Forum Discussion

hchrisley's avatar
hchrisley
Explorer
Dec 27, 2016

Odd power problem.

2012 Fleetwood Expedition 38S.

When we checked into this park last Thursday we connected to 50 amp service and all was good. When we got up Friday morning we had no power, the breaker on the post was on, the blue light on the cord was on, but no power. The control panel for my PMS just said "No Service", no error code or other indication of any problem. The park maintenance guy measured the post and said it was good, but our coach still refused to accept 50 amps. Never any indication of a problem, just "No Service".

I tried a 30 amp adapter and that worked so we went for a day on 30 amps.

The host offered us a chance to try a different site so we did. The coach accepted 50 amp power in the new site right away and has been good until this morning. This morning we woke up to the status panel saying "No Service" again. I checked, th breaker on the post was on, the blue light on the cord was on, but still no power. I tried resetting the breaker but that didn't help so I unplugged the cord and waited about 5 minutes. When I plugged it back in the coach accepted the power and the status panel said "50 Amp Service". All other indication were normal.

We brought this coach new and this is the first time we've had power problems.

I'm not sure if my coach has a problem or the power in this park is flaky, however no one else has reported any issues as far as I know.

Anyone have any ideas?

Harv
Class A
  • sch911's avatar
    sch911
    Explorer
    Dec 27, 2016
    What "blue" light on the cord was on? On a surge protector? If so it's sounds like it may be the likely culprit.
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Dec 27, 2016
    The No Service means that the EMS system does not see ANY 120 voltage to your interior 120 breaker panel. The fact that you could get service on 30 amp adapted and then unplugging at the new site and reconnecting shows you may have a 50 amp Transfer switch failure. The next time it happens, start your Genset and wait for the power to Transfer. Then turn the Genset OFF and see if the 50 amp Shore Power returns. If the Blue light is ON, then the 120 power is going thru the Power Cord. In this type case, the BEST way to check your system is to take the Cover off the Interior 120 breaker panel and testing for voltage at the 50 amp breakers. IF no voltage, then go to the Transfer box and check for incoming Shore Power voltage. IF the Transfer box is indeed intermittent, when removing the Transfer box cover, that may cause the inop relay to then engage and close. Which makes it harder to diagnois. Is the 50 amp shore cord hardwired to the Transfer Box, or do you have a cable that has the twist lock connection on the motorhome? The cable can be disconnected at both ends and stored? Doug
  • Mandalay_Parr's avatar
    Mandalay_Parr
    Explorer
    Dec 27, 2016
    Might check the back side of the breaker panel and EMS board. Make sure all connections are tight. Get an electrical person to help if need be. Shut off inverter and unplug from pedestal first.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Dec 27, 2016
    The ems did not see 240 volts. 50 amp service is 120/240 volts. Bad wiring at pedestal.
  • tropical36's avatar
    tropical36
    Explorer
    Dec 27, 2016
    I think some cord shaking is in order for a firstly.
    I'd also check the coach main breaker for wire tightness.
    It's also possible to have a bad leg in this main, but doubtful.
    Then there's the transfer sw., that I would eventually have a look at.
    Intermittent problems are always the most difficult to run down, so.......
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Dec 27, 2016
    Truth:
    Had a brand new. I mean BRAND NEW (Sticker in the window new) 5ER pull into the site in front of me at a COE park a few years back.... She went to vacuum up a bit of dirt her husband had tracked in using the built in central vac.. NOTHING

    No 120 volt power anywhere

    Post was good (I have good meters) but nothing in the Trailer

    So we disconnected teh cord from the trailer intending to see if there was a problem there (next stop on the power train after all is the cord outlet/trailer inlet)

    The outlet fell off in my hand.. NOT ONE of the six screws inside the cover had been tightened.

    We finally fixed it. Between my spare cord, His knowledge (he is a power plant technician) and mine, and my tool box. we got it all up and running.

    But I'd have loved to be there when he returned to the dealer.
  • hchrisley's avatar
    hchrisley
    Explorer
    Dec 27, 2016
    sch911: I have a small blue led on the plug of my power cord. It lights up when there's power. There use to be two of them but stopped working a while ago.

    dougrainer: I'll try your generator trick. Just to be clear, if shore power comes back on when I shut off the generator it indicates a transfer switch problem, right? My cord is hardwired in.

    wa8yxm: Good story.
  • larry_cad's avatar
    larry_cad
    Explorer II
    Dec 27, 2016
    hchrisley wrote:
    I have a small blue led on the plug of my power cord. It lights up when there's power. There use to be two of them but stopped working a while ago.



    Any chance these two problems are related??? I don't believe in coincidence with electricity.

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