Electrical issues

[Paige196]

Here it is 3 am , I awake to a humming noise then out goes the power, directly things come back on. I have noticed these past few days at random times that my lights seem to flicker a bit, can someone please give a bit of advice for I know taking this thing to the shop is like dancing on hot coals then you have a 5 k bill and still no resolution to the problem.


This is a 2004 Big Sky Montana fifth wheel, any and all help will be appreciated.

[ksg5000]

Lights are DC powered - combo of hum and lights flickering would usually mean converter issue. If so - not expensive to replace. Measure/monitor output of converter - some die gradually.

[Paige196]

I believe we have eliminated the thought of possible converter issues the humming was from the fan of converter trying to kick back in.

Just not sure why one ac would stay on and the other go off sometimes, other times everything goes off.....

[popeyemth]

Here's a cheap simple trick that has solved many a intermittent problem
Unplug from the park and disconnect your battery cables
Pull out your converter and check that ALL of the connections on it are clean and bright and tight and no wires have bubbled insulation and the same for the battery and that the battery is full of water

[Dr_Quick]

You might try this. If you can, one night disconnect from park power, and see if it happens again. If no hum, could be an local electrical problem. Sometimes power companies will do load switching at night.

Also one night try turning off breaker for converter, and see what happens. That way you may be able to tell if it is a 120 volt problem or 12 volt problem with converter. If hum happens, then it is 120 volt system, if not them must be 12 volt system.

You would probably want to try this on a cool night when AC is not needed.

[Shavano]

Moved to Tech Issues

Moderator TT forum

[Paige196]

Yes been at this place since march 2013

[Paige196]

As far as the loss of power sometimes it is all power other times it is power down stairs other times lose no power never throws a breaker it's the craziest thing I have ever dealt with

[popeyemth]

There can be many reasons for power to go on and off mostly because of faulty equipment or parts of equipment .
Any "ideas" you get from here based on the info you supplied will be just that - ideas.
Do you really want to spend money for parts based on that ?
Get a cheap simple multimeter and read the manual and do some investigating into what exactly is going on .
Are you loosing the park AC input or just the DC output from your converter ?
Some very sharp folks read this forum and with some facts could certainly advise you .
Good Luck, Mike

[Padlin]

Have you been at the same place for 3 weeks now? Might be the incoming power is sagging. I can't the converter or AC caring if it's night or day, they would do it at all times of day if you have the same load on. The management system mentioned above may be a good idea.

This is what one looks like, and Here's a good write-up on the electrical system.

[Paige196]

Ok at 3am not much could have been running, an a.c unit refrigerator, maybe hot water heater and tv with satellite receiver, every time the power shuts off that propane detector starts beeping REALLY loud then goes off. The humming noise seems to come from the converter area. After the power shut off and came on about 10 different times finally at 6:30 this morning it came on and has not went back off. It seems that this only happens late at night or early morning......I just got here with my husband he says that it just random has been doing this for about 3 weeks now. Any ideas now?

[workhardplayha1]

Sounds like an Electrical Management System may be in order.

[Padlin]

Well you should post this in the tech forum as opposed to the hybrid but first off what is running at the time? Do you have hookups? Can you tell where the humming is coming from? Could be the air if it's on, maybe the converter if nothing else is on, transformers and fans can hum when they go south.

Oh ya, welcome, if you're still with us.