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ahfox's avatar
ahfox
Explorer
Jan 21, 2017

Electrical Woes

Question re 2004 trail-lite 22' motorhome by r-vision(B+)

Last nite I lost all my "shore power" . I was plugged in to a 50 amp using a converter adapter to my 30 amp cord. I am in Savannah Ga and was using my air conditioning system when the power went out. I could use my lights from battery power but no appliances or outlet, even when I turned on the generator! I would expect that I blew a AC fuse but I can not find any fuse panel or circuit breaker in this whole RV. I am a new(newbie) Rv'r and I bought this RV 2nd hand with 13,000 miles on it. I have made several modifications to make it more practicle and this is my first trip with it as I purchased it late fall and had no or little "shake down time" My wife is ready to call it quits so I really need to find this fuse box or breaker before very long! HELP!!! Thanks in advance Keith
Class C
  • navegator's avatar
    navegator
    Explorer
    Jan 21, 2017
    In order to be able to help, we need a few pointers:

    Make and model
    year
    general lay out, rear bed, or bathroom where is the kitchen on left side or right

    What you are looking for is a brown or black square lid that has a plastic "knob" you need to use a coin or screw driver to turn the knob and pull the lid down.

    Once opened you will see the braker switches and also the fusees, the braker that poped is going to be feel losse, turn the air conditioner off as well as the refrigerator, tv, inverter, any shore powered utensil, now turn the brakers all off and then turn them on, then turn the fride on and then the air.

    navegator
  • handye9's avatar
    handye9
    Explorer II
    Jan 21, 2017
    Sounds like a tripped circuit breaker. There is a breaker / fuse panel. Look for something that looks like this. Inside the door, you'll find a fuse panel for the 12 volt side, and a circuit breaker panel for the 120 volt side.

    Look around the bed frame, refrigerator, furnace, thermostat, lower walls, etc. It may not be the exact model in the link above, but, it will look similar. Some do not have a knob, the door may have a spring latch.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Jan 21, 2017
    Thats a very big bummer getting on the road and having problems like this.

    I always try to find out how everything works at home to try to keep ahead of events like this... Doesn't always work...

    You know it will be something simple once it gets figured out...

    Roy Ken
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    Jan 21, 2017
    Often the electric panel will be someplace relatively close to the shore power inlet.

    I would guess you simply popped the main 30A breaker. The air conditioner uses a good chunk of the 30A available, and using another high draw device and not too much more could easily pop the breaker. (Microwave, water heater on electric, hair dryer, some coffee makers, etc.)
  • crasster's avatar
    crasster
    Explorer II
    Jan 21, 2017
    RoyB wrote:
    Thats a very big bummer getting on the road and having problems like this.

    I always try to find out how everything works at home to try to keep ahead of events like this... Doesn't always work...

    You know it will be something simple once it gets figured out...

    Roy Ken


    This IS experience talking to you as a newbie. Plug in, connect electric, hoses, run propane at home. Especially before a big trip.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Jan 21, 2017
    Sounds like you tripped the rig's main breaker. Locate breaker panel in the rig. Turn off all breakers applying light pressure toward off, then turn on main, if equipped followed by the branch breakers one at a time.
    I would investigate why it tripped. It is possible that there is a loose connection in the 120 volt distribution panel(breaker panel). It could be a loose neutral(white wires) in the back of the panel. Disconnect shore power before working in this area.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Jan 21, 2017
    enblethen wrote:
    Sounds like you tripped the rig's main breaker. Locate breaker panel in the rig. Turn off all breakers applying light pressure toward off, then turn on main, if equipped followed by the branch breakers one at a time.
    I would investigate why it tripped. It is possible that there is a loose connection in the 120 volt distribution panel(breaker panel). It could be a loose neutral(white wires) in the back of the panel. Disconnect shore power before working in this area.


    There's your answer. It doesn't need to be made any more complicated than that. Your probably running too many high current things at once like a water heater, AC, microwave, etc. Or you have a loose connection.
    So you simply tripped your RV's 30A breaker. You need to familiarize yourself with where the breakers and fuses are and what they are responsible for. When they blow or trip it isnt a fluke - there's a reason for it.
  • LadyRVer's avatar
    LadyRVer
    Explorer II
    Jan 21, 2017
    Had the a/c breaker trip in a Monaco. Searched everywhere for the breaker/fuse/converter. It was in the only overhead storage cupboard I didn't look in .....in the bedroom.
  • Photomike's avatar
    Photomike
    Explorer III
    Jan 21, 2017
    Did you check to make sure that there was power on the pedestal that you were plugged into? Does it have a breaker and is it on (try shutting off and turning on). If you can try another pedestal to see if this is it.

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