Converter issue

[Stude55Dog]

Have fifth wheel on 50 amp service. Am now on 3rd converter. Yesterday we had fake fireplace on and the breaker on box tripped. Turned fireplace off, turned breaker back on and smelled smoke, went outside and the converter was emitting heavy smoke. Unplugged, went got another converter, make sure fireplace was unplugged, installed converter, turned breaker back on and it smoked that converter immediately. Not sure what to do next as it is weekend, cant reach mfg. for advise. Need to figure out as we live in trailer. Would appreciate any guidance or suggestions. Thanks

[naturist]

There is a possibility that the problem is not yours. Years ago we had an issue at the sticks ‘n’ bricks. Walked in, hit the light switch and the bulb blew with a loud pop. Got out the volt meter an quickly determined there was 220 volts on the ceiling fixture. Turned out there had been a lightning strike on the line up by the road that had blown one of the power company’s fuses on their neutral. So check all over your system including at the pole feeding your rig. And absolutely do not plug in or turn on anything until the fault is found and fixed.

[DutchmenSport]

ppine wrote:
Take out your fake fireplace and replace it with a beer cooler.

[Old-Biscuit]

Magic smoke got out....converter is FRIED---Toasted----DEAD---Burnt up

NO---do not plug it back in

Converter has NO affect on fridge outlet or other outlets....check the circuit breaker that feds the receptacles. It probably tripped when converter fried

And before you use any other 120V AC appliance (converter, fireplace, microwave, fridge on electric etc) FIND & FIX the loss of Neutral.
If not sure what/how to test/find/fix---hire someone.

[pianotuna]

after tightening the connections measure the voltage at the shore power pedestal. If they are "normal", then plug in and measure the voltage input to the converter.

A ten amp battery charger could be tried--if it burns up there is less cost.

[Stude55Dog]

As clarification, the first converter went bad three months ago. Not sure what went bad with it but replaced with new converter and all worked well until this incident. Destressing!!

[Stude55Dog]

If converter is not plugged in, refrigerator and other outlets do not work. If converter emitted all that smoke can I plug back in someway to check and see if it is still usable or does smoke mean its no longer usable. Will tighten all connections now and see what happens. Afraid to buy new converter and plug in as they are $200 a piece. Thanks for those suggestions will report back as we progress. Amen on beer cooler.

[ppine]

Take out your fake fireplace and replace it with a beer cooler.

[enblethen]

Get one of these. It should show for issues. I agree sounds like open neutral. Likely in your shore power cord connector.
Tester
Meter inserted into receptacle blades, may show excessive voltage or even 240 volts.

[pianotuna]

If you don't have a 2nd voltmeter, go ahead and tighten all the connections in the breaker box. It can't hurt and it may help.

[wa8yxm]

From the sounds of it you have an open neutral. When you turn on the fake fireplace the voltage changes on teh two legs. Now SOME converters will deal with that. others do not.

Use not one but TWO volt meters. one plugged into an outlet that is one Leg #1 and the other on Leg 2 and observe voltages.. Should be right close to 110-120 but if one climbs to say 150 you have an open neutral. (the other will drop).