50 amp service

[rickvikki]

Sorry everyone: I guess we said it wrong in our question. All summer we have been plugged into 50 amp, but just today, I went to use microwave and it barely operates, same with toaster oven and coffee maker. We are not electrical minded at all, but have had this voltage reader always plugged in inside motorhome and it always sat at about 120 and needle never moved much when operating microwave etc. but today something has changed and is barely drawing power to microwave and coffee maker worked but dropped the needle to the bottome. I hope this makes sense?

Vikki and Rick

[xctraveler]

You need to know what the power at the pedestal, where you pulug into 50amp Is the first place to look. We were plugged into 30 amp recently and watched the voltage drop to 106! It was heading for 90 deg F (33 C)and the utility had reduced the voltage in a Brown out.

With 50 amp at 120 volts I can run two a/cs, microwave, and coffee Brewer with no issues.

As others have said, check the power you are receiving then follow the power into you coach through the inverter. When you find the low voltage you have the source of the problem

[GlennLever]

rickvikki wrote:
So let me ask this, with 50 amp service, should we be able to plug in microwave and coffe maker at the same time, when we do, they operate but voltage drops to about 100?

You should be able to run all of that and much more with no voltage drop.

What are you hooked up to?

Campground?

Have a lot of other campers come in?

I would not be so quick to think it is your problem, more a problem with the power network you are hooked up to.

They may have a 50 amp breaker, and plug, but the service may not be up to snuff.

Be careful as pointed out above.

Resistance appliances can take a drop in voltage (toaster), but electronics (computers, TVs, etc) hate it and you can damage them with low voltage.

[wolfe10]

Mandalay Parr wrote:
Better get an electrical person to help you. Voltage drop is a sign of a poor connection. That could cause a fire.

I agree. Significant voltage drop on 50 amp shore power is a sure sign of a real problem.

As already suggested, unplug from shore power, start the generator and see if the problem is solved/persists. That will tell you if the problem is on the "coach side" of the ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch).

At the very least, look CAREFULLY at the ends of your shore power cord for signs of overheating and "smell" the ATS to see if there is any hot electric smell.

This could be a real safety issue.

[Mandalay_Parr]

Better get an electrical person to help you. Voltage drop is a sign of a poor connection. That could cause a fire.

[the_bear_II]

On 50 amp service we can run one A/C, washer or dryer, microwave, lights, TV and Sat box, laptop, computer, other small appliances, water heater and refrigerator on electric all at the same time with no drop.

Either the voltage at the pedestal is at fault or something is wrong with your electrical system. Converter, breaker,loose connections and possibly the inverter could be causing the problem.

[ScottG]

rickvikki wrote:
So let me ask this, with 50 amp service, should we be able to plug in microwave and coffe maker at the same time, when we do, they operate but voltage drops to about 100?

Yes, you should be able to run those items and much more.
Somewhere you have a severe voltage drop and it may be resulting in heat. I would turn everything off and find out what is failing. Trying to keep putting heavy loads on it with that low of voltage is asking for disaster!

[rickvikki]

Maybe we are expecting too much, I assumed we could run multiple items with 50 amp service.

[rickvikki]

So let me ask this, with 50 amp service, should we be able to plug in microwave and coffe maker at the same time, when we do, they operate but voltage drops to about 100?

[GlennLever]

Voltage is not a good indicator of 50 amp service.

Use this as an analogy. A dead car battery will still read 12 volts, but as soon as you put a load on it it will read much less.

So....if you have a voltage gauge you need to take a reading when you have the load applied.

[rcmiller32]

shut off the breakers and unplug the power cord and inspect the prongs. Clean with a scotch bright pad. Then try plugging it in again and reset the breaker. See if this helps.

[nomad297]

What is your voltage on each leg at the pedestal?

Bruce

[rickvikki]

We have 2006 Tiffen Phaeton 40ft. We can't be running off inverter because it is not "on".

[dakdave]

unplug from shore power. Start generator let it run see if power comes up. If it does start checking breakers on pedestal or cord,plug, etc.

[JimM68]

If I was to take a really wild guess, you are no longer recieving shore power. The items you mention are running off the inverter, and your batteries are nearly discharged.

Off the wall? yes. Wild guess? sure.

Please, let us know: year make and model of your motorhome. manufaturer and model of your inverter/converter. Easiest to just pur your moho info in your sig....