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Old 04-23-2017, 06:03 PM   #1
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Power Converter Smoking, how do i get auto level to work

I built a new barn and have never used the power. On friday i plugged my 2017 372LOK fifth wheel into the 30 amp outlet in the barn (had a TT when i built it over winter). Never went inside. Saturday i was doing some things and the led light in the basement would not work. There was a breaker popped. I turned it on and it started smoking. It was labeled "conv". Turned everything off and unplugged. The light on the cord was blue. It should not be more than 30amp to the 50amp camper.

Other than getting this resolved, how do i put the auto level up. I turned all but "conv" on and it wont work. No power from barn right now until my electrician comes and checks things and someone maybe advises me.

Please help?
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Old 04-23-2017, 06:06 PM   #2
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It seems your 30 amp receptacle is wired at 240 volts AC instead of 120 volts AC. Can not help with auto-level...
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Old 04-23-2017, 06:11 PM   #3
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Power Converter Smoking, how do i get auto level to work

Is there a way to tell this without a tester?
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Old 04-23-2017, 06:14 PM   #4
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Not really, you need a multimeter/voltmeter to check proper voltage....
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Old 04-23-2017, 06:14 PM   #5
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How is it wired different?
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Old 04-23-2017, 06:18 PM   #6
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For an RV 30 amp, you have a Hot lead, neutral lead and the ground. For an RV 50 amps you have two Hot lead (240 volts between them), a neutral and a ground.....

I would wait for your electrician to test and repair if needed....
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Old 04-23-2017, 06:19 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brian372lok View Post
I built a new barn and have never used the power. On friday i plugged my 2017 372LOK fifth wheel into the 30 amp outlet in the barn (had a TT when i built it over winter). Never went inside. Saturday i was doing some things and the led light in the basement would not work. There was a breaker popped. I turned it on and it started smoking. It was labeled "conv". Turned everything off and unplugged. The light on the cord was blue. It should not be more than 30amp to the 50amp camper.

Other than getting this resolved, how do i put the auto level up. I turned all but "conv" on and it wont work. No power from barn right now until my electrician comes and checks things and someone maybe advises me.

Please help?


Several issues going on here. First, you need to verify that only 120 volts is coming from the 30 amp receptacle that you are plugging your camper into (one hot, neutral and ground). The 30-amp camper receptacle is camper-specific. Did your electrician know that?

Once your barn's electrical is verified, your need to check out your converter. If the barn power was correct, your converter may have just been a bad unit. However, without knowing if your barn's power was correct... it (the barn) may have dried the converter... and possibly other things not yet known.
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Old 04-23-2017, 06:38 PM   #8
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So there is a double breaker, does this mean 240v to the 30amp outlet. But the 50 amp is 240? So does it still mater? I plugged into a gfi and used converter and the fridge works. No 12v worked when i flipped on the breaker to the conv, so how do i get the auto level to work?
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Old 04-23-2017, 06:46 PM   #9
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So there is a double breaker, does this mean 240v to the 30amp outlet. But the 50 amp is 240? So does it still mater? I plugged into a gfi and used converter and the fridge works. No 12v worked when i flipped on the breaker to the conv, so how do i get the auto level to work?
If it is on a double breaker, the news will not be good. Blowing up the 120 volt converter by applying 220 volts may only be the start of your problems.

Putting 220 volts on a 120 volt leg may have also damaged your air conditioner, microwave, and/or television.
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Old 04-23-2017, 06:50 PM   #10
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You're 30amp is 240v if you have a double breaker. It also means that you probably just smoked your converter and possibly all of your appliances. Once your 30amp is confirmed 240v (should be 120) I would replace your converter and hope for the best.
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Old 04-23-2017, 07:31 PM   #11
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The fridge works so i am hoping for the best.
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Old 04-23-2017, 07:32 PM   #12
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Any idea on the auto level?
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Old 04-23-2017, 07:48 PM   #13
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Both TVs work, the micro has power, the outdoor fridge has power. Those are all pluses, I guess not knowing to tell my electrician what to do other than a 30amp outlet is a learning lesson. The thermostat doesn't have power, that worries my a little.
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Old 04-23-2017, 07:53 PM   #14
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The fridge works so i am hoping for the best.
If your fridge is a normal 30 amp camper fridge, it is 12 volt controlled 120 VOLT AC heater element backed up by propane if the AC does not work; it may be working on propane. If it is in AUTO, you may not even know the power is not available until the battery dies.

If you have a residential style fridge, it will also work on battery (through an inverter) until the battery supplying the inverter dies.

It all depends on what was energized (even though it may be "off" like the TV), when the camper was connected with 220 volts across the panel.
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Old 04-23-2017, 07:56 PM   #15
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Power Converter Smoking, how do i get auto level to work

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If your fridge is a normal 30 amp camper fridge, it is 12 volt controlled 120 VOLT AC heater element backed up by propane if the AC does not work; it may be working on propane. If it is in AUTO, you may not even know the power is not available until the battery dies.



If you have a residential style fridge, it will also work on battery (through an inverter) until the battery supplying the inverter dies.



It all depends on what was energized (even though it may be "off" like the TV), when the camper was connected with 220 volts across the panel.


The inverter is off and the residential fridge is working off the power plugged into a gfi in the barn. Just the a/c. Does the a/c use 12v along with 110?

I powered on tvs so those all work, as well as everything else but the a/c panel has no power.
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Old 04-23-2017, 08:08 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by brian372lok View Post
The inverter is off and the residential fridge is working off the power plugged into a gfi in the barn. Just the a/c. Does the a/c use 12v along with 110?

I powered on tvs so those all work, as well as everything else but the a/c panel has no power.
You may have dodged the bullet and only cooked the converter.

Since I don't have first hand knowledge of the way the fridge inverter works, just what I have read in the manual, I am only guessing here. The fridge inverter is in bypass/charge mode when on shore power and supplies 120 VAC from the battery when 120 VAC is not detected. You may still have inverter damage and not know it yet (your fridge batteries may not charge).
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Old 04-23-2017, 08:09 PM   #17
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What about the a/c? Does that use 12v at all? No power to thermostat?
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Old 04-23-2017, 08:10 PM   #18
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The inverter is off and the residential fridge is working off the power plugged into a gfi in the barn. Just the a/c. Does the a/c use 12v along with 110?

I powered on tvs so those all work, as well as everything else but the a/c panel has no power.
Depending on the model. Some use "house" DC to run the thermostat; others have a transformer that provides low voltage to run the thermostat.

Overvoltage can damage the transformer type and a dead battery will make the "house voltage" type not work without a working converter.

To further troubleshoot, find the circuit breaker that feeds the converter and turn it off (to avoid putting power to a damaged converter). Connect to a known good source of 120 volt AC. If you use a 15 amp duplex outlet and an adapter, watch what you turn on at once as you can (hopefully) blow a fuse if you draw too much juice while testing.

Connect a car battery charger to the house batteries and charge them up. Remember if you use an outlet on the same circuit as the adapter, you need to take the amps being used to charge the battery into consideration. Try to connect the charger to an outlet on a different circuit.

This way you can find out what works and what does not until you can replace your converter. Hopefully that is all you lost.

I hate to be a "Debbie Downer" here, but we have seen this scenario too often.
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Old 04-23-2017, 08:22 PM   #19
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I tested the 120v and that all works, i will charge the batterys tomorrow and test that. Thanks.
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Old 04-23-2017, 08:52 PM   #20
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Download the following doc and provide to your electrician.
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...do=file&id=109
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