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Electrical issue

Went through electrical storm in Tennesee last night.  Front tv and all audio visual, satellite dvd electronics up front will not work on shore power or genset but has power on inverter only.  I am all electric and have 2 inverters.  On my silver leaf, leg 1 shows 0 amps out under DC.  Any thoughts?
Gerard Caswell
Eunice, LA
2006 Phenix
2011 GMC Sierra P/U 4x4

Re: Electrical issue

Reply #1 –
Gerald,
We'd likely need to know a bit more about your electrical set up.  Depending on the severity of the storm, various issues may need to be addressed.  First. does the coach have a spike/surge suppression device?  If so, that's the first place I would look...it could be toast.  Second, check the operation of the ATS...you likely have more than one ATS...one of these could be toast.
 
Assume you've already done the CB checks to make sure all the circuits breakers are operating in the main CD panel...it sounds like they are all working on the inverter panel.
 
Others will chime in with more helpful information.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Electrical issue

Reply #2 –
Forgot to mention the most obvious...check the GFI outlet (usually in the bathroom) to ensure it is operating properly as well.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Electrical issue

Reply #3 –
I lost most of my outlets, looked, checked everywhere and the next day when the sun was out, noticed the GFI in the bathroom as Peter and Beth mentioned above.  Would have seen it earlier but the buttons are BROWN (instead of white and red) and blend in with everything else. This might not be the case as you have power to those outlets with the inverter on.

If you really get stuck without a solution, Home Depot, Lowes, Radio Shack have 110V testers that operate on induction so you just need to put the probe against the wire. You could do a comparison with inverter on and off as to where the juice stops. I started under the bed close to the breaker box in my U300 where the switch over box is.

Another good tool is a signal injector where you plug into the dead outlet with the "A" part of the injector and use the "B" part that lights and squeals to see where the line goes. Found at the same stores. Both these tools are easy to use and pretty inexpensive.

I would be helpful to have a 3D or even 2D drawing of each Foretravel model showing exactly how the Romex runs box to box throughout the coach to go along with the supplied schematic.

Good luck,

Pierce & Gaylie
93' U300
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Electrical issue

Reply #4 –
I had lightning strike a tree near my coach, had the same issues. One of the ATS (automatic transfer switches) took a hit. Power your coach COMPLETELY down, unplugged and inverter(s) off, start removing the covers on your ATS and electrical panels when you find the problem it will be burnt black and should be fairly easy to see. It also a good time to check all of the connections on your panels making sure they are clean and tight. I do this once a year as part of the annual maintenance on my coach.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Electrical issue

Reply #5 –
I lost my ATS-100 Automatic Transfer Switch after a lightning episode.  It fried the detection circuit inside the ATS-100.
I suggest checking the transfer switch power on both sides to determine if it is the culprit.
I had my ATS-100 rebuilt in Michigan for about $60 and am keeping it as a spare at the end of the bed, including all of the original wiring for it.  You just never know when one will fail.
I like redundancy.
Regards,
JON TWORK KB8RSA
Full Time RVer (10+ Years) & Dedicated Boondocker
Retired, Unemployed, Homeless Transients
1996 Foretravel U270-36 w/24' Timberwolf Trailer
I firmly believe that tomorrow holds the possibility for new technologies, astounding discoveries, and a reprieve from my remaining obligations.
Welcome to WeRV2 (Under Construction)
Find Jon: Via Satellite Tracker Datastorm Users
The Second Amendment is in place in case they ignore the others.

Re: Electrical issue

Reply #6 –
Here is what I do not understand(well there is alot I don't understand) about this issue.  EVERYTHING works fine when running off the inverter, it is only when using shore power or genset that I have the problem.  So I know it is not the breaker.  It is isolated to those things running off of one particular breaker that powers the front tv,satellite, dvd and the electronic switching devices that allow you to switch by remote from one audio/visual app to another.  So is it possible for it to be the transfer switch under these circumstances?  When it comes to electrical issues, I need to be spoken to like a first grader.  I have 2 3000watt inverters as the coach is all electric.  What other info might you need about my setup to help me diagnose this issue?
Thanks,
Gerard
Gerard Caswell
Eunice, LA
2006 Phenix
2011 GMC Sierra P/U 4x4

Re: Electrical issue

Reply #7 –
Quote from: lavocat –
Here is what I do not understand(well there is alot I don't understand) about this issue.  EVERYTHING works fine when running off the inverter, it is only when using shore power or genset that I have the problem.  So I know it is not the breaker.  It is isolated to those things running off of one particular breaker that powers the front tv,satellite, dvd and the electronic switching devices that allow you to switch by remote from one audio/visual app to another.  So is it possible for it to be the transfer switch under these circumstances?  When it comes to electrical issues, I need to be spoken to like a first grader.  I have 2 3000watt inverters as the coach is all electric.  What other info might you need about my setup to help me diagnose this issue?
Thanks,
Gerard
It sounds like you have a similar situation that Chad & Judy experienced.
A/C Power Distribution
It may be the relay in the transfer switch if it works on inverter and not when switched over to shore power or genny.
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: Electrical issue

Reply #8 –
Brothers 06 Phenix has similar problem, was the ATS in basement. Installed new upgrade version.

Re: Electrical issue

Reply #9 –
Lavocat;
Barry's correct; it sounds very similar to the problem we've been having. I found I had power into the #2 ATS Primary-Power relay, but nothing out. With everything shut down (and checked with a multimeter) I tightened all the connections and cleaned the affected points with a small emery-board and electric cleaning solution. I then manually "cycled" the relay a few times before re-connecting to shore-power. In my case the above resolved the problem. For "how-long" of course, there is no way to know, but it's working properly, through numerous cycles between Inverter and Shore power. Good Luck! Parts for the Magnetek ATS-100 (if that's what you also have) are not generally available.
Chad & Judy
'98 U320 - Build #5315
Motorcade 16317
Wickenburg, AZ

Re: Electrical issue

Reply #10 –
As an up date my problem is not the ATS.  One of my RS 3000 Xantrex inverters is the culprit.  It is not letting juice in on one side whether it is shore or gen power.  Triana says it might be a stuck relay inside.  However my inverters are stacked and it is the bottom one.  Not sure if I can get the top off without removing the other inverter first.  Anyone deal with this isssue before?
Gerard Caswell
Eunice, LA
2006 Phenix
2011 GMC Sierra P/U 4x4

Re: Electrical issue

Reply #11 –
Well, I made the trip to FOT and it was my inverter.  Leg 2 of inverter 1 was not allowing a/c power through it.  Never did fix leg2 but we discovered that inverter 2 only was hooked up to leg 1 so we switched them around so that the inverter with both legs working was now #1 and the other with just leg 1 working was put into position 2 as it only required 1 leg.  Also had them find many leaks in my air system that was causing the compressor to run every 30 minutes.  Bought enough LED puck light replacement bulbs to get them hot halogen's out of the living are and bath vanitities.  Took 36 of them to do that.  Never thought I would spend over $500 on light bulbs but I am done as they will outlast me.  On a very pleasant note I was able to meet Steve and Michelle from this forum at FOT while they were getting new carpet and seats.  A pleasure to have met such nice helpful folks.
Gerard Caswell
Eunice, LA
2006 Phenix
2011 GMC Sierra P/U 4x4
 

Re: Electrical issue

Reply #12 –
Quote from: lavocat –
  On a very pleasant note I was able to meet STeve and Michelle from this forum at FOT while they were getting new carpet and seats.  A pleasure to have met such nice helpful folks.

Yah! Their not near as Nerdy as one would expect and Steve can actually do manual labor if you ask him just right.

Seriously, they are some of the smartest and nicest people we have ever met. We truly enjoy their company are feel very lucky to have them running the Forum.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback