New Owner 2009 Heartland Trailrunner - 30(?) feet

Mnickek

Member
New here.
My Dad recently died and left a 2009 Heartland Trailrunner which he loved. I think its a 30 foot model. I've tried desperately to find manuals but to date have worked through trial and error.

I have two questions that are increasingly critical for me. First, is there a switch that operates or controls the DC inverter? There are three switches near the door; one or two operate outer lights but the last is difficult to figure out.

Most important, does anyone know where the power inverter is located and what type of replacement is appropriate? After a highly frustrating effort to work through electrical issues Im certain that the inverter needs replacing. Before I buy the wrong thing (again) I'd like to lay my eyes on the inverter and get a recommendation for replacement. If possible I'd like to buy something that gives me a little extra power.

Thanks, and I apologize if the answers are already here somewhere but I'm as good with finding things here as I am at figuring out issues with our camper.

Thanks again.
 

cashmore

Active Member
I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think that model came from the factory with an inverter (turns DC power into AC power) or had an option for a factory inverter. They all have a Converter to charge the batteries when you're connected to shore power (or should have one). To be clear you are talking about an inverter that creates power for 110v use? Are you sure that it has one? What symptoms are you experiencing that leads you to believe that you have a bad inverter?

Manuals are somewhat generic for travel trailers and are usually are not specific with locations of components. You can try the heartland website and you can also call them to get information about that unit from customer service make sure to have the VIN # when calling. I don't know how far back they are able to go with information from a specific unit however.
 

Mnickek

Member
Thank you for responding and more important thank you for giving me the chance to state my question or issue more clearly.

I may have been using the wrong words or terms; I'm talking about something that converts the 110 or shore power to 12V or DC power.

My lights are constantly dim and every time I try to use the refrigerator I get a "LOW DC" alert. I replaced the battery with a new one and while I get a very short period where everything worked as it should it wasn't long before my battery was nearly dead (even though I was connected to shore power the entire time) and all of the old problems came back.

The new battery won't charge and even while plugged into shore power my DC powered stuff just doesn't work right.

I asked about the switches because I noticed that occasionally when I hit one of those three switches some lights will come on inside that didn't before. At other times the AC will come on when it didn't come on before. I read somewhere that the thermostat is also DC controlled which led me to believe that this switch has some DC function.

In any event that the fact that the new battery won't charge coupled with the fact that even when on shore power my DC stuff doesn't work right led me to believe that I needed at least a new inverter.

Thanks again
 

danemayer

Well-known member
Hi Mnickek,

You are describing the Power Converter. The output of the Power Converter feeds both the fuse box (12V DC fuses), and the battery. When plugged into shore power, if the Converter is working, everything inside the trailer should work whether your battery is installed or not.

I'd guess a Trailrunner uses a WFCO Power Converter, and it's probably located inside, close to where the shore power cord attaches on the exterior. It's likely a combined power center that includes 120V AC circuit breakers, 12V DC fuses, and the Power Converter. So look for the circuit breaker panel/fuse box. There's no switch to turn Power Converters on or off, other than perhaps a 120V AC circuit breaker. But on a combined power center, I don't think you'll find that.

Power Converters have protective fuses on them in case the battery is ever connected with reverse polarity. You should start by checking for a blown fuse as pictured below.
 

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Mnickek

Member
Hi Mnickek,

You are describing the Power Converter. The output of the Power Converter feeds both the fuse box (12V DC fuses), and the battery. When plugged into shore power, if the Converter is working, everything inside the trailer should work whether your battery is installed or not.

I'd guess a Trailrunner uses a WFCO Power Converter, and it's probably located inside, close to where the shore power cord attaches on the exterior. It's likely a combined power center that includes 120V AC circuit breakers, 12V DC fuses, and the Power Converter. So look for the circuit breaker panel/fuse box. There's no switch to turn Power Converters on or off, other than perhaps a 120V AC circuit breaker. But on a combined power center, I don't think you'll find that.

Power Converters have protective fuses on them in case the battery is ever connected with reverse polarity. You should start by checking for a blown fuse as pictured below.

Thanks for the reply! This makes perfect sense.

In my camper there is a fuse panel or what looks like a power center on the floor beneath the stove or range I think. You've given me the perfect place to check and the perfect starting place.

I really appreciate the help!
 

cashmore

Active Member
Thanks for the reply! This makes perfect sense.

In my camper there is a fuse panel or what looks like a power center on the floor beneath the stove or range I think. You've given me the perfect place to check and the perfect starting place.

I really appreciate the help!


Make sure that you unplug from shore power before messing around inside the power center. It's likely that you'll have to pull that out to get to the converter which will expose 120v wiring. You don't want to get shocked trying to find the converter. Just thought i'd throw that out there.
 

Mnickek

Member
Hi Mnickek,

You are describing the Power Converter. The output of the Power Converter feeds both the fuse box (12V DC fuses), and the battery. When plugged into shore power, if the Converter is working, everything inside the trailer should work whether your battery is installed or not.

I'd guess a Trailrunner uses a WFCO Power Converter, and it's probably located inside, close to where the shore power cord attaches on the exterior. It's likely a combined power center that includes 120V AC circuit breakers, 12V DC fuses, and the Power Converter. So look for the circuit breaker panel/fuse box. There's no switch to turn Power Converters on or off, other than perhaps a 120V AC circuit breaker. But on a combined power center, I don't think you'll find that.

Power Converters have protective fuses on them in case the battery is ever connected with reverse polarity. You should start by checking for a blown fuse as pictured below.

Make sure that you unplug from shore power before messing around inside the power center. It's likely that you'll have to pull that out to get to the converter which will expose 120v wiring. You don't want to get shocked trying to find the converter. Just thought i'd throw that out there.


Thanks!
 
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