House 12 volt system not working?

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House 12 volt system not working?

August 27, 2016, 10:59:38 pm

Today I parked my coach at RV park in Ashland, WI right off Lake Superior and connected to 30 amp shore power. When shore power came on (took bit while due to my ATS), I realized that lights (12 volts) are not working and the whole house 12 volt lights/etc are not working. Checked house interface and the lights looks normal, but zero amp on 12v.

Let you know I feel 120 volt going into my fingers when I lock/unlock the deadbolt on the main door and also feel 120 volt when I touch the 12V cable that is connected to house interface box.

Sounds like poor grounding on shore power? Does this affecting 12v house system? the coach 12v works fine (can start the engine...).

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #1 – August 27, 2016, 11:14:58 pm

Door switch off?

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #2 – August 27, 2016, 11:24:09 pm

door switch? you mean the three switches located on side of door entry? They are not working too.

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #3 – August 27, 2016, 11:34:49 pm

Quote from: jclark93 – August 27, 2016, 11:24:09 pm

door switch? you mean the three switches located on side of door entry? They are not working too.

Sorry meant the house battery disconnect. Too easy I know.

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #4 – August 27, 2016, 11:50:53 pm

Quote from: jclark93 – August 27, 2016, 10:59:38 pm

Let you know I feel 120 volt going into my fingers when I lock/unlock the deadbolt on the main door and also feel 120 volt when I touch the 12V cable that is connected to house interface box.

I would be extremely cautious with this situation. The fact that you are feeling a "tingle" when you touch metallic parts of the coach could indicate a "Hot Skin" condition. If present, this is caused by by a short somewhere in the electrical system. In certain situations, it could possibly deliver a serious, potentially life threatening, shock. Google "RV Hot Skin" for more information. Here are a few links:

RV Hot Skin – Condition Causes Death of a Young Boy! -

The RV Doctor: Hot Hot Hot

Are "Little" Shocks OK? | No~Shock~Zone

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #5 – August 27, 2016, 11:57:41 pm

Shore power bad?

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #6 – August 27, 2016, 11:59:41 pm

Ha that did the trick! I guess my poodles might have accidently turned it off!!!

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #7 – August 28, 2016, 02:04:48 am

You may have fixed the 12V issue but I would still be very concerned about the "tingling",
as C & J mentioned.

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #8 – August 28, 2016, 07:34:46 am

Jamie,

All good posts above. Shore power is NOT proper. Ground is missing. If combined with reverse polarity (easier to happen on 30 than on 50 amp) it could be LETHAL.

See if you can move to another site, after checking the connection at that site.

Other thing could be a problem with your adapter, but if the adapter worked well everywhere else, that would not be my first suspect.

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #9 – August 28, 2016, 10:38:27 am

That situation is one of the many reasons we spent the big bucks on a EMS!

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #10 – August 28, 2016, 10:40:12 am

I checked with voltmeter one lead on metal frame and other lead to ground and it says 15 volts.

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #11 – August 28, 2016, 11:02:30 am

Quote from: jclark93 – August 28, 2016, 10:40:12 am

I checked with voltmeter one lead on metal frame and other lead to ground and it says 15 volts.

This is NOT acceptable. Take Brett's advice (above) and move to another site - see if that solves the problem. OR, unplug from the shore power pedestal and tell the campground manager to get a electrician out there and check things out (might be tough to do on Sunday).

Any other action is a gamble...

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #12 – August 28, 2016, 11:15:13 am

Quote from: jclark93 – August 28, 2016, 10:40:12 am

I checked with voltmeter one lead on metal frame and other lead to ground and it says 15 volts.

pedestal metal frame or coach? If coach unplug and check pedestal.

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #13 – August 28, 2016, 11:28:17 am

coach. With barefeet on ground and my finger pressing hard on deadbolt lock and I can feel electrical tingling...

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #14 – August 28, 2016, 11:54:02 am

Progressive Industries RV Surge and Electrical Protection industry lea

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #15 – August 28, 2016, 12:05:07 pm

I would IMMEDIATELY unplug from shore power under these conditions!!!! Let no one else touch or enter your coach while this occurring. Unplug and move ASAP. Note: the problem may be in your coach, not the pedestal.

Read the links above. This link from above may help RV Hot Skin – Condition Causes Death of a Young Boy! -

Quote from: jclark93 – August 28, 2016, 11:28:17 am

coach. With barefeet on ground and my finger pressing hard on deadbolt lock and I can feel electrical tingling...

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #16 – August 28, 2016, 12:40:57 pm

Very likely enough current to kill a small pet were they to have a paw on step and one on wet ground.

Be careful out there!

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #17 – August 28, 2016, 12:42:33 pm

Quote from: AC7880 – August 28, 2016, 12:05:07 pm

I would IMMEDIATELY unplug from shore power under these conditions!!!! the problem may be in your coach, not the pedestal.

Yup, but sometimes it's too late if it is a shore power issue, that's why a EMS should be de rigueur. Older parks are getting scarry, and we don't trust their power anymore. We came close to burning the coach down at a "iffy" park last year. Not pretty.

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #18 – August 28, 2016, 01:11:56 pm

Quote from: mike leary – August 28, 2016, 12:42:33 pm

Yup, but sometimes it's too late if it is a shore power issue, that's why a EMS should be de rigueur. Older parks are getting scarry, and we don't trust their power anymore. We came close to burning the coach down at a "iffy" park last year. Not pretty.

X2, never plug the coach in without the progressive ind protection in place. You need to find the problem electricity is nothing to play with.

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #19 – August 28, 2016, 01:35:30 pm

Quote from: bbeane – August 28, 2016, 01:11:56 pm

X2, never plug the coach in without the progressive ind protection in place. You need to find the problem electricity is nothing to play with.

A rookie mistake freak-out I had yesterday, after the "monsoon" power outage, was, when power came back on next door, I still had no shore in the coach, yikes, "now what?". I was scratching my pea brain looking at the pedestal, when a loud "click" came from the EMS. I'd forgotten the EMS has a delay feature and was working as advertised!

Re: House 12 volt system not working?

Reply #20 – August 28, 2016, 02:32:20 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – August 28, 2016, 12:40:57 pm

Be careful out there!

Exactly!
Y'all be careful out there!

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