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

[big_jim_2]

If possible why not try another pedestal with 50 amp service, or check with neighbors if they are having problems.

[broccoli2]

GlennLever wrote:

wa8yxm wrote:
I measure voltage at several points..
I have a Surge Guard (A true surge guard with an LCD display) That monitors the voltage at the park end of the power cord.. Some day I'll move it inside but for now that's where it is.

Inside I have 3 meters, one is one of those square analong plug in ones I have had longer than I've had this class A, it is plugged into an outlet connected to ONE leg of my 50 amp service.

In another outlet, on the other leg, is a MFJ line voltage monitor, a very nice Analog meter with pass through and a backlight,, Both have "Expanded Range" meaning the "Zero" position ins really like 90 volts. (Makes them easier to read)

Plugged into the GFCI and thus inverter powered outlet is a Kill-a-watt NOTE Inverter is a pure or true sine wave (your choice of term) so the KAW does not object. I'm told MSW's can damage them but have never tested that theory.

IF there is a difference between the meter at the pedestal and the one in the motor home.. I have a problem

So what are they reading?

Have you talked with camp ground?

That is not the OP

[GlennLever]

wa8yxm wrote:
I measure voltage at several points..
I have a Surge Guard (A true surge guard with an LCD display) That monitors the voltage at the park end of the power cord.. Some day I'll move it inside but for now that's where it is.

Inside I have 3 meters, one is one of those square analong plug in ones I have had longer than I've had this class A, it is plugged into an outlet connected to ONE leg of my 50 amp service.

In another outlet, on the other leg, is a MFJ line voltage monitor, a very nice Analog meter with pass through and a backlight,, Both have "Expanded Range" meaning the "Zero" position ins really like 90 volts. (Makes them easier to read)

Plugged into the GFCI and thus inverter powered outlet is a Kill-a-watt NOTE Inverter is a pure or true sine wave (your choice of term) so the KAW does not object. I'm told MSW's can damage them but have never tested that theory.

IF there is a difference between the meter at the pedestal and the one in the motor home.. I have a problem

So what are they reading?

Have you talked with camp ground?

[wa8yxm]

I measure voltage at several points..
I have a Surge Guard (A true surge guard with an LCD display) That monitors the voltage at the park end of the power cord.. Some day I'll move it inside but for now that's where it is.

Inside I have 3 meters, one is one of those square analong plug in ones I have had longer than I've had this class A, it is plugged into an outlet connected to ONE leg of my 50 amp service.

In another outlet, on the other leg, is a MFJ line voltage monitor, a very nice Analog meter with pass through and a backlight,, Both have "Expanded Range" meaning the "Zero" position ins really like 90 volts. (Makes them easier to read)

Plugged into the GFCI and thus inverter powered outlet is a Kill-a-watt NOTE Inverter is a pure or true sine wave (your choice of term) so the KAW does not object. I'm told MSW's can damage them but have never tested that theory.

IF there is a difference between the meter at the pedestal and the one in the motor home.. I have a problem

[GlennLever]

Is the OP still here?

[dougrainer]

zman-az wrote:
I too thought inverter was running everything with low batteries but the OP said it was not on.

As suggested, what is the voltage at the pedestal when you run the microwave. If it drops then the problem is not the RV. I would check all electrical connections on the 50 amp circuit. A loose screw can cause these issues. Check the circuit breaker on the house/pedestal. Turn it off then put in a large flat blade screwdriver and turn the screw on the CB, if its loose snug it down. Also check connections on the transfer switch as well as the circuit panel in the RV. If any of the connections are loose it can create this issue. Make sure power is off and you have a insulated screwdriver so you don't electrocute yourself.

The Inverter may be OFF now because the Battery voltage has dropped too low and the Inverter has kicked off. Since the OP does not understand electricity, they may have a problem with HOW the Inverter functions and if it was ON or OFF. If it was on standby(very common for experienced and novices), then it was NOT ON, but waiting for a drop out of Shore Power and when the shore supply TO the Inverter was lost the Inverter came on and slowly depleted the batteries. I have a unit (2011 Phaeton) in the shop right now that had 1 leg of the 50 amp dead because of a bad transfer relay for that leg, and the result was--NO 120 to the Inverter and no charging, but the Inverter was ON and supplied power to the Kitchen and M/W(until the batteries went dead). But the other leg was HOT and the AC units ran and the customer could not figure out why. Doug

[zman-az]

I too thought inverter was running everything with low batteries but the OP said it was not on.

As suggested, what is the voltage at the pedestal when you run the microwave. If it drops then the problem is not the RV. I would check all electrical connections on the 50 amp circuit. A loose screw can cause these issues. Check the circuit breaker on the house/pedestal. Turn it off then put in a large flat blade screwdriver and turn the screw on the CB, if its loose snug it down. Also check connections on the transfer switch as well as the circuit panel in the RV. If any of the connections are loose it can create this issue. Make sure power is off and you have a insulated screwdriver so you don't electrocute yourself.

[GlennLever]

hooligan wrote:
If you have a voltmeter, unplug your 50 amp cord and measure the voltage at the socket on the pedestal.

Be careful here!

I like the idea of checking to see if the breaker is tripped, turn it all the way to off, then back on.

[BB_TX]

With good 50 amp service you should be able to operate virtually every thing in your MH with little voltage drop. Have the park maintenance person check out their pedastal. Or have them move you to another site.

[hooligan]

If you have a voltmeter, unplug your 50 amp cord and measure the voltage at the socket on the pedestal.

[DSDP_Don]

I think JimM68 may have possibly identified the issue. The OP has no idea how electrical works, but was quick to discount Jim's suggestion. The breaker at the pedestal may have tripped, and he's running on the inverter.

[AllegroD]

JimM68 wrote:
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....

A real good guess on a Phaeton.

[nomad297]

What is your voltage on each leg at the pedestal?

Bruce

[mikim]

Just remember 50 amps is really 50 amps x 2 legs= 100 amps. Each A/C unit will pull about 16 amps. A microwave I think can be as high as 12 amps. Coffee makers which produces heat can also be high...but not 100 amps. total.

Check the campground connections and you will need to work from there.