Born Free Leap'n Lions RV Club Info & Discussion Forum

Hello....hoping for a little assistance here. We just got back from our first trip in our new (used) 2002 BF Bed and Breakfast Class B. As new RV owners we are figuring out what powers what. The key page from the manual is attached ()but we are not sure it is accurate (or perhaps it covers all models not just ours and some models are different).

The main question: Specifically, the fridge and water heater do work from propane and the fridge works from electric when the engine is running. Fuses seem ok but neither work when we are plugged into mains AC, which we assume they should do.....yes? Any thoughts welcome.

In addition, we do have a breaker, that the panel says is for the Outlets, that won't reset (middle one in the attached image) and two of the outlets don't work as a result, but I assume that wouldn't affect the fridge or water heater. Correct?

Appreciate any advice with thanks.

Steve and Ronna
Kent, Ohio.

Steve, your Born Free is probably equipped the same as my 2002 26’ RSB coach. Your refrigerator will run either on propane or 115 vac power selectable on the refrigerator control panel. Of course to run on 115 vac power you must be either plugged into a shoreline power source or have you generator running. Running your cab engine will not provide a source of 115 vac power, doing that only charges your house battery(s).

If you can’t reset the outlets ac power breaker then of course all of your outlets will be dead when plugged into shoreline power or when running your generator. Make sure you toggle that breaker to its OFF position before trying to reset it.

Now some of your outlets may have power to them from an optional installed inverter. Is your coach equipped with an inverter as you say some outlets work without being plugged into shoreline power?

We had a similar problem with our refrigerator. The fridge would work on propane, but when plugged into the shore power, it would not run. After several repair attempts, it was determined that the original converter (AC -120V to 12V-DC) was not producing the required voltage to power the fridge control panel, which operates on 12V. I replaced the converter. There are several posts in the library regarding a converter replacement. The converter is behind your fuses and breakers.

To diagnosis the converter problem, unplug your shore power. Go to the fridge outside access panel. Unplug the fridge from the outlet and plug into a cord plugged into a house or garage outlet. Go to the fridge control panel and switch it to AC. If the fridge works on AC, it proves that the converter is not producing enough volts to operate the control panel. The fridge control panel is being powered by the house batteries, which is why it is working in this test. This test was found on http://www.thenorcoldguy.com

The converter takes over for the house batteries, to power all of the lights, stove hood fan, roof fans, monitor panel, fridge control panel and water heater control valves when connected to shore power. It also charges your house batteries.

It appears that your coach still has the original converter. The original converters have a history of failing. The new Smart converters are much more efficient and charge the house batteries in a more timely manner.

FYI, you may also have other fuses and another breaker box under your vanity for additional features on your coach.

There are several needles in this haystack, so maybe this helps to find one of the needles.

WardPAW wrote:The converter is behind your fuses and breakers.

Actually with the Parallax 7345, the charger/converter is located below the breaker and fuse panel section - not behind it.

Bill and Ben, thanks so much. That feedback is really helpful and gives me plenty to go on. Interestingly the AC did power the roof air con unit and the microwave, so is that a case of the converter being sufficient for those two appliances but not the fridge or water heater?

Steve

smitchel wrote:Bill and Ben, thanks so much. That feedback is really helpful and gives me plenty to go on. Interestingly the AC did power the roof air con unit and the microwave, so is that a case of the converter being sufficient for those two appliances but not the fridge or water heater?

Steve

The charger/comverter has nothing to do with powering your 110 vac AC powered appliances such as your air conditioner or microwave or AC outlets. They are powered directly from being plugged into shoreline power or by running you generator. Your Parallax 7345 Charger/Converter is used only to charge your house battery(s) and to power your DC powered applanacis such as you interior lights and Fantastic fan

Again, is your coach equipped with an inverter as you say some outlets work without being plugged into shoreline power?

Bill, there is no indication anywhere in the documentation I have that my coach has an Inverter. Is there a way to check?

Steve

Steve, well you seemed to indicate that one or more of your ac outlets had power without being plugged in shoreline power or with the generator running. The only way for this to be possible is that those particular outlets must be getting power from an optional inverter itself being powered by your coach battery(s).

Got it Bill, thanks. Again, appreciate all your advice on this.

Steve

I’ve read these and I think there is some confusion regarding the refrigerator. As we know your refrigerator will operate on propane or 120 volt AC provided by either shore power or your generator. But there is a controller on your refrigerator that is used to set it to receive propane or shore power and establish the temperature setting from 1 to 9. This control panel operates on 12 volts DC. If it does not have power neither propane nor shore power will operate your refrigerator. I do not have my BF handy to check the fuse panel but someone who does can verify if there is a a fuse there for the controller.