Weird electrical problem

[reftar]

Hello,

I want to keep it simple and to the point:

When I connect my RV to the electrical hookup, the circuit breaker trips. I have all the appliances unplugged, inside circuit breakers off and even 15 AMP fuses removed. It's almost like there is a short circuit somewhere before the electric goes into the power supply, but that's not the case. I checked the connections. Somehow, the power supply trips the breaker before it even goes to the fuses/breakers. Does anyone have any idea what may be the issue?

Thanks in advance.

[Veebyes]

Could be the shore power inlet on the side of the RV. Have had one of those wires come loose.

Take it one step at a time. Pedestal OK, plug in shorepower cable but do not plug into unit. Check for voltage at connector to unit. OK? Turn pedestal off & plug into unit. Turn pedestal on. If breaker trips on pedestal unplug & remove shorepower inlet. Look for loose wires or burnt wires. All OK? disconnect wires at incoming side of transfer switch. Check voltage at wires. OK? Reconnect inlet side & disconnect output side of transfer switch. Check voltage at output connections.

By now you have probably found the problem in either the female connector of the shorepower cable, the shorepower inlet or the transfer switch.

It takes time but methodical steps will reveal the source of the problem.

[mchero]

Hope the O.P. returns with much more information!

My 93 Pace Arrow diesel pusher had 50amp service. When I first acquired it I could NOT plug into a 50amp GFCI protected breaker w/o tripping the GFCI.
I was determined to figure out what was going on.
I first turned ALL breakers off BUT the GFCI would still trip!
I decided to start out in the transfer switch.
I removed the cover and traced out the hot leg(s) and found one wire that would NOT trip the GFCI. I traced the wire to a relay between the forward AC unit and fuse panel. The relay would energize thus completing the circuit between AC and breaker. The idea behind this relay was to prevent the inverter from powering up the AC unit.
It worked as designed BUT back in 1993 I don't think you would find a GFCI breaker back then.
How does a relay trip the GFCI you ask?
Don't ask me why Fleetwood used a DC relay. When you apply AC to a DC relay it will hum/chatter and even overheat. To prevent thus Fleetwood used a 1/2 wave rectifier with a VERY small capacitor to smooth out the voltage.

Every time I would plug the rig into a GFCI breaker that VERY small capacitor would charge up. The charging of that capacitor was tripping the GFCI. I corrected the issue by removing the capacitor and adding two more diodes. Worked like a champ!

Hope this post helps others.

[kedanie]

If you are plugging into a GFCI circuit, RV’s don’t play well with them. Look for a non GFCI and give it a try.

Keith

[352]

Shore cord was my problem with the issue your having.

[MrWizard]

motorhome or trailer ?

cord ?

the transfer switch in the RV that switches be shore cord and generator ?

[enblethen]

What kind of rig? Make and model?

[2oldman]

try a generator

Lynnmor wrote:
I guess you mean the breaker on the pedestal. .

yah, that was not clear to me either.

[YC_1]

Are you plugging in at home? To a small outlet using an adaptor?

[wa8yxm]

Some Circuit breakers are GFCI (They have a TEST button on 'em) Some RV's do not play nice with GFCI. this may be due to a NEUTRAL/GROUND short. Now.. this is one short that is not dangerous (Neutral and ground are shorted .. well teh term is bonded... at the "Service Entrance" (often at Park's outlet the box Supposed to be at the box after the meter box) but.. if the GFCI sees it they call it a fault and trip..

[Lynnmor]

I guess you mean the breaker on the pedestal. Is that a GFCI breaker? Never plug and unplug with the breaker turned on. If you have a detachable cord, disconnect and retest. Since you have all breakers inside turned off, that should eliminate all but the cord, cord connectors and wiring to the main breaker inside.

[Ranger_Smith]

You need to following the AC wiring from where it comes in and goes to the panel. Would help to know what kind of RV you have. Does it have a Generator with a transfer switch? Inverter, etc. Some of those items are before the inside breaker panel.

[bob213]

Try a different shore cord.