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Old 05-19-2014, 10:33 PM   #1
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Strange Electrical Problem

We were out camping this weekend and had problems with the shore power. I plugged into the pedestal and turned the breaker on and it kept tripping, went inside the unit and turned all of the breakers of in the power center. The pedestal breaker was still tripping, I tried a different pedestal and the same thing. So I thought maybe the cable running through the camper had shorted out, so I bypassed that and connected directing to the power center with an extension cord, same results. Finally with enough tinkering the pedestal breaker would only trip when there was a load, but not any of the breakers in the power center. So we just ran on batteries all weekend. When I got home I plugged the camper into the house to start troubleshooting the problem, and everything is working fine. Anyone run into this type of problem?
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Old 05-20-2014, 05:22 AM   #2
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It's possible there was something wrong at the campground instead of your RV.

Were you able to use a multimeter on their connections or have any kind of surge suppressor with built in diagnostics?

Are you using 30 amps or 50 amps (which just looking at your avatar, I am assuming 50).

Did you use any kind of electrical adapter (50 to 30 amp, etc) at the campground and/or your house?
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Old 05-20-2014, 08:09 AM   #3
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Unfortunately I didn't have my multi-meter with me, I couldn't check the incoming power.
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Old 05-20-2014, 08:30 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HookMeUp View Post
Unfortunately I didn't have my multi-meter with me, I couldn't check the incoming power.
Hopefully lesson learned. I have found MANY bad campground power problems. A GOOD or better power conditioner tester is mandatory IMO.

Not having any method of testing your power before connecting your camper is like walking through a minefield barefoot. Odds are before long you will find a mine.
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Old 05-20-2014, 08:41 AM   #5
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Hey I got a good pic to.
Stolen of course from another member.

BTW imo a multi meter is the single most needed tool in the camper.



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Old 05-20-2014, 08:59 PM   #6
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Yes lesson learned.

I do have a multi-meter that take with me, but as it was the first trip of the season, several items got left behind.

Camping world has their Surge Guards on sale for $90 off, I think now would be a good time to buy one.
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Old 05-20-2014, 09:02 PM   #7
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This is what I use. If you call him, mention the forum.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ers-26202.html
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Old 05-20-2014, 09:04 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by HookMeUp View Post
Yes lesson learned.

I do have a multi-meter that take with me, but as it was the first trip of the season, several items got left behind.

Camping world has their Surge Guards on sale for $90 off, I think now would be a good time to buy one.
I'd recommend a progressive industries unit.
Lifetime warranty and made in the USA!

I installed the hardwired unit and haven't looked back.

No need to even check the power pole now as the ems by progressive industries won't allow current thru if there's a problem.

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Old 05-20-2014, 10:46 PM   #9
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The camp site could have had a gfci or arc fault breakers. This would explain the weird tripping.
Gfci trips with hot bleeding to ground
Arc fault trips when it sees an bad sine waves.

Proper check with meter 50 amp
1. Check between the hots should get a reading between 208-240 (this would be 1 test reading)
2. Check from each hot to outlet ground and natural should get 120 (this would be 4 different test reading)
3. Check from natural to outlet ground and box ground (if metal) should get 0 on these reading. If you get a voltage there is a bleeding voltage issue on the system.

Checking 30 amp
1. Check from hot to natural and outlet ground should get 120 (2 test reading)
2. Same as step 3 above.

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