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JavaandJazz's avatar
JavaandJazz
Explorer
Apr 07, 2016

Electrical question

I just bought a 2006 fleetwood southwind, this is my 1st class A RV and have had it for less than a week.
I am not getting power to half of my panel. I swapped the wiring on the 50 amp double breaker to make sure it was working and all circuits came on for that half, and the top side was out. I was plugged into a 50 amp plug in and same thing. Right now I only have 20 amps to it until I get a 50 amp receptical put in. I am thinking that the problem may be in the 'box' that changes from shore power to generator power.
How would I check that or any suggestions to fix this would be appreciated

Thanks in advance, Paula
  • Find your inverter in the basement and check to see if ONE of the circuit breakers on it as tripped. These breakers are on the inverter itself and have nothing to do with your electrical panel.
    Check to make sure that there are no GFI circuit outlets that have tripped. You probably have two in your coach.
    If they are not tripped, check the voltage in and the voltage out of each side of your 50 amp breaker in your main panel.
    If one side does not have voltage in, you MAY have a bad transfer switch or a bad plug on your power cord.
    If one side does not have power out, you MAY have a bad 50 amp circuit breaker.
  • The fifty amp that you tried rig in, was a fifty amp four wire? Is it wired correctly.
    The "box" is called a "transfer switch".
    Some 50 amp adapters to connect to 30 and then to 15/20 do not jumper L1 and L2.
    Test one: start the genset and see if all circuits work.
    Test two: locate transfer switch and check the power sources there with good volt meter. You should have 240 volts between the two parallel blades and 120 between each of the parallel blades and the end blade.
  • 20 amp connection is basically a house-type plug.

    So, with a 50 amp shore power cord you need:
    15/20 male to 30 female adapter
    30 male to 50 female adapter

    The 30 to 50 combines the two hots on the 50 amp side to the single hot on the 30 amp side.

    SO, even with just these standard adapters, everything should work, though obivously limited to 20 amps instead of 100 amps (2 times 50 amps for RV 50).