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Power failure

Yahoo Message Number: 77517
A few days ago I posted a query regarding a complete 50 amp power failure. I wish to thank all for your responses. It was caused by a faulty breaker at the RV park pedestal providing 142 volts on one leg. Thank goodness for surge protectors! I am now still left with my intermittent loss of 110 power to my outlets and microwave while connected to 50 amp shore power (all is well on 30 amps.)All works fine for a few hours or even a day or two then power goes out without explanation such as added load.
Most of the time power will come back on line without resetting any breakers (as none are tripped when this happens.) I've checked all outlets for loose connection points and my bedroom GFI is operating properly.
Could this be an inverter issue??? Thoughts

Dennis McCarthey
2000 Allure 30533

Re: Power failure

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 77520
Dennis,

With my 44 years of work in the electric utility industry I would say you still have problems with your power source from the RV park. If you were in fact receiving 142 volts you had a bad neutral from the source and the problem may still be there. This can cause serious damage to your equipment!
I would contact the parks management and have it investigated ASAP.

Barney

07 Inspire 52059

Re: Power failure

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 77523
Barney,

Thanks for the response! The RV park did check voltage after replacing the service breaker, and I just checked again and am getting 122V between each hot leg and neutral, 244 between the hots and 0 between nuetral and ground.
Also when the outlets and microwave power does fail, I retain both legs of power through the surge guard and transfer switch, therefore my refridgerator and H/W tank are still on line.
This is why I'm thinking the problem is downstream from the surge protector. I just don't know if an inverter would display this type of intermitent failure at the outlets only.
Dennis

Re: Power failure

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 77524
Barney,

Also I should add that this has happened at other RV parks and has getting progressively worse/more frequently occuring

Re: Power failure

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 77528
Dennis,

When you are connected to a 50a service you are getting two 120v legs. They are then split to serve different parts of the coach. If you have problems on one of the legs part of your coach will suffer problems and other parts will not.
When connected to a 30a service you are only getting 1 120v leg then split in the power cord so everything feeds from only one leg. So if everything works well on the 30a service I would say your coach wiring is OK or you would still be having problems when connected to 30a.
Your inverter should have nothing to do with it when connected to shore power. Only when running 120 equipment from battery power is your inverter working.

Barney

Re: Power failure

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 77531
Dennis, I agree with Barney, if you had that much of a surge it is probably a faulty Neutral, it will happen again, the surge protector will trip at 102/135volts, but it may not.
we have had at least 2 different problems in the park that I am in now, one burned up over 2500, the other around 2000, included the surge protector on one and inverter on both. The Power co has a way to check for faulty Neutral, and Voltage Recorder., if it is the Power co.,service, may be just the Park owned. Pays to be sure. On one of these units here it almost caught fire., burned a big hole in the Sat. receiver.
Marvin, 07 Allure, 31459

Re: Power failure

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 77535
Barney,

I do understand how the power gets to the coach with 30 and 50 amp service. However I'm still at a loss for the cause of my problem.
I do believe the power at the park is now correct. As I mentioned before this has happened at previous parks, so to have the same pedestal deficiency at multiple parks would be quite a fluke.
Again, no circuit breakers trip when this occurs. I still have power to all appliances such as A/C units/heat pumps, and refridgerator.
The only power loss is to the 110 outlets including the microwave/convection oven.
To restore power I can exercise the inverter circuit breaker (turn off then on) and I'm good to go until next time, or hook up the 30 amp shore cord to the 30 amp pedastal outlet.

Dennis

Re: Power failure

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 77538
Dennis,

Sounds like you do have a problem within your coach. The inverter shouldn't be working when you are connected to shore power. It could be a problem with your charger /inverter I suppose. I believe it is responsible for switching from shore power to inverter power when you are disconnected from shore power on the circuits you are having problems with.
If you turn your inverter off when connected to shore power do you lose power in the 110 outlets? That shouldn't happen.

I would be interested in hearing what you find.

Barney
 

Re: Power failure

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 77541
Barney,

Just ran the test and power to the outlets, including the microwave went off when the circuit breaker was shut off.
Also, according to my electrical schematic 50 amp power routing does show going through the charger inverter prior to going to circuits???