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Old 02-24-2009, 08:12 AM   #1
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Converter without Battery

I have a 2002 sunline mn 2975, with a Centurion CS 4500, converter.

Can I plug in the camper with no battery connected, without damaging the converter ?

Any indo appreciated.

Thanks

Sunline1
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Old 02-24-2009, 09:47 AM   #2
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My goodness, I hope so. My batteries could freeze if they go dead so I remove them for the winter and plug the converter in when I need power in the camper. It's unplugged most of the time. Let's see what the answer is......................
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Old 02-24-2009, 10:26 AM   #3
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I believe the answer is......it depends on the charger model. Some will work without a battery, some need the battery to complete the 12v circuit.
Check your manual.

You do need to make sure your (+) battery cable(s) aren't touching any metal while disconnected. If your converter is sending voltage to the battery cable and it is touching metal it will short out. At minimum this will pop the fuse, at worst it will do a heck of an uncontrolled welding job.
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Old 02-24-2009, 12:05 PM   #4
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Mack C-85

I checked the manual before posting, I probably should have mentioned that.

The manual for the converter, that came with my camper when I bought it new, is just a little pamhlet. It doesn't say anything about running the converter without a battery good or bad. I can't even finfd a phone number on the pamhlet, only a address in Mexico.

I really don't want to take a chance without some reasurrance that it's okay. I can only imagine the complications as well as cost to replace the converter.

Let's see if someone else has anything to say.

Thanks all
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Old 02-24-2009, 12:23 PM   #5
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Found these on another forum through a Google Search. According to the owner's guide (which looks like if covers the all CS Models) the battery doesn't need to be installed.

Owner's Manual:

http://americandirect.ibuilder.com/D...S%20MANUAL.pdf

Troubleshooting Guide:

http://americandirect.ibuilder.com/d...de&DesignNo=1&

Product Description:

http://americandirect.ibuilder.com/d...ns&DesignNo=1&
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Old 02-24-2009, 02:59 PM   #6
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The only thing to worry about, beside what the battery cables are doing while free, is that none of these converters have any filtering on the output, they are looking for the battery to do that. So, if you don't have the battery hooked up, I would run lights and maybe pumps only, no radios, tvs, or other electronic things.
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Old 02-24-2009, 03:50 PM   #7
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I have read the owners manual info supplied by Mack C-85. Thanks for it.

I also read the owners "Sunline Campers" manual, supplied with the camper. Oddly enough in the How to guide for RV operation, under converter it stated THE BATTERY MUST BE HOOKED TO UNIT FOR PROPER OPERATION. Weather they know what thir talking about or not I don't know.

I found a phone number in my 1 1/2 page (converter) owners manual I got from Sunline.

I tryed to call the number no answer, maybe they are closed, will try again tomorrow.

This sure is confusing to me. There should be more consistant agreement in my simple mind.

Thanks Again

John
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Old 02-24-2009, 09:17 PM   #8
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Re: Converter without Battery

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunline1
I have a 2002 sunline mn 2975, with a Centurion CS 4500, converter.

Can I plug in the camper with no battery connected, without damaging the converter ?

Any indo appreciated.

Thanks

Sunline1
If you want to be sure, you can call American

Call: 818.598.8580

Fax:: 818.598.8097

American Enterprises, Inc.
PO Box 173. 6433 Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Canoga Park, CA 91303

http://americandirect.ibuilder.com/

I have talked to them, ask for technical service. I believe American bought the Centerion line and the present day American is upgraded. They sell a direct drop in replacement for the Centerion.

In both of my 2004 units I had the older American and the newer one. In the American manual it stated it could be run without the battery with no problems as in 2004 Sunline started putting rotary disconnects on the battery and you could have the battery off and run the shore power. It may be late 2003 but in that time frame. But this was the American unit. See here on page 3 of there manual. http://americandirect.ibuilder.com/D...S%20MANUAL.pdf

But note: that is the 2008 model manual although my 2004 has the same statement. I do not know about the 2002 version.

As Mack said, make sure the hot (red) battery cable is not touching the frame.

Hope this helps

John
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Old 02-25-2009, 09:58 AM   #9
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JohnB

thanks for the numbers.

I called that number, and was told "YES" I can run the converter without the battery as everyone suggested.

The guy I spoke to just said as you, Mack and others , make sure you keep the leads (+, -) separated, even I know that.

thanks all for your help.

P.S. Check my next posting for why, I wanted to run with the battery disconnected.
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