Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: juicesqueezer on August 29, 2022, 09:40:23 pm
Title: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: juicesqueezer on August 29, 2022, 09:40:23 pm
I noticed this morning that my panel was high in the 130's on each leg and I am on 50 amp service. Now, it is going from 139 to 152 on the legs. Any ideas? Been plugged into this service now for over 8 months and never saw this before. Anybody have an ideas?
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: juicesqueezer on August 29, 2022, 09:41:48 pm
Everything is working including the airs, etc. Just don't see any other issues causing this or effecting those I am using!
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: Rich Bowman on August 29, 2022, 09:46:53 pm
First, Check with another volt meter at the pedestal. See if you really have a problem.
Rich
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: juicesqueezer on August 29, 2022, 09:51:19 pm
First, Check with another volt meter at the pedestal. See if you really have a problem.
Rich
Rich, I was worried it was the inverter, but will check at the pedestal for sure! Thanks!
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: Rich Bowman on August 29, 2022, 09:59:50 pm
If the pedestal is bad, unplug. If good, then start checking further along the circuit. You will need your 120 wiring diagram to trace the lines. I assume you have the oem voltage panel. On mine, it has 2 120V plugs on the back that plug into two different circuits, one on each 50A leg to check the voltage. The panel may just be giving a bad reading. You can pull it and check each leg behind the panel.
Rich
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: Jason on August 29, 2022, 10:01:12 pm
You could also disconnect and start your generator and see what they voltage is.
That said I recently picked up Amazon.com: Power Watchdog PWD50EPO, Bluetooth Surge Protector with Auto... (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PMJ2K95) Do you have something like this?
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: Rich Bowman on August 29, 2022, 10:10:07 pm
Good idea on the generator. I also have the PowerWatch Dog. Seems to do it's job.
Rich
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: juicesqueezer on August 29, 2022, 10:50:56 pm
I have the built in EMS and I also have a new panel that I installed with the 3000 watt xantrex! I will try the gen in the morning and also check out the voltage on the 50 amp service. Thank you all!
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: oldguy on August 30, 2022, 12:13:47 am
I don't see how your coach could make voltage so I would think it is the power coming in to your coach or your voltage regulator is going wonky. Your inverter shouldn't be on if power is coming into the coach.
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: turbojack on August 30, 2022, 07:28:07 am
If you have 139-152 volts on both legs of service (Hot and neutral L1-N & L2-N) then you have a bad meter or the power company has a major problem.
If you have 139-152 on one leg and the other leg is 101-88 volts then there is a neutral problem that could be anywhere from the power company to the panel in your coach. If you do have this problem unplug now so you can figure out what is wrong. 139-152 will let the smoke out of a lot of items that have that high of voltage.
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: juicesqueezer on August 30, 2022, 08:27:14 am
I don't see how your coach could make voltage so I would think it is the power coming in to your coach or your voltage regulator is going wonky. Your inverter shouldn't be on if power is coming into the coach.
Peter, I always leave the inverter on with power. Don't see an issue with that? When we lose power, we have inverter to keep from resetting all clocks, etc. Please tell me why I am wrong.
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: juicesqueezer on August 30, 2022, 08:29:51 am
Incoming voltage settled down this morning. Will be getting out when rain stops and see what is going on. Oh, I did not replace the original power panel, just added the remote panel for the Xantrex. Any recommendations on a new power panel? Thank you all for your input! Will post results as I find them.
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: oldguy on August 30, 2022, 10:16:06 am
I didn't mean turn your inverter off, I meant it would not be the problem as as long as power it coming in it would not be putting out power.
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: craneman on August 30, 2022, 10:53:52 am
If the 2000 panel is the same as the '99 panel they are problematic. I paid to have mine repaired as I was thinking original look was what I wanted. They are pricey to have repaired. Mine showed voltage all over the place, high, low one high one low etc. Then I saw some of the upgrades done to the panel and wish I had done that. I know Roger posted a good post on his and I have seen others. I used a multimeter to find out the panel was wrong before I had it repaired.
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: juicesqueezer on August 30, 2022, 11:17:32 am
Well, rain stopped and got out my meter and checked voltage in the 110 plugs, all fine. Then shut down power at pedestal and unplugged, powered the pedestal back up and checked there, all fine. Then started the generator and the monitor is steady at 125 each leg, so to me, I have an issue with the power monitor itself. Read Barry's article on this and of course, no more Radio Shacks, so gave a call to Keith R and he has some fixes for these. Will be seeing him when we leave Eureka Springs, AR for a short trip to Nac. Will try and find Rogers fix as well, but did some searching and did not find anything yet! Will keep looking. Many thanks to all who posted!
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: Peter on August 30, 2022, 11:58:48 am
It sure whether it really helps or is overkill but I have the built in EMS and have the power watch plugged in as well. It is nice to view how much voltage amperage the system is using via Bluetooth Peter
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: craneman on August 30, 2022, 12:53:11 pm
Well, rain stopped and got out my meter and checked voltage in the 110 plugs, all fine. Then shut down power at pedestal and unplugged, powered the pedestal back up and checked there, all fine. Then started the generator and the monitor is steady at 125 each leg, so to me, I have an issue with the power monitor itself. Read Barry's article on this and of course, no more Radio Shacks, so gave a call to Keith R and he has some fixes for these. Will be seeing him when we leave Eureka Springs, AR for a short trip to Nac. Will try and find Rogers fix as well, but did some searching and did not find anything yet! Will keep looking. Many thanks to all who posted!
You might read the whole thread , Roger's setup is in reply #35 just gives you an idea of what you could do by just replacing the monitor with the 2 gauges.
Sanity check on incoming voltage (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=44168.0)
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: WS6_Keith on August 30, 2022, 01:37:03 pm
Rich, I was worried it was the inverter, but will check at the pedestal for sure! Thanks!
When plugged into shore power, the auto transfer switch (ATS) will be providing power to the coach from the shore power, and not from the inverter. Both ATS's cannot be engaged at the same time (shore and inverter). The inverter will receive AC power from shore power, which it then uses to charge the batteries.
Title: Re: Power panel in coach issues!
Post by: juicesqueezer on September 03, 2022, 09:37:39 am
Update; well, panel is at it again. It settled down when I flipped off the breakers and flipped them back on for about a week and now, they panel is reading high again and breakers don't make a difference! So, will be looking to replace the power panel or finding a fix on it! Hopefully, Keith will have the answer to this!