Dear Benevolent Foretravel Forum,
My Powerwatch is on the cupboard to the right of the door. When I am plugged into shorepower the ac volts needle is pointing to 114-115. The RED light is on, saying the polarity is reversed. Is that something I should be concerned about?
I was plugged into the exterior outlet by the door of the house. Then, I changed it to inside the kitchen just to check if a different plugin, and different breaker made a difference. It stayed red.
The light(s) go off and needle goes to far left when I unplug the shorepower entirely.
Also, when I am plugged to shore power, and the red light is on, my Prosine has this reading: "Prosine Warning AC in RevPolarity"
So, questions:
1. Is the reversed polarity something to change?
2. How do I do that?
3. When should I turn off the inverter? If ever?
Thank you!
Susan
1990 U280
Bothell, WA
Susan,
I would purchase a polarity checker plug at Home Depot or Radio Shack and try in on your home/shore power outlets. If OK, try at the end of your extension cord. What kind of extension cord are you using? An end may have been replaced but wired incorrectly. Here is one at HD for $8: Gardner Bender 120 VAC GFCI Outlet Tester; 1/clam, 5 clams/master-GFI-3501 at (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-120-VAC-GFCI-Outlet-Tester-1-clam-5-clams-master-GFI-3501/202867890?MERCH=REC-_-nosearch2-1-_-NA-_-202867890-_-N)
Don't use your inverter unless you are somewhere without shore power or generator power. Just turn it off.
Sounds like you are using a regular extension cord. Keep it as short as possible and as heavy duty as well. Don't expect a 110V extension cord to run both ACs. With a short cord, you can run one but not both. You need the 220V cord for that. If the plugs at either end get very warm to the touch, you need to cut the devices being used in your coach or plug into 220V.
Pierce
What Pierce said. It's almost certainly the extension cord between the coach and the power source. I'd bet that someone has replaced one end (coach end?) and did not connect the wires to the proper pins in the plug. You can Google "wiring 20 amp extension cord" for more info.
On edit: It's possible that your house wiring is not correct (especially older homes that once had fuse blocks and now have circuit breakers). You can buy a polarity tester at any hardware store for cheap. Check the socket at the house with one and then check the end of the extension cord (plugged into that socket).
Also, when you use an extension cord some people just uncoil enough to reach leaving a coil of extension cord on the ground. Do NOT do this with your coach extension cord (of any persuasion). If you have a heavy power draw in the coach that coil of wire will be the first one to heat up and catch fire. Uncoil it and spread it around on the ground.
If you have a heater or an air conditioner going (and only ONE a/c or heater and remember that the engine heater counts so be sure that's off) then be sure you check that extension cord for heat.
The charger/converter that charges your batteries when you're on shore power can also draw a fair bit of current. I'd be careful of what else is running if yours is on.
Craig
Sent you a PM.
Pierce,
Thanks! I did go to home Depot today and purchased the gadget. I checked the house outlets and they were correct. Then I checked the cord by itself, and again it was correct. Going through the elimination process. :)
Susan
The power watch itself might have been taken out to fix the lamps which tend to go dim and may have been hooked up incorrectly.... Just a thought.
Don
Susan,
Looks as if you are going in the right direction.
I don't have a clue on how to remove the screens to clean the windows. I looked but today is not a good one. Can anyone help Susan?
Pierce
Hard to say what the problem is without some trouble shooting, but in the meantime don't keep it plugged in if the red light is on. It is my understanding that some rigs are wired such that if your polarity is reversed, what is normally ground will be hot and is a shock hazard. Be careful and have a great day ---- Fritz
I just asked about removing the screens. With the window closed, there is a strip (plastic?) that acts as a guide on the bottom of the channel. Use a small screwdriver to raise the end up enough to grab. Gently slide it out. It is nearly as long as the window, so watch where the end is going. Once it is out you can open the window and remove the screen. If the track is dirty (probably is) you can use a cotton swab (Q-Tip) to clean it. Reverse the process to put it all back. That plastic strip may be somewhat brittle, so be careful handling it.
I suggested that Susan check the outlets inside the coach with her new tester. They also show Hot/Neu Reversed, so it is definitely something between the house and the coach...and her Powerwatch is reporting accurately.
The generator voltage/polarity is not reported on her powerwatch. I cannot remember if my 1990 showed the generator voltage there or not.
You could unplug the coach, turn on the generator, then use the polarity tester to check outlets to see if generator polarity is ok...or has also somehow been reversed.
I have run into reverse Polarity many times in mexico and have made a simple cable reverser for this problem. I wired one end correctly then switched them over for the other end, and I have a seperate ground bare copper cable that if an open ground as well I connect that to a water pipe or? and then get ground also. Simple and effective.
JohnH