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power help needed

Yahoo Message Number: 97010
we have trouble with power to our motorhome. When we camp at the campground everything works fine. When we go and stay at a friend home and plug in to the 220 acvolt outlet it fries the transfer switch coil and takes out the power side of the inverter. Being and electrician I'm confused as to why this is happening. We have done this now for the 3rd time. Can someone enlighten me on what I'm doing wrong.

Brian Eichhorn
10030

95 Intrigue

Re: power help needed

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97011
Our rv's do NOT run on 220 volts, you didn't say what amp your rig is but assuming 30 amp then the most likely issue is the home plug is wired like an electric dryer with 2 hot and a neutral. RV's use only 1 hot neutral and ground. 50 amp does use to hot and a neutral and ground also. 30 amp is the most common miswire.

Ray

They say wine improves with age! As I enter my golden years, I say age improves with wine! The Born Loser

Re: power help needed

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97012
thanks Ray that is where I'm at not a dryer just 110 that explains why I have a problem black-white-green ok now

Re: power help needed

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97013
If you are plugging into a 3-pole 220volt outlet, then you are missing the neutral. Your coach requires a 4-pole connection with two hots, neutral and ground.

It is the classic 3-wire "Edison" or "multiwire" circuit where an open neutral with unequal loads will cause a hot to neutral unbalance in voltage, thus causing equipment burnout.
If your friend's outlet is a 4-pole, I would check to see if the neutral is actually there. It could be a recent "bringing up to code of dryer outlet", where the outlet was changed, but the neutral was not added or correctly connected.
Dave

2000 Allure #30444

Re: power help needed

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97018
Check the wiring and voltage at the plug at your friends house. Your friends house seems to be the common denominator.

Mikee

Re: power help needed

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97027
Sounds like your friend's house is wired wrong at the plug. Before I even thought about plugging in again, I'd test, test & test again. I assume you know but I'll say it for sake of conversation. On a 50 amp plug, the top center is neutral, the bottom center is ground, the sides are hot (L1 & L2). So from N to L1 you should have 110v, N to L2, 110v, L1 to L2, 220v, G to L1, 110v, G to L2, 110v, N to G, 0v

Double check all the voltages and go from there.
Also, make sure it's a RV 50amp plug and not something else. I've seen houses wired wrong before, can't say I've toasted 3 transfer switches on the same plug...

Jim