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Re: HELP AC Outlets blowing devices!
Sorry it took so long to reply back, I appreciate all the help. So yesterday I opened the main circuit breaker box and found that the main black hot line is fluctuating between 0V-5V when in contact with neutral and ground. The red hot line reads great at 120v when connected to neutral and ground. I checked outside at the shorepower hookup and both hot lines are reading great at the receptacle. I also checked at the other end of the wire where it hooks into the trailer and both lines are reading 120v. There were 4 screws holding the receptacle into the trailer so I took that out and measured the voltage from the wires that are feeding into the trailer and everything is okay. I am guessing the problem is at the transfer switch where the shorepower meets the generator power. There are 10 circuit breakers, 6 that are fed from the red hot line and 4 that are fed from the black hot line. All 4 that are connected from the black hot line are giving the bad voltage readings of 0-5V. I have attached a picture showing the circuit breaker box. Circuits 3-4 & 7-8 are the circuits fed off the black wire giving bad voltages. My question is does this explain the problem I have been having with the appliances blowing? Or do you guys believe I still have an open neutral somewhere? Thanks461Views0likes0CommentsRe: HELP AC Outlets blowing devices!
So I went ahead and unplugged everything from the outlets and turned off all the lights. I measured the voltage with nothing on and it was 117V. I then turned on the AC and measured the voltage again at the same outlet and it increased to 118.5V. I checked all the outlets and on the ones I could get a reading it was the same around 118.5V. However on two of the GFI plugs, the one in the bedroom and kitchen, The voltage readings kept fluctuating between 0V & 5V. I then turned off the AC and measured the voltage however the voltage did not change and was still fluctuating between 0 & 5V. My girlfriend had been using the plug in the bedroom for her curling iron just fine thirty minutes prior to me checking the voltage.353Views0likes0CommentsRe: HELP AC Outlets blowing devices!
wa8yxm wrote: I too agree it sounds like an open neutral.. As for the single 50 amp breaker... They make a breaker that has a single lever, but is in fact a double breaker,, I know I had the 150 amp version of it in my house. Like all breakers it comes in assorted sizes (Ever see an 800 amp breaker,,, I have.. It too was a single lever 240 volt dual breaker). To diagnose .. One assumes you have two AC/s.. TURN OFF everythign, in fact turn off the circuit breakers that feed televisions and other electronic devices including your converter. Leave on only the following General outlets with nothing plugged into them (NOTE there is another way to do this) you need two such circuits, one on each side of the neutral. and at least ONE of the two air conditioners. now plug volt meters into both outlets, ANALOG meters work best for this. Turn on the AC and watch the meters One drops a volt or 3, other either goes with it or stays static, GOOD One goes down other goes UP seriously (like more than 10 volts) open neutral. How do I know this: Happened on the sticks and bricks and that is EXACTLY how I diagnosed it. I only have one Multimeter, do i need to purchase a second or can I check the voltage on one plug, unplug the leads of the multimeter and check the voltage on the next? Or do i need two multimeters plugged in at the second time because the voltage differences happen very fast? Also am i checking voltages on the two outlets on the same GFI plug or on different GFI plugs on different sides of the trailer? Thanks for all the help353Views0likes0CommentsRe: HELP AC Outlets blowing devices!
Hey guys, Sorry it to so long to get back to you guys, I appreciate all the replies. So the trailer IS connected with a 4 lug plug like you guys suggested. If there was an open neutral wouldn't that show up on the GFI tester? A few of you recommended a few tests to do to see if it is actually an open neutral. Now that you guys know this is a 4 prong connection, what is the best test to do to test for an open neutral? Thanks guys appreciate all the help320Views0likes0CommentsRe: HELP AC Outlets blowing devices!
The Main Circuit breaker is a Single 50A breaker not a double. I am plugged in at a home with an outlet. I will verify that all the terminal plugs are tight in the Main Power Plug. I can also check the power cord in the morning however the Main Circuit breaker is a single 50A.129Views0likes0CommentsRe: HELP AC Outlets blowing devices!
ScottG wrote: Is this a 50 amp rig? Do yo have a volt meter to check the outlets with? That would be the first place to start because the only way they can damage something is to apply excessive voltage to it. Yeah the outlets read good at 110-117 Volts129Views0likes0CommentsHELP AC Outlets blowing devices!
Hello all, I am currently living in a River Canyon 34RLQS0 5th Wheel that is hooked up to electrical power. I am having a odd issue with the electrical in the trailer. Some of the GFI outlets are blowing electrical devices when they are plugged in. Yesterday we plugged a toaster into the kitchen and it started smoking without even turning the device on. I also plugged my laptop AC adapter into the GFI outlet in the bedroom and it worked for about 2 minutes before blowing. The AC adapter does not give out any voltage and I verified this at my work. The trailer has has issues in the past as it has blown the bedroom TV and kitchen Microwave as well. I have measured the voltage on the plugs and they range from 110v-117v. Today I tested all of the outlets with a GFI tester and they all read good indicating there are no line, neutral, or ground wires crossed. The bizzare thing is that the plugs seem like they decide which devices they want to fry. I am currently running my heater and charging my phone on the same plug that blew my laptop AC adapter yesterday. Any help is appreciated as I worried about plugging anything into the walls fearing it will blow the device. Thanks12KViews0likes82Comments
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