Lost AC power to all wall plug ins last night...

My apologies for not getting back sooner, been sick again. The Inverter
breaker (lower one) had kicked out, I reset it and it worked a short while, then kicked out again. I figured I had a weak, or weakened breaker of some sorts and would get it fixed.

But it has not popped again. Similar loads but it has held. I will get a new one anyway, just to be sure.

Thanks for your suggestions, as usual, this forum solved my problem.

dllfo2 wrote:
Pedestal?
Transfer Switch?
Don't recognize the terms.

Pedestal: The post next to your RV that the park owns where you plug in the shore power cord.

Transfer switch: IN most motor homes with generators built in there is an AUTOMATIC transfer switch, this switch chooses between SHORE and GENERATOR power depending on if the generator is running, It is designed to make sure the generator can not backfeed the pedestal.

Your problem: As noted the GFCI can go bad, but I gather this is not a brand new RV..

On many RV's there is an outlet on the patio.. Often the seal on this outlet deteriorates with age and a bit of rain makes it's way into the box.. Causing the GFCI to give you the old click of darkness (Trip).

Another issue I have personally seen (And note that I am NOT an RV repair guy) is this: Many RVers have a few screws loose, Like over half the screws in my breaker box.. UNPLUG before you do this but check 'em all, Bus bars (both) and Breakers,, One of mine took over two full turns before it became tight.

And another camper I assisted,, His power cord.. The outlet has a total of nine screws. 3 hold the inner and outer parts together and six inside the outer cover (Mounted on the inner part) hold the wires and clamp the cord.. All six of those inside were loose ALL SIX. the dang outlet fell off in my hand.

Finally.. What were you running when it failed? This time of year many use electric heat.. I found the wiring in my RV is not really up to that task as shipped.. I have since added special "heater" outlets (These are 15/20 amp house type with wire (12ga) bent around a screw and connected to a dedicated circuit breaker (15 or 20 amp) so as to not overload) There is a reason 20 amp oputlets do not have punch down or stab (Stick a wire in a hole) connectors but require you to bend wire around a screw and tighten..

RV type outlets are usually punch down, Not nearly as good.

dllfo2 wrote:
Pedestal?
Transfer Switch?
Don't recognize the terms.

Pedestal - box that holds the 30amp outlet and/or 50 amp outlet you plug your RV into at the campground.

Transfer switch - device hidden away in your RV that allows you to switch from shore power to generator power merely by starting the generator. It keeps you from having to go outside and move the plug from the pedestal to the generator's outlet.

Big Katuna wrote:
Check the breakers on the inverter too.

I bet this is your problem. Look at the side of your inverter and you will find one or two push button type of circuit breakers...one of them is tripped.


Ron

Pedestal?
Transfer Switch?
Don't recognize the terms.

I have an RV sales place in Carson City, not sure how knowledgeable they are. Will ask them.

It's unlikely that the fridge and WH are going to be on a GFCI. Those are generally only used to protect outlets close to a water source or outside outlets. If everything is dead, I would start backtracking from the input to the fuse panel and work toward the pedestal. Another possibility, if you have one, would be a transfer switch.

Go get a GFCI outlet. Put the wires from the breaker box on the screws labeled "LINE" and the wires to the remainder of the outlets on the screws labeled "LOAD" and you are done.

It really IS that easy.

It is a new GFI, never thought it might go bad, checked the inverter just now and #1 breaker was to the left and #2 to the right. I recycled them to on and off. No help.

Went back to the GFI, took it apart. When recycled last night the reset button popped back out and the light next to it came on. I assumed that meant the GFI was ok. Now the light won't come on so I pulled the GFI out of the wall, using a multi tester to see if I even have electricity that far.

After pulling it out of the corner the chose to hide it in, I pay just pay an electrician to do it. As I looked at it, I knew it was NOT the original Monaco GFI (OK, GFCI for the purists)

I was considering cutting the wires and wiring in a normal plug, THEN have a GFI installed in a place easy to access.

How hard are these things to install? I have put in dozens of house "plug ins", but not a GFI.

Can we temporarily install a normal plug in, then put one of those "Plug in GFI" things you see in houses, etc. IF we had a short in the kitchen, would a "Plug in" GFI in the bathroom pop just as quick??

Check the breakers on the inverter too.

gfi,s do go bad, when you push the reset button, does it reset? mine would not reset ,changed gfi and all is well.