Newbie with electrical problem.

[dumplin57]

Hi folks, I'm new to the forums. I have a 2006 Cedar Creek 5th wheel that I'm having an electrical problem with.

Problem: the five 120V a/c plugs in the living room/kitchen just quit working.

Whats been done:
1, had the RV park handyman come check it out.
Replaced GFCI in bathroom and one suspecious plug.
2, replaced 20A breakers.
3, checked all conections in breaker box.
4, removed each 120V plug, removed wires and checked for power.
5, checked all exterior, storage bay and fridge plugs.
I'M AT A LOSS. Has anyone else had this happen and can shed some light?

[enblethen]

OP:
Please answer the previous questions.
What type of service 320 or 50 amp?
Do you have a large inverter?
Was there power leaving the circuit breakers?
Calling manufacturer will do no good without some answers!

[Pogoil]

Inverter.

Pogoil.

[aruba5er]

Which is the FIRST outlet then the SECOND and so on? It should be required to provide a secematic of how the wiring was done.or photos before the walls go on. Most wiring I am familar with on an rv is Vampire connections where the wire is pokked into the back of an outlet and a cover snapped over it. If that outlet fails the others down the line still work. GFCI outlets still have screws so maybe the load has loosened up a wire and has caused the trouble. I would check at the gfci first. Pull it out and test, just don't look at it. I've changed too many that have reset and still nothing comes out.

[Matt_Colie]

Dumpin,

Read What Donn Wrote....

All these new RV have the "self enclosed- fast wire" receptacles. The only reason that these things are not a complete POS is that parts are missing.

So, if the factory cannot get you a wiring diagram (no bet there), just get a thing that plugs in - not a test light. I mean a thing like a hairdryer that will care if it is not getting juice. Work from the receptacle nearest to the panel and keep moving away. When it stops, go back one. Open the breaker (the tester better stop). Take that receptacle out and open it up. There are opening and disconnecting instructions on the device in little tiny eantsy bitty letters (I have to get a magnifier to read). Open it up and check the wires first by pulling - they should not pull out. Then release and inspect each conductor. It that one checks, go to the first dead receptacle and repeat this whole show.

It isn't rocket surgery, if you are literate (you can run a computer) there is no reason you can't do this and if you do it successfully, just think of the money you can now spend better ways.

Matt

[donn0128]

dumplin57 wrote:
Well as I said before, I've done all of that. Guess I'll call the manufacturer. Thanks.

Yea, I know you said that, but.... Do you have 120VAC at both sides of the breaker? Do you have 120VAC at the first outlet? This aint rocket science, you have no 120VAC some where. If you have a series of outlets dead, then the last one on the chain that has power is your problem. The cheap junk outlets that are used have crappy push on connectors. Guaranteed you will find no power at one of those connectors.

[enblethen]

OP has not responded to what amperage of service, whether using an adapter, or whether it is equipped with a large inverter.
Hard to give good advise with all the pertinent information.

[Broccoli1]

dumplin57 wrote:
Well as I said before, I've done all of that. Guess I'll call the manufacturer. Thanks.

30 amp or 50amp rig?

If 50 amp i would check that your getting power to half the center. maybe the main breaker is bad

[enblethen]

Do you have a large inverter?

[dumplin57]

Well as I said before, I've done all of that. Guess I'll call the manufacturer. Thanks.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Is it possible the manufacturer can come up with an even stupider design? I doubt it. I read these threads with wonder. It's like the simpler more intelligent days of RV'ing have gone round the bend and off the tracks. What is the purpose of "Sit On Your Butt While Everything Is Done Automatically" when nothing works, and a person spends all day and half the night running around like a chicken with their head cut off? Are customers insisting on this lunacy?

[wa8yxm]

And if it is a KITCHEN breaker then for sure it's on a GFCI. So is the patio, and Bathrooms (Where the GFCI is often located) HOWEVER just because you found ONE GFCI does not mean they did not hide one.. I know of folks who have found 'em in some very strange places.. Myself included but that was on a Sticks & Bricks.

[donn0128]

I'll tell you exactly what the problem is. All of your outlets except those in the kitchen are daisy chained from the breaker panel to the first one, then the second one etc. Start at the breaker and be sure the connection is clean and tight. Move to the second outlet and do the same. Keep moving around all of the receptacles until you have checked all of them. Next, connect the power back to the trailer and start taking voltage readings. This is not rocket science, but it will take some time and patience to find the problem. When you are checking wiring be sure that the insulation is not being clamped on. Have seen that a lot over the years and it always causes problems sooner or later.

[1492]

Moved from Forum Technical Support

[Mandalay_Parr]

Your inverter may have a breaker on it.