the inverter?
- We would like to replace the lights…what is a good brand and compatible with the 12V system?
In the Dark in California…Robyn
Mark says…
The noise problem you describe can be caused by a light fixture with a bad ballast. If that light is off, and everything else works fine, it's probably the light fixture. If you have been "killing" ballasts, though, there may be more to it. If the converter has developed a problem and is no longer supplying clean, regulated DC power to the rig, it can cause the ballasts in the lights to fail prematurely. Are your house batteries in good shape? Most older converters use the battery bank as a filter and regulator, so if the batteries are disconnected, or in really bad shape, that can affect the converter's output regulation and filtering. Get a meter and check the voltage at the batteries with the rig plugged in. If you are seeing more than 13.5–14 volts, there is definitely a problem!
As far as the light fixtures go, I have always used the Thinlite brand lights. They are designed for RV use and seem to be very reliable. They can be purchased from any RV parts source. You can get more info about their product line at www.thinlite.com/products.htm
Dear Mark,
The last time we used our 5th wheel we noticed that the fan on the converter was going on and off very frequently. My husband knows that the fan comes on to cool down battery but what would make it come on so often? Does this mean it is time to buy a new converter? Please let me know, Cindy
Mark says…
The fan is designed to come on when the converter gets warm enough, and runs until the converter cools down. If the converter is working harder, or the ambient temperature is high, the fan will run more often. As you turn on more lights, fans and other DC loads in the rig, the load on the converter increases, and the fan will run more often. I suspect that it is operating normally, and is nothing to worry about.
Dear Mark,
Retired recently and have small Ford Econoline F150which has been turned into mini camper i.e.; cupboards and bed etc. I have been given a 1200 watt Eliminator so I can arrange to use small appliances, etc. Since I have never used such an item, can you explain how and with what do I get this item to be useful. Someone said I required batteries…can you explain how this is all supposed to work. Your kind reply will be most appreciated.
Jaycee
Mark says…
I have to assume here that you are referring to a 1200 watt inverter. A typical inverter takes 12 volt DC power and produces a fair approximation of 120V AC power from it. They can be used to run small appliances, computers, stereos, etc. In order to use an inverter, you need an adequate supply of 12v power, as it takes approximately 10 amps of DC current to make 100 watts of AC power. (Very rough approximation) Most RVers will power an inverter, along with the lights, fans and other 12V accessories, from a dedicated battery or battery bank. Called “House Batteries” these are usually 12V deep cycle batteries, or sets of 6V golf cart batteries wired in series. Although you can run such things from your van's starting battery for brief periods, the starting battery really isn't designed for such use. Also, if you run it down, you'll be extending your stay until you can find someone to give you a jump. I maintain a set of web pages that go into great detail on RV battery systems and accessories. Take a look at www.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/tech.htm and click on "The 12V Side of Life"
Dear Mark,
We would like to stay in National Forests but they don't allow you to run generators at night and I need the generator for my CPAP and oxygen machine. Is there a solution to this problem – an alternate way to run them that would be allowed?
Mark says…
A properly sized inverter and a fair–sized house battery bank can run critical medical equipment in these situations. Inverters are quiet and reliable. The only catch is that you must have a large enough battery bank to provide for the number of hours you plan to operate these devices. Depending on how much power it takes to run them, it can be a sizeable investment. Let's see if I can explain it clearly… You can start by reading the label plate on the device to see what the wattage requirements are. Then, we have to get into some math:
Watts = Volts x Amps, so Amps = Watts / Volts. For an inverter, operating at 90% efficiency, the conversion can be represented thus: AC watts / 12 volts X 1.11 = DC amps
Example… Let's say your CPAP requires 100 watts to operate. On an inverter, that will draw about 9.25 amps from your batteries. 100 / 12 X 1.11 = 9.25
The reason that this is important is that you only have a fixed capacity in amp hours available from your battery bank. A pair of 6v deep cycle batteries or a pair of group 24 RV batteries will have a capacity of about 200 amp hours. That means that if you run that device for about 10 hours, your batteries will be down to about 50% of capacity! 9.25A X 10 hours = 92.5 amp hours. You also need to factor in the other 12V loads you will be running, like lighting, water pump, fans, etc. You can see that running energy–thirsty AC appliances and devices for long periods of time can require quite a large battery bank! As long as you are able to run the generator each day to recharge your batteries, you can get by on just enough capacity to meet your daily needs, but remember that deep cycle batteries don't like to be deeply discharged. Provide for enough capacity to prevent discharges deeper than 50% before recharging.
Do you have a question for Mark?
Please submit your question via e–mail to woodalls@escapees.com. Questions should be about RV technical issues, general RV or RV lifestyle. Please remember, material will be edited. Because of the large volume of material and correspondence submitted, individual replies will not be possible, nor can we acknowledge receipt of your material. Selected questions will be answered in future issues of the Diamond Club newsletter in the Mark, My Words column. The Mark, My Words column also appears in Escapees magazine, a bi–monthly publication of the Escapees RV Club. For more information visit www.escapees.com/magazine
 Mark Nemeth has been involved with all things RV for more than ten years, including almost 5 years on the road as a fulltimer. Nowadays, Mark is parked for a while and works on staff for the Escapees RV club as technical advisor, consumer affairs director, and instructor in the Escapees RVer's Boot Camp program.
Founded in 1978, the Escapees RV Club provides a total support network for Rvers that includes a wide variety of opportunities for fun, adventure, and education. CHAPTERS There are 51 chapters across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico that offer local luncheons and rallies within 150 miles of home. Everyone is welcome to attend. HOPs Theme–related outings and adventures held across the country. ESCAPADES Five–day events, Escapades offer over 60 seminars and workshops to educate, entertain, and enhance the fun and use of RVs. PARKS Our RV park system offers short–term, long–term, and home–base parking options. MAIL SERVICE The best mail–forwarding service in the country. Members can personalize their mail delivery receiving only the mail they want when they want. PLUS MUCH MORE! A complete listing of all Escapees events, and a comprehensive list of member benefits is found at www.escapees.com.
 Some content previously printed in Escapees magazine, published by the Escapees RV Club. All material provided by Mark Nemeth, Escapees Magazine Technical Advisor and Boot Camp Instructor. For more information about the Escapees RV Club, please visit www.escapees.com or call 888–757–2582.
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