Older RV heater question

[CWendling]

Ok, so i got an older Holiday Rambler trailer. It was his dads, so he didnt know alot about it, but said the heater was working at one time and the furnace was almost new. It has an older looking converter (progressive dynamics pd710 power converter) in the back. Guy said he thinks the converter needs to be replaced as well as a new 12v battery to run furnace. Never had a trailer with heat, but isnt converting 110 to 12v what the converter does so a 12v battery isnt needed?

[Bowen Aero]

The converter supplies 120 volts directly and outputs 12 volts the battery that provides power to your 12 volt users.

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[careybirdwell]

A lot of the older converters actually ran better with a battery connect to the system. It cleaned up the dirty voltage. It also give you the ability to have about 500-600 amps vs 40-50 amps with converter only. Does your furnace blower even come on, do you have all your 12v light throughout the trailer

[quarterback]

Get ready to burn up a lot of propane. Can you not use an electric heater? My 30 ft Holiday Rambler will burn a lot of propane if I use that to heat it with.

[CWendling]

Ive never run the trailer heater. Just got it this summer and wanted to fire up the heater next weekend to see how it worked. With floor vents, I thought it would work better than a little electric heater. Almost all the lights work now, which i assumed were running off the 110 plugged into the trailer.

[flywise]

Personally, I'd run an electric heater.
RV heaters work well but i am scared it may cause a fire. They get used so little it seems like anything could go wrong. And they will burn a lot of gas

[Birddog40]

I burn mine when it's cold at the lease one bottle last about 3 weekends at the lease if not a little more set a 65

[Robertt]

I bought a used trailer for the lease and have never turned on the factory heater. Tiny $25 dollar electric ceramic heater from Walmart will run you out. A lot safer too.

[fishingsetx]

We run the heat on ours in the winter. Works great. Ours is a 2007 model though and I make sure and check the smoke, CO, etc alarms.

Yes, the battery is needed to help keep the load off your converter. I've read that it's bad on them to run them without it. If the camper is set up like they normally are, the only thing 110 powered will be the fridge (which can also be ran on 12v and propane) and the air conditioner. everything else including the lights will be 12v.

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[CWendling]

This is a 1969. Its in great shape, I couldnt believe it was that old. So does the converter charge the 12v as well then? Seems that most of the lights work and the fridge and AC works as well as the outlets. There are a few lights that werent working, but I attributed that to dead bulbs. I guess it is possible that some were powered by 12v

[Monark]

I bought a used trailer for the lease and have never turned on the factory heater. Tiny $25 dollar electric ceramic heater from Walmart will run you out. A lot safer too.

Same here & no worries about CO.

[engnman]

My heater will not run without a good 12 v battery.Does not matter if plugged into 120.

[KNEE DEEP]

They eat up a lot of propane. We use a small electric heater.

[fishingsetx]

the converter charges the battery and runs all the 12V accessories when you are plugged into AC voltage. Chances are your lights have burnt out bulbs.

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[bassmatt72]

All lights are probably 12v and yes the heater fan is 12v. it all works better with a good battery attached.