What kind of electrical problem do I have?

[barth]

I have a 20001 HR Scepter that is plugged at home in a 30A outlet,the same outlet I've had for years.
Today, while plugged, I started to lose power inside the RV for a few seconds up to maybe 45 seconds at time. Then everything would be good for another 15 minutes or another couple hours then it would happen again.
While this situation occurs, the items plugged in outlets wired to the inverter (like the microwave) will still function but everything else will be off.

What am i dealing with? Is it something that can be traced to the transfer switch?

My house batteries are new from last month.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

[barth]

I think I found my problem.
As I mentioned before, I replaced my house batteries last month. It is always a good idea to go back and review what was done.
And that's how I found a little wire on the + connector of the batteries holding only by a few strands. This wire happens to go the EMS control panel and feeds it the 12V.
In my Intellitec manual it says that if I loose the 120V on the "controlled" outlets and not on the regular outlets, to check if 12V is present in the EMS panel. So I guess it was cutting out intermittently.

The problem seems to have been fixed now.

As an inside, I have a question regarding installing new batteries.

When I installed mine I cleaned all the cable lugs and connectors and Sprayed them with the stuff they sell to protect the battery connector. But I sprayed them BEFORE I installed them.

Somebody told me this will cause problem. So yesterday I took all the connections apart, cleaned them , reinstalled everything and THEN sprayed everything with the protective coating.

So was it wrong to spray everything before doing the connections?

Thank you

[CA_Traveler]

More information on what works and does not is needed.

A lot of RV appliances REQUIRE 12V to work. Appliances like refer, HW, propane heaters, air conditioners and the list goes on.

It sounds like you have 12V problems, maybe a automatic resetting 12V CB.

If your 12V lights go on and off that would be a big clue.

[mscamping]

Sounds like the 120 volt is going off, and going to the inverter.. We had that very thing happen a couple of weeks ago and it was a loose neutral on the transformer feeding our house.. Mike Mathews..
PS: Our RV is plugged in here too on 20 amp cord and acted just like what is saying.. Power went off and the stuff on the inverter was still on..

[Lobstah]

barth wrote:
I have a 20001 HR Scepter that is plugged at home in a 30A outlet,the same outlet I've had for years.
Today, while plugged, I started to lose power inside the RV for a few seconds up to maybe 45 seconds at time. Then everything would be good for another 15 minutes or another couple hours then it would happen again.
While this situation occurs, the items plugged in outlets wired to the inverter (like the microwave) will still function but everything else will be off.

What am i dealing with? Is it something that can be traced to the transfer switch?

My house batteries are new from last month.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

OP's post states that 120v in the coach is fine. I''m not sure that your microwave is running from the inverter or not, but not sure it matters. They problem you're describing is with the 12V systems. That's either the batts, or what's CHARGING the batts.

Put a DC voltmeter on the batts and take a reading. Unplug the coach and take the reading again, and tell us what you've observed.

Jim

[wa8yxm]

NOTE, on the 12 volt side of life you NORMALLY have a main circuit breaker or fuse, usually 30-80 amps between the battery and the house.

Now if you have an In-Line inverter, it gets a direct connection to the batteries with much heavier wire and a big "T" fuse.

This breaker cycling would cause the house 12 volt systems, which includes control power to air conditioners, fridge, water heater and such, to "Blink" as the breaker breaks and re-makes.

NOTE that this breaker would NOT affect the inverter.. Think like this

Inverter---Battery---Breaker---House

And also note that breakers do wear out and start tripping at a fraction of their rated power.

[garry1p]

With a loss of 120V power the transfer switch in the inverter switches to battery so the batteries must be good or the inverter would not work.
However; that does not explain why the other 12V items do not work since they work from the same batteries or at least they should be.

If you had a short circuit you would be popping circuit breakers since that does not happen it sounds to me like you have a bad (or poor) connection somewhere between your circuit breaker panel in the RV and where you plug in the RV. Most likely at the plug itself.

If you have a meter you need to check for low incoming voltage in one of the non inverter outlets and trace it back from there.

[mscamping]

Are the lights blinking in the house at the same time?? If so, I'd call the power company.. If not I'd start by checking for loose connections at the main panel in the house and then work your way towards the moho checking at each connection point.. Mike Mathews..

[barth]

Thanks for all the replies!
I've already checked all the battery connections. They are clean and tight. I will check all my other connections as suggested and also check the batteries acid with a hydrometer.
I will let you know the results.

[wilpower]

Another area to look at. Do you have a power cord reel? If yes, the internal connections on the reel may be going bad. Pull more of the cord out, and see if that helps.

[wa8yxm]

Your RVhas 3 power systems.. I will describe

A:12 volt: Runs off batteries and either your converter or .. The charger module in an in-line inverter...IF house lights, water pump and fans are what's loosing power.. That's where your problem lies.. A circuit breaker (Thermal self resetting) is cycling more than likely.

NOTE: if this is where your problem lies... Stop reading now and the folks yammering about your converter above may be right.

B:120 volt Shore/generator, Everything 120vac not powered by the inverter

C: The 120 volt outlets and devices POWERED by the inverter.

If it is system C that is blinking.

First it appears your inverter is functioning as designed as the outlets etc it powers still function. And the Converter is a load on this system, not a source, so it's also not the problem

This brings us to suspects number1 through many (how many varies from rig to rig) SCREWS LOOSE.. yes, many Rvers have a few screws loose.

First, Lets see if we can find good power.. Are you plugged into a 50 amp outlet, a TT-30 or a house type 15/20 duplex. If the latter pulg a trouble lamp into the other side of that outlet and see if it blinks, if it does, Problem NOT in RV.

If it does not.. YOur suspects in linier order, all are equally suspect.

Any adapters you may have, The outlet they plug into, your main power plug (Check for corrosion and for loose screws.. had a neighbor with power problems on his first time ever sticker in window 5thwheel..Dang Marinco outlet on the power cord fell off) That by the way is the next suspect, in the chain, Then the inlet (I had a loose screw there caused exactly what you have) then the transer switch (If you have one) and finally the screws in ye-old-breaker box.. Oh yes, and the breakers themselves, are they fully seated.

[time2roll]

If the 12v is going out and you just replaced batteries.... this needs to be reviewed.
Every 12v battery connection needs to be verified correct.

[YC_1]

Since you changed batteries there is a chance you did not get them actually connected correctly and they are not back online and charging. The converter could be developing some issues or just getting hot inside the compartment. Open the compartment and put your hand on it carefully. If it is hot listed for a vent van running. I went inside my compartment last evening for something and noticed it was hot in the compartment and the fan was not running. My little button thermostat had failed for the second time. Bypassing it with a small jumper until a new one (with lower temp activation) arrives.

As suggested, starting at the batteries with a voltmeter is where I would go first.

[big_jim_2]

I would check that my cord connection is clean and making a good contact at the box. i think your inverter is good and simply doing its job (switching on)when your 120 supply is failing.

[Lobstah]

Sounds to me like you have a converter problem. Is your inverter a combination unit that does both inverter and converter functions?...or do you have a separate converter that charges your batts?

Def check batts...be you'll find they're not being charged.
Agree with checking connections...could be loose cable on one of the batteries...or a bad connection somewhere in the line.

Jim