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50 amp connection

Yahoo Message Number: 23896
All you electricians out there, help! I have 240 V 50 amp in my shop, which I use to power my welder. I decided to modify this connection to allow me to plug my coach into it. Now the welder uses 240v. It does not use neutral, the three pin plug simply brings both hot leads in for power, along with ground. I decided to change out the female three pin box with the four pin box that the coach plugs into, and to change out the three pin plug on the welder to a four pin plug so I could also plug that into that same box. I wired it all up, connecting the neutral (white) wire that was unconnected on the previous box. After wiring, I checked out the welder, it works just fine. I plugged the coach in, and waited for the time delay, and nothing. AC never comes on. I look in the closet and the line 1 and line 2 lights are on, the over/under light is off, but nothing.
I measured the voltage on the pins and here is where it gets weird: across red to black, I get 242 volts. Red to ground or black to ground, in either case 121 volts. But red to white is 103 volts, and black to white is 129. I measured from white to ground, and I get 16 volts! For some reason, neutral has a voltage offset, evidently this causes an inbalance in the two circuits and prevents me from getting power in the coach.

Any ideas?

Al Colby

2000 Intrigue 10979

Re: 50 amp connection

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23897
You should go back to your main panel and check if the neutal was connected there. A floating neutral will do a lot of weird things to the voltage and according to the CC Electrical engineer, the surge protector used in the coachs will lock off with a floating neutral. This is a VERY good thing as floating or open neutral causes a lot of problems in a coach as you will end up with 240 volts across your 120 v appliances.
I worked on two coaches last winter that had that problem and they were SOBs without our surge guard. Both units had to replace the inverters and 1 microwave, 3 TVs and a mess of other stuff including Sat. receiver.
The aftermarket price of $350 for the surge protecter is a small price for the protection it gives us. It's a wonder more upscale coaches like Monoco don't use them.

ddtuttle

2000 Allure #30443

Re: 50 amp connection

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23900
AL,

Sounds like the white or neutral wire is not connected or loose at the other end. Check it at the panel and you will probbly find the problem.

Mikee

All you electricians out there, help! I have 240 V 50 amp in my shop, which I use to power my welder. I decided to modify this connection to allow me to plug my coach into it. Now the welder uses 240v. It does not use neutral, the three pin plug simply brings both hot leads in for power, along with ground. I decided to change out the female three pin box with the four pin box that the coach plugs into, and to change out the three pin plug on the welder to a four pin plug so I could also plug that into that same box. I wired it all up, connecting the neutral (white) wire that was unconnected on the previous box. After wiring, I checked out the welder, it works just fine. I plugged the coach in, and waited for the time delay, and nothing. AC never comes on. I look in the closet and the line 1 and line 2 lights are on, the over/under light is off, but nothing.
I measured the voltage on the pins and here is where it gets weird: across red to black, I get 242 volts. Red to ground or black to ground, in either case 121 volts. But red to white is 103 volts, and black to white is 129. I measured from white to ground, and I get 16 volts! For some reason, neutral has a voltage offset, evidently this causes an inbalance in the two circuits and prevents me from getting power in the coach.

Any ideas?

Al Colby

2000 Intrigue 10979

Re: 50 amp connection

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23904
Quote from: Mbaul@\.\.\.
AL,

Sounds like the white or neutral wire is not connected or loose at

the other

Quote
end. Check it at the panel and you will probbly find the problem.

Mikee
Thanks, you and Dave Tuttle were correct. The neutral was never connected at the main panel. I did not realize you could read voltage on a wire that was not connected to anything.

Al Colby

2000 Intrigue 10979

Re: 50 amp connection

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23913
I think all CC have the key lockout surge over/under device at the end of the 50 amp plug. I might be incorrect. I would go find a friend who is an experienced electrian or go hire one. What it will cost in your coach is not worth doing it wrong. I have seen two burn due to incorrect power and it was not a nice thing.

Re: 50 amp connection

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23926
Al You can read voltage (it will usually be irratic) with a high impedance meter (digital or good quality analog) but you won't with low impedance like an electricians wiggy or test light.

ddtuttle

2000 Allure #30443

Re: 50 amp connection

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23927
P.S. It was connected to something. Your coach! Even off line, your surge suppressor was conducting something.

ddtuttle

2000 Allure #30443