|
05-15-2013, 09:36 AM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 21
|
Another Electrical question (SOLVED)
We went out this weekend with our new 2306 minilite it was 33 degrees out! We had an electric heater, electric water heater, the refrigerator and 5 interior lights on. When we ran the water (12v) water pump, the interior lights dimmed . Is this normal?
Thanks,
RKE
|
|
|
05-15-2013, 09:41 AM
|
#2
|
Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rke
We went out this weekend with our new 2306 minilite it was 33 degrees out! We had an electric heater, electric water heater, the refrigerator and 5 interior lights on. When we ran the water (12v) water pump, the interior lights dimmed . Is this normal?
Thanks,
RKE
|
How many amp converter do you have?
A 45 amp may allow lights to dim some.
Turbs
|
|
|
05-15-2013, 10:37 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: X
Posts: 2,781
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rke
We went out this weekend with our new 2306 minilite it was 33 degrees out! We had an electric heater, electric water heater, the refrigerator and 5 interior lights on. When we ran the water (12v) water pump, the interior lights dimmed . Is this normal?
Thanks,
RKE
|
First, of all those things you listed, only the water pump and lights are really on the 12v circuit (fridge draws a little from it).
The answer to your question is probably "yes, it's normal", but it really depends on how much they dimmed. The water pump draws quite a bit of current (for the short time it is on). That's always going to cause some drop in the voltage, which you'll see as dimmed lights.
|
|
|
05-15-2013, 11:00 AM
|
#4
|
Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
|
|
|
|
05-15-2013, 02:39 PM
|
#5
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 21
|
I was plugged into the campground 120v 30amp outlet. the lights dimmed half their brightness.
|
|
|
05-15-2013, 02:42 PM
|
#6
|
Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rke
I was plugged into the campground 120v 30amp outlet. the lights dimmed half their brightness.
|
Did you check park power?
Have you tried it at home?
Is your mini light new ? Or new to you?
Turbs
|
|
|
05-15-2013, 02:49 PM
|
#7
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 21
|
I did not check the park power, My fathers motor home had no problems with their power which was the next power pole. he had more electric running than I did.
I have not tried all components at the home yet, I will check tonight.
It is a 2013.
|
|
|
05-15-2013, 02:54 PM
|
#8
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 21
|
I am not sure the size of the converter. it is what was installed from the factory. I think it is a 55 amp converter.
|
|
|
05-15-2013, 02:54 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Eastern Ontario
Posts: 4,167
|
If you have a multimeter, check your battery voltage with all 12 volts off and then load system by putting lights on, water pump etc and check voltage at the battery again. If your battery is good and converter working properly, voltage reading should stay above 12 volts.
__________________
Fonzie
2011 Rockwood 8319SS with ProPride 3P hitch/GoodYear Marathons/TST TPMS 507
2019 F350 Ruby Red 6.7l diesel 3.31 axle electronic locker
Yamaha 3000iseb generator:Progressive Ind. EMS-HW30C : Eastern Ontario
Nights Camped: 2014 (18) 2015 (18) 2016 (36) 2017 (32) 2018 (42) 2019 (28) 2020 (35)
|
|
|
05-15-2013, 03:00 PM
|
#10
|
Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rke
I did not check the park power, My fathers motor home had no problems with their power which was the next power pole. he had more electric running than I did.
I have not tried all components at the home yet, I will check tonight.
It is a 2013.
|
Fathers motor home was most likely 50 amp which may have made a difference.
Where you were plugged into 30 amp.
Do as fonzie asked and see where ur at.
Its under warranty but it'd be nice to know before you hauled it in.
Turbs
|
|
|
05-15-2013, 03:52 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: X
Posts: 2,781
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by f1100turbo
Fathers motor home was most likely 50 amp which may have made a difference.
Where you were plugged into 30 amp.
|
Sorry, but I must disagree. The converter is going to try to maintain a fairly constant voltage independent of the incoming line (120) voltage, so I don't think a lower input voltage would have much effect.
If they're dimming by half, something is wrong.
The Fonz is The Man. If the converter is working right, voltage should stay well above 12v (like 13) with the little bit of load you had on it.
|
|
|
05-15-2013, 06:57 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rke
We went out this weekend with our new 2306 minilite it was 33 degrees out! We had an electric heater, electric water heater, the refrigerator and 5 interior lights on. When we ran the water (12v) water pump, the interior lights dimmed . Is this normal?
Thanks,
RKE
|
I agree with the others except one item. If the battery is up to snuff its wired in parallel with the converter. There's no way it would have that much voltage drop if its in good shape, charged with tight connections. I would start at the battery both positive and neg. connections, through circuit breakers and the power center. Somewhere you're getting a serious voltage drop. The converter may be 55 amps on a good day, the battery is good for 350 amps on short term basis. Sounds as though the frame connections may be faulty.
|
|
|
05-16-2013, 09:17 AM
|
#13
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 21
|
Last night I checked the electric heater and the power cord coating inside the unit was melted and the wire itself was in two pieces. I think this must be the issue, but I will check tonight after work. The heater is only a few years old, so I did not think that would have been the problem, we'll see tonight. I will load the circuits and see if I get the same results I had at the campground. Thank you everyone for the input, it is appreciated.
|
|
|
05-16-2013, 09:22 AM
|
#14
|
Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rke
I was plugged into the campground 120v 30amp outlet. the lights dimmed half their brightness.
|
I am thinking a bad or corroded ground. Check at or near the battery for the ground screw that is attached to the frame. Corrosion there will increase in resistance as the current demand increases. This will reduce the voltage downstream to the lights.
This will be true regardless of which source (battery or converter) is delivering the power.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
|
|
|
05-16-2013, 12:03 PM
|
#15
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,607
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rke
Last night I checked the electric heater and the power cord coating inside the unit was melted and the wire itself was in two pieces. I think this must be the issue, but I will check tonight after work. The heater is only a few years old, so I did not think that would have been the problem, we'll see tonight. I will load the circuits and see if I get the same results I had at the campground. Thank you everyone for the input, it is appreciated.
|
are you talking about a separate electric heater, that you brought into the trailer, or are you talking about the electric side of the water heater?
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
|
|
|
05-16-2013, 02:48 PM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rke
Last night I checked the electric heater and the power cord coating inside the unit was melted and the wire itself was in two pieces. I think this must be the issue, but I will check tonight after work. The heater is only a few years old, so I did not think that would have been the problem, we'll see tonight. I will load the circuits and see if I get the same results I had at the campground. Thank you everyone for the input, it is appreciated.
|
Lucky there was no fire! Seems like the branch breaker (AC) was defective, should have opened long before......
|
|
|
05-16-2013, 03:51 PM
|
#17
|
Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
|
I stand corrected:
What the Captain meant to say is the voltage lost across the a corroded screw/ground connection would increase as the DC current demand increased. (not the resistance which would be fixed at whatever it turned out to be!)
V=IR If R is fixed (the corrosion), voltage (V) would drop as current (I) increased. Turning on more lights in this case would make the other lights dim as more were turned on.
Moot point now as it turns out.
Glad the OP figured out his problem.
Herk
(Thanks Barry!)
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
|
|
|
05-17-2013, 09:14 AM
|
#18
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 21
|
A space heater was the culprit
Last night I went in the travel trailer and loaded the circuits with every electrical appliance (every light, refrig, electric water heater element, fantastic fan, radio, and our older electrical space heater) to simulate the same loads I had at the campground. Once everything was on I ran the water to activate the water pump. No lights dimmed! Our new electric space heater was the problem. The trailer electrical is fine. I spoke with the manufacturer of the space heater and we will be receiving a new one. They want mine to see if this is an isolated problem or more wide spread. thanks to everyone's input.
RKE
|
|
|
05-17-2013, 01:07 PM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Mooresville, Indiana
Posts: 187
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rke
Last night I went in the travel trailer and loaded the circuits with every electrical appliance (every light, refrig, electric water heater element, fantastic fan, radio, and our older electrical space heater) to simulate the same loads I had at the campground. Once everything was on I ran the water to activate the water pump. No lights dimmed! Our new electric space heater was the problem. The trailer electrical is fine. I spoke with the manufacturer of the space heater and we will be receiving a new one. They want mine to see if this is an isolated problem or more wide spread. thanks to everyone's input.
RKE
|
Awesome, aren't the ppl on this site great? Space heaters demand/consume a lot of power, I have one in my hauler but I watch it very closely when powered up! Glad your back in business, happy camping
__________________
2010 GMC SIERRA
2012 GREY WOLF 25RR
2012 campouts: 42
2013 campouts:1
|
|
|
05-17-2013, 01:28 PM
|
#20
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rke
Last night I went in the travel trailer and loaded the circuits with every electrical appliance (every light, refrig, electric water heater element, fantastic fan, radio, and our older electrical space heater) to simulate the same loads I had at the campground. Once everything was on I ran the water to activate the water pump. No lights dimmed! Our new electric space heater was the problem. The trailer electrical is fine. I spoke with the manufacturer of the space heater and we will be receiving a new one. They want mine to see if this is an isolated problem or more wide spread. thanks to everyone's input.
RKE
|
Don't wish to harp on this but here' s a 2nd situ where your main 30 amp breaker maybe should have opened under excess load. Two heaters and water heater together shoud be close to 30 amps, with the converter all those loads its maybe 8-11 more amps A/C- you're over! It should have opened when the cord melted also. They are 15 bucks could be a good investment if condition is questionable.
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|