Stuart RV Repair diagnoses and fixes RV converters and inverters on-site across Stuart, FL and Martin County. Progressive Dynamics, WFCO, Parallax converters, inverter troubleshooting, and hybrid unit repairs. We come to you.
Stuart RV Repair fixes RV converters and inverters on-site. Progressive Dynamics, WFCO, Parallax, Magnum, and Xantrex. Board replacements, full unit swaps, and hybrid inverter/charger repairs. $120-600 depending on the job. We come to you anywhere in Stuart, FL and across Martin County. Call 772-280-3915. Need other RV electrical repairs? We handle those too.
Lots of RV owners mix up converters and inverters. A converter takes 120V AC from shore power and steps it down to 12V DC to charge your batteries and run your DC systems. An inverter does the opposite, takes 12V DC from your batteries and creates 120V AC so you can run outlets without being plugged in. They're separate components, they fail differently, and they need different troubleshooting. We work on both every week across Stuart and Martin County.
Converters fail more often because they run constantly whenever you're on shore power. The charging board inside handles heat cycling day after day, and the internal fan bearings wear out. A converter that stops charging means your batteries slowly die even while you're plugged in. You won't notice until you unplug and discover you've got a dead 12V system. We see this constantly at RV parks along the St. Lucie River and up through Jensen Beach.
Inverters are more common in higher-end coaches, Class A motorhomes, and full-time setups. When they fail, you lose the ability to run AC outlets and appliances off battery power. Some show fault codes on a display panel, others just go silent. The newer hybrid inverter/charger units from Magnum and Xantrex combine both functions in one box, which means one failure point takes out both your charging and your inverter capability. We diagnose and repair all of them on-site.
The converter's charging board has likely failed. We measure voltage at the converter DC output and compare it to what's arriving at the battery terminals. If the converter is outputting less than 13.2V, the board needs replacement. On Progressive Dynamics units, you can often swap just the charging board (PD9260C or similar) without replacing the whole converter. Runs $180-350.
Either the temperature sensor inside the converter has failed (thinks it's always overheating) or the converter is genuinely working too hard due to deeply discharged batteries or an internal fault. We test the converter temperature, check battery condition, and determine whether the fan needs replacing or if there's a deeper issue. Fan replacements run $60-110.
Fault codes vary by manufacturer. On Magnum units, common codes are F01 (output overload), F07 (DC input too low), and F09 (over temperature). On Xantrex units, you'll see different codes for similar issues. We read the code, test the relevant circuit, and fix the root cause. Sometimes it's a blown internal fuse, sometimes it's a battery bank problem causing low voltage shutoff.
AC ripple on the converter's DC output. A healthy converter should output smooth DC with minimal ripple. When the filtering capacitors or rectifier fail, you get AC ripple riding on top of the 12V DC, which makes LED lights flicker and can damage sensitive electronics. We test with an oscilloscope function on our meter. The fix is usually a board replacement or a new converter. Per Progressive Dynamics, ripple should be under 100mV.
The inverter can't handle the wattage demand. A coffee maker pulls 800-1,200 watts. If your inverter is a 1,000W modified sine wave unit, the startup surge can trip its overload protection. Or the battery bank voltage is dropping too low under load and the inverter shuts down on a low-voltage cutoff. We check both the inverter capacity and battery bank health to find the real issue.
The voltage regulator in the converter has failed and it's putting out 15V+ instead of the normal 13.6-14.4V range. This cooks the electrolyte in flooded batteries, swells AGM batteries, and can damage lithium BMS systems. We see this on older single-stage converters that don't have multi-stage regulation. The fix is a board replacement or a full upgrade to a smart charger that properly regulates the charge cycle.
Every RV brand uses a different converter or inverter setup. Here's what we see most across Stuart and the Treasure Coast, and how each one tends to fail.
The most popular RV converters on the market. PD makes the power centers found in Keystone, Grand Design, and Heartland rigs. The PD9260 is their flagship smart charger with multi-stage charging (bulk, absorption, float, equalize). The charging board is replaceable without swapping the whole unit, which saves money. We carry PD replacement boards on the truck for same-day repairs.
WFCO converters show up in a lot of Forest River, Jayco, and Thor builds. The 8700 series is their standard power center, the 8900 is the deck-mount version. Common failure: the main board dies and you lose all DC output while shore power still works for AC. We test the board output separately from the distribution section. Full board replacements run $180-300 depending on the model.
Magnum makes the inverter/charger combos found in many Class A coaches, diesel pushers, and full-timer rigs. The MS2000 and MS2812 are the models we see most. These are pure sine wave units that handle both inverting and charging in one box. When the inverter side fails, you lose battery-powered AC. When the charger side fails, batteries stop charging. We diagnose which section has failed and replace boards or full units on-site.
Xantrex Freedom and Go Power units are common in mid-range coaches and aftermarket installations. The Freedom X series ranges from 1,000W to 3,000W. Go Power makes both standalone inverters and inverter/charger combos. We work on all models and carry common replacement fuses and relay components. If the unit needs a full replacement, we can source and install same-week in most cases.
Call 772-280-3915 or request an estimate online. Tell us what's happening, whether it's batteries not charging, no 12V output, inverter fault codes, or a fan that won't quit. If you know the converter or inverter brand and model, that helps us bring the right parts. We schedule same or next day.
Our tech measures converter output voltage and DC ripple, tests all distribution fuses, checks inverter waveform and fault codes, and verifies all wiring connections. You get a written estimate before any work begins. The diagnostic typically takes 30-45 minutes.
We carry replacement converter boards, full converter units, fuses, and wiring supplies on the truck. Most converter repairs finish in 1-2 hours. A full unit swap takes 2-3 hours. Inverter board replacement runs 1.5-2 hours. You're back to full power the same day.
| Repair Type | Price Range | Typical Time |
|---|---|---|
| Converter fuse / connection repair | $80-120 | 30-45 min |
| Converter board replacement | $180-350 | 1-1.5 hrs |
| Full converter unit replacement | $300-600 | 2-3 hrs |
| Converter fan replacement | $60-110 | 45 min |
| Inverter board / fuse repair | $200-450 | 1.5-2 hrs |
| Inverter/charger hybrid replacement | $400-600+ | 3-4 hrs |
| Smart charger upgrade | $300-500 | 2 hrs |
WFCO converter board died in our travel trailer while we were parked at a campground off A1A. Batteries were draining even though we were plugged in. Tech diagnosed it in 20 minutes, had a replacement board on the truck, and had us charging again within an hour. Couldn't have been easier.
Magnum inverter in our Class A was throwing an F07 code. Tech found the battery bank voltage was too low because the converter charger had also failed. Fixed both issues in one visit. Replaced the PD board and reset the inverter. Everything works perfectly now. Really knows his stuff.
LED lights in our fifth wheel were flickering like crazy. We thought it was a loose connection somewhere. Turned out the old converter was putting out way too much AC ripple on the 12V line. Tech upgraded us to a Progressive Dynamics smart charger and the flickering stopped immediately. Great upgrade and fair price.
Converter repairs in Stuart typically run $120-600 depending on the issue. A blown fuse or bad connection is $80-120. A converter board replacement runs $180-350. A full converter unit replacement with a new Progressive Dynamics or WFCO unit is $300-600 installed. Inverter board repairs run $200-450. You always get a written estimate first.
A converter takes 120V AC shore power and converts it to 12V DC to charge your batteries and run DC systems. An inverter does the opposite, takes 12V DC from batteries and creates 120V AC so you can run outlets without shore power. Some newer RVs have hybrid units that do both. They're completely different components with different failure modes and different repair approaches.
The fan cools the charging circuit. If it never shuts off, the converter is either working harder than normal due to an internal fault or deeply discharged batteries, or the temperature sensor has failed. A converter running hot can also mean the batteries are dead and it's working at maximum output to recover them. We test both the converter and batteries to find the real cause.
Yes. Older single-stage converters push a flat voltage that can overcharge or undercharge batteries. Multi-stage smart chargers like the Progressive Dynamics PD9260 cycle through bulk, absorption, and float stages. The upgrade runs $300-500 and is especially worth it if you're switching to AGM or lithium batteries that need specific charge profiles.
Turn off shore power and generator, then check if your designated inverter outlets have power. If nothing works, the inverter may have a fault code, a blown internal fuse, or a failed board. Some inverters shut down when battery voltage drops below 10.5V as a safety cutoff. We test the inverter output waveform and voltage to verify it's producing clean 120V AC.
The inverter is undersized for the load. A microwave pulls 1,000-1,500 watts. If your inverter is rated at 1,000 watts, it can't handle the startup surge. Or your batteries are too low to sustain the draw and the inverter shuts down on a low-voltage cutoff. We check both the inverter capacity and battery bank health. If the inverter is undersized, we can upgrade to a higher-wattage unit.
We handle all RV electrical repairs, from shore power and batteries to slide-out motors, appliance wiring, and full panel upgrades. Multiple electrical issues? We knock them all out in one visit across Stuart and Martin County.
We cover Martin County and surrounding areas for all RV converter and inverter repairs. Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound, and beyond.
Call us or request a free estimate. We'll get a tech out to your site with the right parts, same or next day. Board replacements, full unit swaps, and smart charger upgrades. All done at your campsite or driveway.