Electrical power issue

Topic: Electrical power issue (Read 618 times) previous topic - next topic

Electrical power issue

May 22, 2015, 10:24:47 am

Last evening out of the clear view I lost power to the washing machine. The display next to the microwave indicated that I lost one leg. The voltage check showed 01v at the top and 122v on the bottom.
We are at a Escappee park in Tenn, and one of my neighbors brought out his meters to diagnose the problem. The pedestal checked out ok, but at the transfer switch box upon opening there was no indication of burned wires but there was no power on the bottom switch.
As we were scratching our heads we suddenly had power on both legs once again.
This morning the voltage display is showing 01v and 120v again.
Any ideas what is going on ? I am new to this rv experience and not an electricion.

Hatchet

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #1 – May 22, 2015, 10:32:49 am

John,

Check the power cord next, first at the male end where it plugs into the pedestal.

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #2 – May 22, 2015, 10:39:04 am

As Brett said (the other Brett), check both ends of the shore power cord CAREFULLY.

If a power reel, check its contacts as well. Basically, check every connection between the male end of the shore power cord and ATS.

A connection so poor that it "makes and breaks" can easily overheat and cause a fire.

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #3 – May 22, 2015, 11:08:21 am

The RV park pedestal gets a lot of use and abuse. Even though it may check OK with a meter does not mean that it's not damaged with loose connections inside. Try moving to another location and if the problem reoccurs, you will want to look closer at your shore power cable.

As stated above, an intermittent make and break connection will cause high temperatures and damage. In looking for damage to your shore power cable, check the exposed lugs at both the coach as well as the end of the cable for discoloration or "scaling" from oxidation on one leg.

A poor or damaged connection may not show up as heat under low loads but you can check the cord at both ends for elevated temperature during periods of high draw with both ACs running, washer, etc. as an example.

Pierce

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #4 – May 22, 2015, 12:15:45 pm

Could the problem be in the collector ring inside the hose reel. The reason I ask is upon pulling the cord out some I have power on both legs.
To get to the ends of my cord and check them out I have to remove the water reel to make room to pull the cord reel.
Is there anything to watch for in pulling the hose reel to keep it from loosing the spring winding.

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #5 – May 22, 2015, 06:41:28 pm

I was able to get the shore power reel out and inspect the coach side of the cord and didn't find any indication of heat or lose connections. We ran a continuity test on the cord and it's good. We are still looking for what may be the problem.

Hatchet

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #6 – May 22, 2015, 09:02:03 pm

Quote from: Hatchet – May 22, 2015, 12:15:45 pm

Could the problem be in the collector ring inside the hose reel. The reason I ask is upon pulling the cord out some I have power on both legs.

Howdy Hatchet,
Without being there to troubleshoot in person, to me, it does sound like you may be having trouble with the collector ring in the Power Cord Reel. I recently had the same issues. In my case the Collector ring had burnt spots that allowed poor connection and the brush holder was burnt and not repairable. Here's a link to my experience in trying to get repair parts: Power cord reel
Good Luck, Dave A

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #7 – May 22, 2015, 10:02:25 pm

Thanks Dave, I think I will drill out some rivets tomorrow and see what it looks like back there.

Hatchet

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #8 – May 23, 2015, 09:54:22 am

Howdy Dave,

This topic reminds me of the time I took my cord reel apart just to see how it worked. It was an eye opener to me that the 50 amps of power (actually 100 amps) flows through those carbon brushes which are just rubbing against the collector ring.

Actually I didn't take it apart for no good reason. (True confessions time) It turns out if you forget to unplug the cord, and you have put the cord under the edge of the coach to make a neater campsite, as you pull forward the rear tire will drive along the cord unreeling it until it reaches the fully unreeled condition. It then tries to rip the reel out of the coach. (It is amazing to me the tensile strength of those 50 amp cords.) In my situation it did not break anything but it formed one disk of the cord spool into a potato chip.

Being overly frugal and a bit resourceful I disassembled the reel and used a 24 ounce ball peen hammer to bring the disk back to near its original shape. I also had to remove about 10 feet of damaged cord.

I have since added a reminder flag to the coach steering wheel whenever the cord is plugged in.

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #9 – May 23, 2015, 01:52:28 pm

After messing with the power reel yesterday, I just shoved everything into the compartment just in case. Well I didn't lose any power last night and was still entertaining the thought of having a bad reel but decided to put everything back and deal with it in another week when I will have time to replace the reel.
When I took the reel out I noticed that it was only anchored with 3 bolts when it should of had 4 and there wasn't a hole drilled through the compartment so it was intentionally installed that way.
When I was tightening the third bolt down I heard scratching noise come from the reel. When I checked the power I lost a leg again. I loosened all 3 bolts back up again and I had power. This time I installed a extra washer to use as a spacer and torqued things down. I am in business for now.

Hatchet

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #10 – May 23, 2015, 01:57:38 pm

Be sure you are not compressing/cracking the thin FG bottom of the coach where you through bolted the reel.

I like to see a 4X 4" aluminum "washer" underneath with caulking to spread the load and insure that it stays waterproof.

I have inspected a number of coaches where the weight and torque on the reel has cracked the under side fiberglass allowing water to leak in. The aluminum plate is the fix for this as well (after opening it up and drying it out).

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #11 – May 23, 2015, 02:02:22 pm

That's a good point Brett. I didn't use anything to spread the weight but I will look for something. I was careful however not to over tighten the bolts.
Thanks
Hatchet

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #12 – May 23, 2015, 02:11:34 pm

Quote from: Jan & Richard – May 23, 2015, 09:54:22 am

Howdy Dave
Actually I didn't take it apart for no good reason. (True confessions time) It turns out if you forget to unplug the cord, and you have put the cord under the edge of the coach to make a neater campsite, as you pull forward the rear tire will drive along the cord unreeling it until it reaches the fully unreeled condition. It then tries to rip the reel out of the coach. (It is amazing to me the tensile strength of those 50 amp cords.) In my situation it did not break anything but it formed one disk of the cord spool into a potato chip.

Being overly frugal and a bit resourceful I disassembled the reel and used a 24 ounce ball peen hammer to bring the disk back to near its original shape. I also had to remove about 10 feet of damaged cord.

I have since added a reminder flag to the coach steering wheel whenever the cord is plugged in.

Howdy Richard, Great story and confession!! Good idea on warning flag!! I finally give up repairing cord reel, just removed and manually coil in/out.
Good to hear from you, Dave A

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #13 – May 23, 2015, 03:19:52 pm

Quote from: Hatchet – May 23, 2015, 02:02:22 pm

That's a good point Brett. I didn't use anything to spread the weight but I will look for something. I was careful however not to over tighten the bolts.
Thanks
Hatchet

I usually have scraps of aluminum around. Drill a hole in the middle that the bolt will go through and that is your new "washer".

It really is not a matter of the weight, but the side to side torquing of the reel. Very thin fiberglass with foam core is not set up for handling the side loads.

BTW, good idea for anyone with a reel to check that it has not broken out the fiberglass around the bolts. Fix should cost under $10 and will help keep the bulkhead area dry.

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Electrical power issue

May 22, 2015, 10:24:47 am

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #1 – May 22, 2015, 10:32:49 am

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #2 – May 22, 2015, 10:39:04 am

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #3 – May 22, 2015, 11:08:21 am

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #4 – May 22, 2015, 12:15:45 pm

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #5 – May 22, 2015, 06:41:28 pm

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #6 – May 22, 2015, 09:02:03 pm

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #7 – May 22, 2015, 10:02:25 pm

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #8 – May 23, 2015, 09:54:22 am

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #9 – May 23, 2015, 01:52:28 pm

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #10 – May 23, 2015, 01:57:38 pm

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #11 – May 23, 2015, 02:02:22 pm

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #12 – May 23, 2015, 02:11:34 pm

Re: Electrical power issue

Reply #13 – May 23, 2015, 03:19:52 pm

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