Having trouble with 30 amp service

Thanks for all of the help. Everything is now working as it should but I am still confused:

1) I thought exactly what Doug told me...that my batteries shouldn't matter if I am plugged in. I also have never had any problems when plugged in to 50 amp service. The RV was also working with the gen set on.

2) I have a 2004 Monaco Knight 38 PDQ. It has 4 house batteries. The water was so low on them (a friend, Danny at CW in West Houston) told me to check the water level in them. They all needed more than a half-gallon each of water.

3) With gen set on, power panel said I was pulling about 15 amps. When I turned gen set off, the panel said 0 and things would only work with inverter on. However, the power did correctly recognize that I only had 30 amp service.

4) When I went to bed, I had a small fan and a TV on. Right before Letterman came on, they all turned off. I just went to sleep and thought about how much I would have to spend to fix in the morning. However, in the middle of the night, the fan and TV came back on. The power panel now said I was pulling 3 amps. I have since turned the fridge on hot water to shore electric, ran a coffee pot and toaster. I have had no problems and the batteries are fully charged.

5) That is my confusion...why did everything finally start working like it should? Batteries were so dead the electrical system was confused with what to do? Having "not-dead" batteries is necessary for things to run correctly? I would love to avoid this problem in the future. If it is just a matter of me not be an idiot and checking the water in my batteries more often, problem solved. :-)

Thanks,
Todd

First. you said you are on a 30 amp site, Are you plugged in using a proper Dog Bone adapter?

One problem with these adapters is this.. 50 amp service has TWO hot wires, 30 amp only one, the adapter is supposed to "Bridge" the two hot wires (Side terminals on the plug) so you get power to the entire coach,

But sometimes a dogbone wears out or is not properly made and only connects ONE side of the 50 amp service.. Sounds like that is your problem.

Several ways to test but .. Well your multi meter is your friend.

in your main electrical distribution center (Breaker box) CAUTION DANGEROUS VOLTAGES INSIDE you have one pair of breakers that are ganged, these will be 50 amp.

Using a multi meter set to measure AC VOLTS and at least 150 of them (200 volt range)

Place one probe on the buss with the WHITE wires on it.

Touch the other probe (Being careful not to touch any metal with your hands) to the screws on the two fifty amp breakers, Should see 120/120 (110/110 is OK too, both should be same) if you see 115/zero... You have found your problem. Get a new dog.

I like these simple diagrams from google search showing the RV 120VAC circuit plan.

This is a typical 30AMP Service layout... This only has a single 120VAC 30AMP leg for use in the RV trailer...


This is a typical 50AMP Service layout... You can see the split 50AMP circuits here with the RED and BLACK wires. This will have two 120VAC 50AMP legs for use in the RV Trailer


This is what should happen when you add a RV30A-50A adapter to a typical 50AMPS Service layout where 50AMP Service is not available. NOTE the 30A-50A adapter has the RED and BLACK wires "jumpered" so that the 30AMP service will feed both 50AMP service legs. This may NOT be true for all 30A-50A adapters and only ONE 120VAC leg is activated. With the RED and BLACK lines jumpered with the adapter will activate both 50AMP legs in the trailer but of course you can load down both legs up to a 30AMP Service source other wise it trip the circuit breaker. i.e. you would have to watch what high current appliances you are running at the same time on both circuits. i.e. probably only A/C at a time and maybe not having the one A/C on at the same time the high wattage microwave is being used etc...


Source of diagrams is from GOGGLE SEARCH

Roy Ken

This may clear up some miss information. When using a 50 amp 4 wire receptale on the power pedistal, you should have the following voltage, 120 volts to both side of your inside electrical panel, and 220 volts across the 2 main lugs on the top or side, where ever the power cord tie in. Now, using a 30 amp 3 wire receptale, you only have 120 volts period. In the inside panel there should be 120 volts to both sides of the breaker panel. A volt-amp-ohm meter is a wonderfull device to have. If working with electricity bothers you, call an electrician to check thing out. if I was near you, I'd do it myself.

Worst case get a 10 or better a 20+ amp portable charger and slap it direct on the house battery. Use extension cord and plug into the pedestal direct. That will keep some lights on until this is figured out.

Hi,

If you have a meter, test each "leg" on the female side of the 30 to 50 amp adapter you are using.

Doug is one of the most competent folks on here. I would listen CLOSELY to what he says.

1. Keeping the 12 volt coach batteries charged has NOTHING to do with 50 or 30 or even 15 amp service on a Monaco.
2. The odds are you have an Inverter/Charger, but you need to state what model RV you have. MOST Monaco's had Inverter/chargers
3. The Inverter/Charger 120 supply will NOT be affected by the EMS system you have in your Monaco.
4. What you PROBABLY have is a faulty circuit on your 30 amp dogbone adapter or the 50 amp transfer box. Do ALL of your 120 outlets and 120 appliances work in the RV? I do not mean to run them all at once, but individually to verify ALL 120 circuits have power on your 30 amp service. Doublecheck and turn OFF all your 120 breakers and turn them back on. Do NOT just look at them. Do you have an Inverter that powers the Microwave and TV's? If so, verify that the Inverter is turned OFF. Then verify you still have 120 power to the Microwave and TV's. If you have NO incoming 120 power to the Inverter/Charger then your batteries will go dead. Especially if the Inverter is ON, that means you are running those appliances on Inverter and that means your batteries are supplying the power to run the Inverter and that is killing your batteries. Last, your Charger section of the Inverter/Charger may have failed. How are you getting the batteries recharged? Doug

I'm guessing that you aren't getting electricity to that side of the panel. A 50A service has two sides....and when you plug into 30A, you are only going to energize one side.
As suggested, switch to LP for the fridge and water heater.
Short of rewiring your RV, it may be tough to get the power to the other side, with the 30A adapter you have.

Make sure your power converter is getting mains power.