Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Partial 110 volt system outage including AquaHot electric burner (Read 1156 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Partial 110 volt system outage including AquaHot electric burner

Reply #25 –
Quote from: turbojack –
Depends on the meter that is used to measure the voltage, but it is easy to have a bad leg and a volt meter will show you having 110v between each hot and neutral (backfeeding). That is why I am saying check both the line (black and red wire)  for 240v

I did not know that - thanks!  That's why I love this forum - I'm constantly learning from y'all  ^.^d
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

Re: Partial 110 volt system outage including AquaHot electric burner

Reply #26 –
Quote from: Michelle –
I did not know that - thanks!  That's why I love this forum - I'm constantly learning from y'all  ^.^d

Not sure I understand.  Yes, proper RV 50 amp will have 240 VAC between L1 and L2.  But, an "improperly" wired 50 amp with L1 and L2 coming off the same side of the CG breaker panel will still allow everything to operate (assuming no 240 VAC appliances).  The problem is that it can overload the neutral.

What am I missing?
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Partial 110 volt system outage including AquaHot electric burner

Reply #27 –
The other thing is if the generator hasn't been swapped to 240 (most of that year are wired for 120v) you will read ~0 volts between the 2 legs when you are on generator power.

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Partial 110 volt system outage including AquaHot electric burner

Reply #28 –
 Some great information here thank you. The one thing that I still need to figure out is the master breaker itself seems to have some sort of retaining clip on the right-hand side looks like a post that comes through and is held on by some sort of press clip. On the road to the Lowes now so I can't post a picture easily. May do that when we get there to see if anybody has any ideas how to pull this off or if it's simply a case of pulling that ring off and sliding the breaker out the question is whether I can find one with a similar hole for that post to go in assuming that's even how it's held together. Awkward phrasing by voice recognition quirks. ;-)
James & Susan
Alex & Elizabeth
Tortie and Gigi ( the "Bird TV" cats )
1998 U320 42' Build 5298

Re: Partial 110 volt system outage including AquaHot electric burner

Reply #29 –
Ok. Got to Lowes and took panel off again to get a better look. It's just a retaining clip over the end of the master breaker. Looks like I just need to pry it carefully off and remove the metal retaining bracket. :-)

I LOVE it when problems are easy and inexpensive fixes.

Yes. I know that's not often the case, so I feel I must revel in it when it IS. :p

James
James & Susan
Alex & Elizabeth
Tortie and Gigi ( the "Bird TV" cats )
1998 U320 42' Build 5298

Re: Partial 110 volt system outage including AquaHot electric burner

Reply #30 –
James,

There is no need to remove that retaining ring as it will be destroyed. If you take the 2 leads off from the other side the breaker should just unclip from under where the leads were hooked and then it can be slipped out from under the clip you just posted a pic. of. You can just grab the other side and give it a pull and it will un clip.

Pamela& Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Partial 110 volt system outage including AquaHot electric burner

Reply #31 –
I am thinking that ring is holding the piece of metal that is keeping the breaker from coming loose.  It looks to me that the breaker is attached to this plate so it can be used as a main breaker for the panel. You can get those star clamps at a ace hardware store, not sure about a lowes.
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: Partial 110 volt system outage including AquaHot electric burner

Reply #32 –
So now that we're all settled for the evening and I have some time to get back to this topic: Thank you all! :-)

It was in fact one of the paired 50 amp breakers that failed. I ended up prying the retaining ring up with a tiny flathead screwdriver, then snipping it with a pair of wire cutters. Traded out the breakers for the new pair from Lowes (under $9), fired up the genset and everything was back in service! Yay!

As an added bonus we got a duplicate shipment of fruit (Pears, Oranges and Apples) from Harry and Davids because there was a shipping snafu so there were TWO huge boxes of fruit waiting for us at the park office. :-) If anyone is in the Savannah area stop by, we have a little ForeTravel enclave with us and some friends we met during our several month sojourn at FoT. :-)

Merry Christmas!
James & Susan
Alex & Elizabeth
Tortie and Gigi ( the "Bird TV" cats )
1998 U320 42' Build 5298

Re: Partial 110 volt system outage including AquaHot electric burner

Reply #33 –
Quote from: Tigratrus –

It was in fact one of the paired 50 amp breakers that failed. I ended up prying the retaining ring up with a tiny flathead screwdriver, then snipping it with a pair of wire cutters. Traded out the breakers for the new pair from Lowes (under $9), fired up the genset and everything was back in service! Yay!


Thanks for reporting back.  I love when the Forum helps someone diagnose/repair for themselves - learning more about our coaches is the goal.

BTW don't forget to replace that retaining ring if you haven't already (see turbojack's post just a few above this one)  ;)
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
 

Re: Partial 110 volt system outage including AquaHot electric burner

Reply #34 –
Quote from: Tigratrus link=msg=220546 date=1450828934 It was in fact one of the paired 50 amp breakers that failed. Merry Christmas! [/quote

Same to you guys! Curious, did you see any sort of burning on the bad breaker indicating a bogus pedestal or a short somewhere?
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'