Power problems

[Gabowhuntet]

Girlfriend was using hair dryer it tripped the GFIA in the bathroom now GFI will not reset and the refrigerator will not stay on Electricity

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by Gabowhuntet

Girlfriend was using hair dryer it tripped the GFIA in the bathroom now GFI will not reset and the refrigerator will not stay on Electricity

Hello, huntet... have you opened your power/breaker panel and reset any tripped breakers?
Do all other 110v appliances work (microwave, etc.)? A GFCI circuit will not reset without incoming power.

[cavie]

+2 to what Dan said. Are you on a campground Ped plugged into a 30 amp receipt? or a 20 amp? Are you at home plugged into a 20 amp receptacle?

Fridges are not normally on the GFI circuit but lately it seams they have tossed out the norm when it comes to RV's. Let us know what kind of RV you have and what size the service is. 30? 50? Just so we are all on the same page.

[Gabowhuntet]

I'm in a campground...power pole not tripped...no power at all to rv... it was running on battery till it died

[JohnD10]

Check the circuit panel inside your RV for any tripped breakers.

Also, turn off everything that was on, like the electric water heater, coffee maker, unplug that hair dryer...then try resetting the GFIA.

You really can only run one thing at a time like that (hair dryer) on that circuit.

No electric heaters, toasters, coffee makers, microwaves, electric water heater, hair dryers...only one of these at a time!

[cavie]

Originally Posted by Gabowhuntet

I'm in a campground...power pole not tripped...no power at all to rv... it was running on battery till it died

Your Main breaker is tripped. You didn't answer my question about what size service you have but since you say "no power to all RV". I have to assume 30 amp.


Check your 30 amp main breaker in your power panel in the rig. Turn it off All the breakers then on. Especially the 30 amp one labeled MAIN. If that doesn't work go to the Ped and turn that off then on. If that doesn't work get out your multi-meter out which you should have and know how to use.

[TitanMike]

My vote is for tripped main breaker IN the the RV's power distribution panel.

Hair dryer, water heater, converter/battery charger, all can add up quickly to the max capacity of 3600 watts (30 amp) and trip that breaker even though individual breakers don't.

Only other possibility is a wire coming loose at the power inlet connector which is rare, but possible due to someone at the factory leaving it loose.

Open the power distribution panel and check circuit breakers. A tripped breaker will be slightly out of line with the others. Turn it off and then back on.

[Gabowhuntet]

Originally Posted by JohnD10

Check the circuit panel inside your RV for any tripped breakers.

Also, turn off everything that was on, like the electric water heater, coffee maker, unplug that hair dryer...then try resetting the GFIA.

You really can only run one thing at a time like that (hair dryer) on that circuit.

No electric heaters, toasters, coffee makers, microwaves, electric water heater, hair dryers...only one of these at a time!

I checked all circuit breakers none are tripped...nothing plug in...still no power

[dalford]

Time to get the campground owner out to check your pedestal power...

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by Gabowhuntet

I checked all circuit breakers none are tripped...nothing plug in...still no power

If you have a multi-meter and know how to use it, check the campground power pedestal to see if your 30a outlet (or 50a - we still aren't sure) has power. If not, do what was suggested above - have the campground check your power pedestal.

[cavie]

If your gonna come here looking for answers you will have to answer our questions. We are at home 100's of miles away trying to vision something we can't see and are not getting needed information.

Ask someone in the park for help. See if anybody has a multi-meter and start at the Ped and work you way back to the trailer panel. Just saying nothing is tripped is not gonna get it. Did you turn all the breakers off and on as asked?

[Gabowhuntet]

RV is a 30 amp...its plugged into a 50 amp outlet

[Gabowhuntet]

Originally Posted by cavie

If your gonna come here looking for answers you will have to answer our questions. We are at home 100's of miles away trying to vision something we can't see and are not getting needed information.

Ask someone in the park for help. See if anybody has a multi-meter and start at the Ped and work you way back to the trailer panel. Just saying nothing is tripped is not gonna get it. Did you turn all the breakers off and on as asked?

Yes..I toggled all circuit breakers in RV and the pole for site...still nothing...going to buy a multimeter now to trace it out

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Gabowhuntet

Yes..I toggled all circuit breakers in RV and the pole for site...still nothing...going to buy a multimeter now to trace it out

If you find you have power at the cord where it connects to the side of the RV, but no power at the main bus in the power panel inside (120V side), find the back side of the power inlet receptacle and give the wires a tug. If properly connected nothing will happen. If not, you'll end up pulling one or both of the wires out of the connectors on the receptacle. Easiest way to access the back of the receptacle is to just remove it from the outside of the RV and pull out. There is usually a foot of so of slack on the wires.

This assumes that you have a twist lock connector on your power cord where it goes into the RV. If you have a permanently connected cord, check the junction box where the cord meets the RV wiring. Loose connection possible there too.

If you have NO power to ANY 120V powered item, focus on wiring between connection at power panel and plug on power cord at pedestal. Could even be a bad cord so check for power at the end of the cord when plugged into the pedestal.

I know this sounds pretty basic/simple but often these are the things overlooked because they are too simple.

[DASchell]

I had a similar condition with the TV/Microwave 110 Volt circuit. Breakers not tripped , power at pedestal good etc. Pulled cover to RV Main Distribution Power Panel in bedroom and discovered this on the neutral side. Very dangerous as it could have started a fire.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by DASchell

I had a similar condition with the TV/Microwave 110 Volt circuit. Breakers not tripped , power at pedestal good etc. Pulled cover to RV Main Distribution Power Panel in bedroom and discovered this on the neutral side. Very dangerous as it could have started a fire.

Your picture illustrates why it's a good idea to recheck the connections at least once a year on an RV. Just like a power panel in the home they are subjected to heat/cool cycles which causes the conductor and connector to expand and contract. Sure, they are designed to compensate for this but that's all dependent on the installer doing his job correctly to begin with. With an RV it's aggravated by a) the installer not usually as well trained as a residential electrician; b) normal vibration present as an RV drives down the road.

Usually the hardest part of the job in an RV is to find the panel that might either be hidden or located in a place that requires one to be 18" tall or stand on your head to see.

[CHICKDOE]

do you by chance have an EMS in the power cord between the pedestal and the trailer? if so, is it giving any errors? have the campground test the power output from the pedestal to eliminate that. you said you are 30 amp plugged into a 50 amp pedestal receptacle. what happens if you plug your cord into the pedestal 30 amp receptacle (assuming there is one)?