Forum Discussion

Blazing_Zippers's avatar
Blazing_Zippers
Explorer II
Oct 11, 2015

Electrical problem or ghost?

We have two five year old 6 volt batteries on our trailer. The other morning, the heater was going, and the water pump was cycling (it seems we need a new pump too). As the pump stopped cycling, all the DC power quit for a second, then came back on like nothing happened. We had one evening of a few hours of TV, limited LED lights, and doing dishes. What happened???
During this trip, I also checked the batteries a couple times with a volt/ohm meter-at the battery posts. They read no lower then 12.4 volts after two low usage nights. I also poked into the heavy wire insulation for readings, thinking the connections might be bad. Everything seemed to be pretty good. Both 6 volt batteries read 6.4 volts.
Any thoughts on the power outage?

6 Replies

  • Blazing_Zippers's avatar
    Blazing_Zippers
    Explorer II
    Oct 12, 2015
    Thanks---I'll check the breakers --I didn't know this unit had them, but will check.
    There might be something about the ghost idea though.
    Thanks again
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Oct 12, 2015
    After camping, I always drain my fresh water tank (I don't use city water hook-up, I fill the fresh water tank and pump from there). So I always make sure the pump on-off switch is always off. Otherwise, the pump will attempt to run constantly with no water in the tank when at home.

    Don't know why, but for some reason the switch started getting turned on when parked at home and the pump would be running. Odd times when it occurred.

    I decided to put a second on-off switch on the water pump, so both switches have to be "on" for the pump to run. I put the switch in a place that was easily accessible, but not visible. So at home now, both switches are off when the tank is empty.

    Well, it's now stopped doing that, and I also keep the door locked now. We live in the country, do have nearby neighbors, but if someone was getting in at night, I'd have no clue who or why.

    Either that or it was a ghost.

    I vote for the ghost! Your's too!
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Oct 12, 2015
    gbopp wrote:
    westend wrote:
    Self resetting circuit breaker opened because of the large amperage draw of the failing pump would be my guess.

    X2. That's what I was thinking.

    But, it will soon be Halloween....
    That's why I installed the Poltergeist Breaker, takes care of that possibility. :B
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Oct 12, 2015
    westend wrote:
    Self resetting circuit breaker opened because of the large amperage draw of the failing pump would be my guess.

    X2. That's what I was thinking.

    But, it will soon be Halloween....
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Oct 11, 2015
    Self resetting circuit breaker opened because of the large amperage draw of the failing pump would be my guess.

About Travel Trailer Group

44,056 PostsLatest Activity: Jul 04, 2013