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Topic: Power panel in coach issues! (Read 602 times) previous topic - next topic

Power panel in coach issues!

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?
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #1
Everything is working including the airs, etc.  Just don't see any other issues causing this or effecting those I am using!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #2
First, Check with another volt meter at the pedestal.  See if you really have a problem.

Rich
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #3
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!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #4
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
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #5

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...  Do you have something like this?

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
Jason
2000 U295 36' Non-slide  ISC350

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #6
Good idea on the generator. I also have the PowerWatch Dog.  Seems to do it's job.

Rich
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #7
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!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #8
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 and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #9
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.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #10
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.
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #11
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.
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #12
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.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #13
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.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #14
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!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #15
 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
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #16
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
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #17
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. 
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

 

Re: Power panel in coach issues!

Reply #18
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!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus