Electrical problem

Whitedog · 12-30-2014, 03:09 PM

Whitedog here,

I am new to this forum stuff so please abuse me now.

I have a 2001 26ft Wildwood 5th by Forest River during this last rain in California the old charging system went bad. So I ordered a new 4 stage upgrade this should arive today. The big problem is that the breaker marked GEN on the panel tripped and will not reset. I tried to reset and got a humming noise from somewhere in the trailer then the breaker would trip again. I found that the 110v outlets for the rear TV and the bedroom TV do not work. Keep in mind I don have a generator in this RV so I am lost on the GEN breaker.

Any suggestions?

KennyGolub · 12-30-2014, 03:21 PM

To me humming sounds like a frozen or locked electrical motor.
The motor would draw more current and cause the breaker to trip. I think you need to trace that breaker wire and see where it goes since you don't have a generator. Maybe someone else knows if there is another meaning for "GEN"

Ken

Whitedog · 12-30-2014, 03:36 PM

Thanks Ken,

The humming part is gone now I tried resetting this breaker three times then the noise stopped. I ran an extension cord from the kitchen to the TV corral for my trip to Sonora CA over Christmas. I've been tiring to find the wiring diagram for this rig without luck. Forest River only goes back so far. I guess they don't think their trailers will last long enough for future repairs. I'll keep trying thanks again.

Whitedog · 01-01-2015, 03:27 PM

Thank you to all that read my post. I have solved the problem with the charging and the electrical issue.

Happy New Year

techntrek · 01-01-2015, 07:54 PM

Did you figure out what was humming?

**Flybob** · 01-01-2015, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whitedog

Thank you to all that read my post. I have solved the problem with the charging and the electrical issue.

Happy New Year

Please share so others may benefit.

Whitedog · 01-02-2015, 03:08 AM

Ok this is what I did to resolve the problem. Using my handy dandy multimeter I tested for DC current coming from the batteries (after I charged them) this was a good 12v+. Then I tested the 13 year old Magnetec 6300 Q Series converter that came with the 5th wheel. I had 110v going to the transformer but no 12v DC going to the batteries. This could be several things wrong from the transformer being bad to an electronic switch being burned out. Instead of taking the time and tracing down the problem I took the advice of an old friend that worked with me as a RV tech in the late 70's. I ordered the upgrade replacement. (PD4645 45 Amp Converter Upgrade from Progressive Dynamics Converters) bestconverters.com. This is an upgraded 4 stage charging unit that is 100 times better that the old one. Take my advise have the upgrade installed and don't wait it may keep from burning your RV down. Keep in mind to replace this unit you better know your way around electrical panels and such. Needless to say this solved the DC charging problems for about $200.00 and a bag of Oranges.

Now for the 110v breaker tripping and humming issue. A good friend of mine is a retired electrician. I asked him to come over and see what he thought about this breaker issue. He brought his bucket of tools in and we disconnected all the 110v and DC power he took his tracing meter out and since the power to the rear TV the ceiling fan and the bedroom outlets worked off this one breaker he started with the wire going to the breaker and found a dead short with this wire and the RV. We then went to the rear TV outlet pulled it out of the wall. This outlet was daisy chained the outlet under the bay windows just under where the TV mounts. Well low and behold the dead short was in the black wire inside the Romex from the TV outlet to the outlet under the windows. This Romex at the TV outlet was stapled to the wood frame going down the wall on the corner of the 5th wheel. Mounted on the outside of that corner is the roof ladder. Keep in mind this is a 2001 Wildwood with aluminum siding. it took 13 years for one of the roof ladder mount screws to work its way through the outer Romex skin and into the insulation of the BLACK wire to cause the dead short. This is my story and I'm sticking to it.

techntrek · 01-02-2015, 12:43 PM

Bingo!

KennyGolub · 01-02-2015, 01:00 PM

Thanks for the details.....this is a great place to learn !!

Whitedog · 01-02-2015, 01:14 PM

You are all welcome. In my 20's I worked at a marina rebuilding houseboats and as an RV Tech clear into the early 80's but I'll be damned if I can remember half of what I knew then. I guess when some of us get older we need a little jump start or incentive from others to help us remember. You guys did that for me. Thanks

Hudlow · 01-02-2015, 01:56 PM

You know you have a good electrician when he carries his tools in a bucket.

When all else fails you dump out the tools and sit on the bucket.

**Mr. Dan** · 01-02-2015, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hudlow

You know you have a good electrician when he carries his tools in a bucket.

When all else fails you dump out the tools and sit on the bucket.

The rather sizable electrician who repairs power pedestals at the two Burns Run COE parks on Lake Texoma always sits on a 5 gallon bucket when he works!

Whitedog · 01-02-2015, 05:52 PM

I remember when I was a Ceramic Tile Setter the bucket could be used three ways. You could carry tools in it, you could sit on it while setting tile or eating lunch or you could on special occasions put in the closet on a new construction job and crap in it. This always pissed off your helper because he had to clean out the bucket to use for grouting.

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