Reading outlet voltage

[bskomp]

Hey everyone newbie here and need help and a lot of time to read all the info on this forum. I've been reading about voltage drop and warning's online. But here's the thing I know just enough about voltage and amp to get in trouble or break something. However i do try to careful.

With all that being said I have a ? that I just can't' get a straight answer on. Answer on Will my a/c unit make a outlet drop below 20% voltage reading? I've seen drops as low as 102 last night. So just shut it down. I just bought this camper it's set up in a park that's been around. So wiring is old the camper is 09 model and has been on site for three years now so I'm not sure the amount of abuse that the a/c has encountered. I had the handy man come out last night and change lugs in 30amp post and install new breaker. Came on and worked for a bit hen went right back to surging again reading's dropped to 103-109 for a short period then tripping breaker. So Now I'm worrying if it has already killed a/c unit.

Just wanted to make sure it's not my a/c unit before I call him back and worry him over my ignorance or him pointing the finger /blame on my camper. Sorry for long post but high temps with pups/kids got to get to bottom of this. Thanks guys for any thoughts/info.

[Clay_L]

What is the voltage at the park pedestal? Is it dropping?
I have been in an older park where the wiring was not adequate for a lot of RVs running ACs at the same time. Everything was fine until everyone started running their ACs at once.

[enblethen]

You could be having issues with a bad electrical connection in the 120 volt power distribution panel.
I would suggest getting some electrical grease, disconnect the 120 volt power from the rig, open the electrical panel.
Disconnect each wire one at a time. Inspect closely for any melted insulation.
Do each wire, paying special attention to the white(neutral) wires in the back of the panel.
Apply a liberal amount of the electrical grease and re-terminate each wire.
Again do one wire at a time.
Remove each circuit breaker, inspect the connection between the circuit breaker and the buss work. Coat the buss where the breaker attaches with a light coating of electrical grease. You may need to use emery cloth on buss work to remove any burnt areas.

[samsontdog]

Great info

[bskomp]

all of the micro,convert,tv,water heat, fans, was not even powered up when i was taking the reading's that why i just cant understand why it's dropping down to 102v and surging. the last two day we've been moving in 1.5 hour here total at a time but when we get here the ac will run until reaches 72%. we run stat up to 78% and come back next afternoon with ac breaker tripped. yesterday we came in ran for a bit and done for a couple hours then shut off and started dropping voltage trying to restart. However I do believe your on to something with the breaker cause not sure how long this has been going on but I'm sure it has gotten weak. The previous owner said she just learned to cut uo ac when using micro,hair dryer, etc.

[CT_WANDERER]

I would bet you are overloading the breaker. using to much power on a 30 amp system. AC, Converter, tv, Microwave, Waterheater? etc.

[bskomp]

I forgot to mention just bought camper two days ago. So I'll get on roof today and servise ac. just checked same outlet with microwave 115v before and 111v after.

[bskomp]

just checked same outlet with water heater off 120v and it dropped to 116v when turned on

[bskomp]

just checked same outlet with water heater off 120v and it dropped to 116v when turned on

[bskomp]

before it starts acting up it shows around 116v running and drawing around 13amps. 16amp with fridge on. Haven't cut off converter. Just dont now if the ac could make the camer's outlets drop to 102v with it trying to start. Just seems like I'm getting low volts at CG post. I'm going to find a plug-in voltage reader today. at camping world

[enblethen]

This meter from Prime Products gives voltage has some alerts and identifies wiring issues.
Digital meter

[westend]

Sounds like your battery is well charged. You might try disconnecting 120V to the converter and see if it makes a difference. Leave your battery connected to the load center. Have you gotten up there on the roof in the last couple of years and removed the shroud and cleaned the unit? Having a dirty set of cooling fins will create all sorts of difficulties.

If you are measuring 108V when the AC is running, that should be safe. If you're tripping the load center breaker in the RV or on the pedestal with regularity, the AC is probably drawing too much current. A failing capacitor will also fubar the operation but you wouldn't be tripping the breaker.

[RoyB]

I use one of these RV 120VAC PLUG-IN VOLTMETERS. It has the safe zone printed in GREEN on the scale. Got mine from AMAZON...

I have it plugged in close to where I turn on the Air Conditioner. Like to know what the AC Voltage is before I turn it on at the camp grounds.



This is also a very useful thing to have at home when you are plugged into the garage receptacle...

Roy Ken

[bskomp]

I wasn't sure what the converter was having to charge or not i did take a reading and it was a little over 13 volts at battery so I unhooked it. not being sure of batt. condition but then got to thinking that with no batt. hooked up will it try to keep charging? Anyways left unhooked last night and batt reading this morning is 13.3 volts but nothing has run off it all night. dont have my minn kota load tester on hand but that seems good been unhooked for about 14hrs now. I was reading voltage at a receptacle when ac was trying to cycle back on. It tends to surge and thermostat click after it runs a bit so I'm thinking that the unit is just getting hot. and the ems? on the unit is just not letting it run due to low voltage. or the compressor is going out do to past low voltage.

[azrving]

x2 with what west end said. Be sure JUST the ac is on and check voltage then check the voltage with just the electric water heater on. Did you check the voltage at the post without anything plugged in?

[D___M]

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