120VAC Problem

Topic: 120VAC Problem (Read 958 times) previous topic - next topic

120VAC Problem

May 26, 2012, 05:40:35 pm

Well,

I arrived at Parkers Crossroads RV Park & Canpground in Yuma, TN (Exit 108 off I-40. What nice folks...Pull through site, 50 am full hook-up, cable TV, free WiF, all for $28 including tax...happy happy. I hook up turn on the A/C's all is alright. NOT! My inverter circuit is on the brink again! No microwave, TV, charger for the laptop. In the past I've replaced the transfer switch, GFI in the bath, replaced the main breaker in the panel. All circuit breakers seem to be okay...not tripped or anything. I made sure the shore power cord is in nice & tight, and the pedestal seems okay as the A/C's are running great.

Any ideas? Hurry I gotta make dinner, or I'll have to eat at a fast food joint...

Peter

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #1 – May 26, 2012, 06:00:04 pm

Update:
Shut shore power off. On genset...the same thing. On inverter...circuits work fine. What gives?
Peter

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #2 – May 26, 2012, 06:06:01 pm

It sounds like one leg of your ATS is not getting through. If you have the equipment and are comfortable with electricity, remove the top of the ATS and check each post on the coach side with a volt meter or light to see which leg is not getting through. Once you see which contact is preventing the flow of electricity, it may be as simple as turning off all electricity, including the inverter, and cleaning the contact point with emery paper or a nail file. BE CAREFUL!!!

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #3 – May 26, 2012, 06:09:45 pm

Check voltage at the output of the 50 amp breaker in the main CB panel( cycle that CB). If ok, check for voltage at the 50 AMP breaker in the sub panel. Yes or no will tell if the pass through relay in the inverter or second transfer sw ( depending on your set up) is working. If OK, check the output of the CB (20 AMP?) in the sub panel that sends power to the wall plug (bathroom GFI) circuit. Cycle that CB also. If OK I would then check for voltage at the GFI. Then ?
Good luck. Just have to find the point where it fails to continue in the circuit.

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #4 – May 26, 2012, 06:11:07 pm

do you have a GFI outlet

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #5 – May 26, 2012, 06:25:48 pm

If not a GFI issue, since all those are circuits fed by the inverter that the pass through switch in the inverter has failed. If not pass through feature, look for a second ATS-- I have seen it done both ways.

Brett

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #6 – May 26, 2012, 06:40:45 pm

Thanks to all that replied. I heated up dinner in the microwave using the inverter. Worked just fine. The ATS is only two years old and has hardly been used.

The electric came on and I was happy. It has been very hot and could it be that the excessive heat where the circuit breakers are is causing them to not work. That's a weak analysis, I know. Then I turned on the TV, plugged in my tooth brush and the laptop and the circuits went out, and are still out. I'm stumped.

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #7 – May 26, 2012, 06:54:01 pm

That sure sounds like low voltage. Recheck the power post voltage on each leg. I know, that doesn't explain the problem with the generator but maybe the breakers or the GFI were overheated when you tested it with the Genie.

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #8 – May 26, 2012, 08:08:02 pm

So your generator isn't working, or your shore power. But things work on inverter.

Sounds like the transfer switch to me.

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #9 – May 27, 2012, 07:03:03 pm

Quote from: Dave Head – May 26, 2012, 08:08:02 pm

So your generator isn't working, or your shore power. But things work on inverter.

Sounds like the transfer switch to me.

Dave,
The genset ran and the 120VAC was okay except for the inside circuits (inverter). I'm in Nac now and everything is working okay, so it must have been a bad leg at the campground pedestal? Is that possible?

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #10 – May 27, 2012, 07:06:07 pm

hope C U tomorrow, where you parked

The Happy Gimp

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #11 – May 27, 2012, 07:26:55 pm

Quote from: Peter & Beth – May 27, 2012, 07:03:03 pm

The genset ran and the 120VAC was okay except for the inside circuits (inverter). I'm in Nac now and everything is working okay, so it must have been a bad leg at the campground pedestal? Is that possible?

Not if your coach is wired correctly - the A/Cs should be on separate legs of the 50 Amp so if it was a bad hot, one of the two A/C's shouldn't run. Still doesn't explain why things wouldn't run on genset, either.

As an aside, perhaps an investment in a Progressive EMS or a SurgeGuard would be wise as well. You'd mentioned the A/C's sounded fine... you can't judge voltage based on how the A/C's sound (unless of course it's 0 volts, then they make no sound

). We have a SurgeGuard portable that has saved us from low voltage, neutral and ground problems several times (and it's not just when you first plug in, but if the campground gets full and the circuits are overloaded). Steve is in the process of installing a hardwired Progressive EMS. I know I've seen the SurgeGuard units at MOT; I think I have seen the Progressive EMS on the "impulse buy" rack at Xtreme (near the Rejex). I haven't looked at FOT.

-M

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #12 – May 27, 2012, 07:52:07 pm

Could be - did you ever try running the generator with the shore power disconnected completely?

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #13 – May 27, 2012, 08:45:48 pm

Bill,
I'm parked as you drive in on the right next to Dave M. You can't miss Forrest, he's the only dinky 34 footer there...

Dave, I was disconnected from shore power when I ran the genset. So the mystery continues.

Michelle, to be frank, I don't even know if the two A/C's were running. And yes a surge guard/low voltage detector would be fine. The campground voltage per the Powerwatch was at 110VAC all day and then at 122VAC in the morning.

Peter

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #14 – June 09, 2012, 10:27:00 pm

Bump -

Peter, I saw you were in Yuma, TN again tonight and assume that's at Parkers Crossroads campground again.

Any news on the 120V there this time?

Michelle

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #15 – June 10, 2012, 06:26:19 pm

I think that you will kill the shore and generator power and take off the access panel to your inverter/charger and check the twist-on connectors that are probably making the connections from the 120 volt incoming side you will find them loose or the connector has fallen off.
The problem you report happened to me and that was the problem

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #16 – June 10, 2012, 07:28:22 pm

Michelle,
I mentioned the issue I had the first night I stayed there to the owner and they said that there have been other 50 amp guests on site 34 w/o issue. This time I had site 31 and not 34. No issues with this site. All has really worked well since I installed the new automatic transfer switch a couple years ago.
Thanks for asking, Peter

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #17 – June 10, 2012, 07:30:54 pm

Quote from: Jon Twork – June 10, 2012, 06:26:19 pm

I think that you will kill the shore and generator power and take off the access panel to your inverter/charger and check the twist-on connectors that are probably making the connections from the 120 volt incoming side you will find them loose or the connector has fallen off.
The problem you report happened to me and that was the problem

Jon,
I haven't done that procedure since my problem went away with the R&R of the ATS. But, I will likely do check the connections at the Inverter/charger as a PM item very soon.

Thanks for the suggestion,
Peter

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #18 – June 14, 2012, 08:31:19 pm

Quote from: Peter & Beth – June 10, 2012, 07:28:22 pm

Michelle,
I mentioned the issue I had the first night I stayed there to the owner and they said that there have been other 50 amp guests on site 34 w/o issue. This time I had site 31 and not 34. No issues with this site.

Peter - we're in 34 tonight and good power (119/121 with both A/Cs running and they have been for several hours). Do post back if you ever figure out what caused the problem with the inverted circuits.

I know we have had to replace 3 of our 120V breakers in the main box due to age/heat (bottom ones in the panel). Fortunately in our coach they're a GE slimline readily available at Lowes.

Michelle

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #19 – June 14, 2012, 08:53:08 pm

Michelle,
Everything has been working alright since that incident May 26 on site 34. How do you like that RV park? Nice folks, eh? Great price for full hookups (even though I never used the water or sewer for the one night stays).

I did mention the problem I had on #34, but they said no one has reported any problems for that pedestal. I guess it must have been something I did, but for the life of me I can't figure out what it might be.

Enjoy your summer trip. Let us know if you'll be close to us for a visit...

Peter

(edit) The only thing that's been different is I have not run the genset to use the roof A/C's. Maybe it has something to do with the genset thru the ATS?

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #20 – June 14, 2012, 09:05:27 pm

Quote from: Peter & Beth – June 14, 2012, 08:53:08 pm

Michelle,
Everything has been working alright since that incident May 26 on site 34. How do you like that RV park?

Substantially less creepy than the previous time we stayed here, in 2000 or 2001 (it was so bad we were afraid to walk the dogs after dark). We have avoided the park since that one stay and are pleased to find the new (as of 2 years ago) owners have really turned the place around.

If the inverter circuits wouldn't run on genset either, I would suspect something related to the inverter transfer switch or the "pseudo-main" breaker that feeds the sub panel from the main breaker box.

Michelle

Re: 120VAC Problem

Reply #21 – June 15, 2012, 12:17:45 am

If you guys are on vacation why not do a little side trip and come over to visit us, it's not that far

John h

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