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12-28-2016, 04:53 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6
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Air Cond surge - dim lights ?
2013 Berkshire. Main living area issue with air conditioning.. ... comes on and works fine for 30-40 seconds then powers down low (doesn't shut off) and lights go dim for about 4-5 seconds. This just repeats over and over. Makes me nervous so I just shut it down. Anyone have any ideas what would cause this?
Thanks,
Marilyn
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12-28-2016, 04:58 PM
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#2
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Georgia Rally Coordinator
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: GA
Posts: 24,457
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How about a little more info as to what you are using for power. Gen or shore power. Later RJD
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12-28-2016, 05:07 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6
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Sorry.... on 50amp plugged in to rv park electric. Been here several months. No other appliances on other than lights
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12-28-2016, 05:47 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FreeBird
2013 Berkshire. Main living area issue with air conditioning.. ... comes on and works fine for 30-40 seconds then powers down low (doesn't shut off) and lights go dim for about 4-5 seconds. This just repeats over and over. Makes me nervous so I just shut it down. Anyone have any ideas what would cause this?
Thanks,
Marilyn
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It's normal the voltage drops for a short time when a large load is applied. In this case sounds as though it's excessive if the converter input"AC" and output "D.C." Both drop even with batteries on line?
My first guess would be the air cond compressor draws excess AC current on start up. This can be confirmed using a multimeter watching voltage to any AC receptacle while starting the a/c unit.
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12-28-2016, 06:09 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Long Island (Nassau County), NY
Posts: 4,352
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Do you have a surge supressor like a Progressive? If so, it could be detecting a problem with the campground pedestal you are plugged into or their power supply. I have had this happen at several campgrounds where the surge supressor will shut the power down because it detected a low voltage condition. It would then cycle on for a short time until there is another power draw.
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Tom and Margaret
2014 Berkshire 390bh-60
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12-28-2016, 06:57 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Whereever our Berkshire is Parked!
Posts: 7,082
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tmmar
Do you have a surge supressor like a Progressive? If so, it could be detecting a problem with the campground pedestal you are plugged into or their power supply. I have had this happen at several campgrounds where the surge supressor will shut the power down because it detected a low voltage condition. It would then cycle on for a short time until there is another power draw.
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X2 - are you using a EMS? Also I recommend a Hughs Autoformer - this should take care of all your power problems!
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Bob & Anne-Marie [BamaBob & 6 Actual]
| 2017 Berkshire XLT 43A with Ultrasteer Tag | Blue Ox Avail + KarGard II |
| SMI AF-1 Air Brake | 2016 Jeep Cherokee Overland TOAD | Pedego Bikes |
Nights Camped: 2013 - 24 • 2014 - 42 • 2015 - 56 • Jul 2016 - Fulltime •
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12-28-2016, 10:05 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6
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Yes we have a surge protector between the campground plug in and our Rv plug. No problem there. We have had this diesel pusher Rv since 2013. Bought it new It's like the air conditioner is trying to work but gets some kind of interruption then tries again. Over and over about every 30-45 seconds. It is blowing cold air. It's the lights dimming that freaked me out which is why I shut it down. Cool weather right now thank goodness. Not looking forward to another trip to the shop.
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12-28-2016, 10:20 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Dade City Florida
Posts: 557
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Check the plug at the pedestal. If you can, safely tighten the connections in the power box. Look for a bad connection on the input terminals. A bad connection could also be in the pedestal or further back in the distribution system.
Or, the compressor is trying to start without timing out...allowing the system to decompress. This condition will pull excessive amps normally tripping the circuit breaker.
The dimming of lights indicate a low voltage situation. Everything above will cause low voltage.
One last thing, an arcing (bad) connection is a Fire Hazard.
Just my thoughts.
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12-29-2016, 03:13 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,270
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BamaBob
X2 - are you using a EMS? Also I recommend a Hughs Autoformer - this should take care of all your power problems!
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A lot or people do not like the idea of floating the cabbage for both of those but IMO they both should be purchased before a sewer hose or anything else. Replacing your AC or converter is much more expensive than pooping your pants. Park power, either private or public is a crap shoot 95% of the time. Typically the older the system, which is easy to determine as all you have to do is look at the pedestals and such to tell, is going to have more electrical issues. It usually changes with the occupancy rate. It's only going to get worse as public facilities spend money on stupid crap before infrastructure, and private places would rather put in water slides or bingo halls.
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12-29-2016, 03:42 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Whereever our Berkshire is Parked!
Posts: 7,082
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Havercamp
A lot or people do not like the idea of floating the cabbage for both of those but IMO they both should be purchased before a sewer hose or anything else. Replacing your AC or converter is much more expensive than pooping your pants. Park power, either private or public is a crap shoot 95% of the time. Typically the older the system, which is easy to determine as all you have to do is look at the pedestals and such to tell, is going to have more electrical issues. It usually changes with the occupancy rate. It's only going to get worse as public facilities spend money on stupid crap before infrastructure, and private places would rather put in water slides or bingo halls.
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OMG you are FUNNY
I love reading your posts!
Oh and X2 -- even my fancy-schmanzy $150 WasteMaster is a 10th the price of a replacement 15K A/C with heatpump!
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Bob & Anne-Marie [BamaBob & 6 Actual]
| 2017 Berkshire XLT 43A with Ultrasteer Tag | Blue Ox Avail + KarGard II |
| SMI AF-1 Air Brake | 2016 Jeep Cherokee Overland TOAD | Pedego Bikes |
Nights Camped: 2013 - 24 • 2014 - 42 • 2015 - 56 • Jul 2016 - Fulltime •
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12-29-2016, 04:01 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,916
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X2... on our maiden voyage home....no EMS found 2 bad pedestals in 4 parks....not too good of odds. One sizzled when I plugged in and one only lit up one light on power cable. I talked to Jesus a lot when connecting.
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12-29-2016, 06:56 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: California
Posts: 138
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Try running generator and see if the same thing happens that should let you know if problem is internal power problem or external. Then go from there. Just a thought.
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12-29-2016, 07:27 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,275
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It seems to me when the AC come on, first its fan only, then the compressor and large load starts. But, if this causes DC lights to dim; if they are not AC lights, the battery must be low as well. It sounds like they are depending on the converter. More info needed.
WW
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12-29-2016, 07:30 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10,833
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Two things to check,
Battery disconnect switch turned on, this would mean you converter is dropped and causing the dim lights.
Second thing is a bad connection somewhere, check you power plug and as others have mentioned check with generator running. This will isolate the fault to possible power source issue.
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12-29-2016, 09:01 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 119
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Freebird - it sounds like the compressor is going off on thermal overload due to it not being able to start. Put a hard start on it and it may work as I am assuming all was working well prior to this , as you have been on site for awhile.
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12-29-2016, 10:30 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Danesville
Freebird - it sounds like the compressor is going off on thermal overload due to it not being able to start. Put a hard start on it and it may work as I am assuming all was working well prior to this , as you have been on site for awhile.
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Freebird unless you are going on the roof to troubleshoot this machine, we (the above post) agree the trouble is probably with the compressor it means the machine is most likely beyond economical repair. You can get a Refrig repair man to come out to confirm this and the call will be part of the repair/ replace cost. If it is salvageable. Need to ask yourself what's next.
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12-29-2016, 11:06 PM
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#17
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Dragonship Captain
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Eastern PA, USA
Posts: 1,335
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No one has used the word "capacitor" yet......
Compressors/motors that have to reach deep to (just) fire up may have capacitors that are not helping enough.....
They are cheap and easy to replace, so if that is your problem you'll be in luck.
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12-30-2016, 03:33 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,275
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x2 on #17. Don't spend money until the problem is found if not you, then a pro.
Findng a pro, well that is another matter
WW
__________________
Hyper Lite was sold
2017 F-250 4x4 6.2L Gas
I can't fix everything, but I can make it so nobody else can
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12-30-2016, 10:03 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Southwestern Mi
Posts: 1,242
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FreeBird
2013 Berkshire. Main living area issue with air conditioning.. ... comes on and works fine for 30-40 seconds then powers down low (doesn't shut off) and lights go dim for about 4-5 seconds. This just repeats over and over. Makes me nervous so I just shut it down. Anyone have any ideas what would cause this?
Thanks,
Marilyn
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Just that a/c unit or the one in the bedroom as well? If it is only the one a/c unit having that issue, I think you can pretty much find the problem there.
Rich
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