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Topic: Power Line Monitor (PLM) Voltage Check Issues (Read 455 times) previous topic - next topic

Power Line Monitor (PLM) Voltage Check Issues

Yikes, our PLM is reading 157 on line 1 and 95 on line 2!!  Do we have a serious problem or is the PLM broken?  This happened about a year ago and now it's happened again.  Last year when it happened we turned off the power at the campground pole and connected my brother's Progressive Industries power line monitor and switched on the power.  The Progressive unit indicated all was well, but the PLM said otherwise.  I then used my multimeter and checked the circuits at the breaker box under the bed - good readings from the multimeter.  I then turned off the power at the CG pole and turned on the genset.  The PLM liked that and the readings returned to normal.  I turned off the genset and turned on the CG breaker and the PLM went back to the abnormal reading.  Since we had checked the CG power with the Progressive unit and each circuit line with a multimeter we just assumed there was a "glitch" with the PLM.  Fast forward to the present.  No more issues with the PLM at more than 20 CGs until now.  The gremlins are back.  Have my own Progressive Industries  monitor and it's reading all is well.  Checked the circuits with my multimeter and it says all is well.  I haven't switched on the genset.  Has anyone experienced this type of issue?  Suggestions would be appreciated.  I found the breaker switches on the main panel that turn the PLM off/on (see picture), but found a power line monitor item on the sub panel that I do not know what it is.
David & Sherry Kendrick
"Gizmo" The Doggy Lama
USAF(Ret) 1971-75; 1979-95 (20 yrs)
2003 U320 F03 [6179] 38PBDS (3/2016)
2016 Chev Silverado Z71 LTZ
Motorcade 17738
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New Horizons 5W 25' RKS (1/2004 - 3/2016)
2003 Chev Silverado 2500HD Duramax
Tent (5-person) White Stag (1972 - 2003)

Re: Power Line Monitor (PLM) Voltage Check Issues

Reply #1
On Facebook Foretravel site. I fellow owner is rebuilding these units. You mail yours in, he rebuilds, checks, returns.
Mark Bumgarner is his name. Owner of Babe, big blue 42 ft Foretravel.  Master of all things VW.
1999 U270 40 #5518
USN. USPS.

 

Re: Power Line Monitor (PLM) Voltage Check Issues

Reply #2
The Power Line Monitor is a simple device that plugs into each leg of your 120 VAC.  That is why there are 2 breakers for it.  One is for one leg and its power, the other is the other leg that it monitors.  If you pull the panel it's mounted on, you will see the 2 outlets it is plugged into - they are on your 2 different legs of shore power.  Pull the plugs and check voltages there.

The most common cause of such severely mismatched legs is a bad neutral somewhere in the shore power wiring.  It *is* possible that there is a problem with the power line monitor itself, but look at other things first.

Voltage problem revisited

When you switch to Genset, you are running 120VAC so both legs will match, plus you have removed the shore power wiring from the equation.

Since the issue has shown up intermittently, the first thing to look at is your shore power cord and reel.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320