HELP! Electrical not working!

jerwilson · 05-19-2017, 09:25 AM

We are trying to leave for our maiden voyage and already have problems! I had our new FR Salem 31kqbts stored for a few day and disconnected the batteries so they wouldn't die. Hooked them back up and brought it to the house to load. I connected to my house power and the big stuff won't come on(AC, microwave,fridge) and my battery is already showing almost empty after only 30 minutes!!! What do I do??? Thanks in advance for your help!! -Jeremy Charleston, SC

5picker · 05-19-2017, 09:27 AM

Tell us a little more how you have it connected to your house power.
Is your unit 30 amps or 50 amps?

jerwilson · 05-19-2017, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5picker

Tell us a little more how you have it connected to your house power.
Is your unit 30 amps or 50 amps?

It's a 30 amp and I have it connected straight to the house.

**wmtire** · 05-19-2017, 09:32 AM

Are you sure you reconnected the batteries correct. If you reversed the cables, even for a sec, you most likely blew what are called the reverse polarity fuse(s) to your converter.

This is a safeguard, to protect the converter in case of ruining it with reversed battery cables.

The converter is what powers the 12 volt DC stuff when connected to shore power, as well as functions as a battery recharger. If the fuses are blown to it, then once the battery depletes, none of the 12 volt stuff is going to work.

5picker · 05-19-2017, 09:34 AM

Do you have a 30 amp R/V outlet at your house or are you using an adapter?
Have you checked at the breaker/distribution box (inside the camper) for power with a meter? Do you have power at any of the outlets?
Did you by chance reconnect the battery(ies) incorrectly (even for an instant) when you hooked them back up?

**wmtire** · 05-19-2017, 09:35 AM

You say it is 30 amp and connected to your house. How are you connected. What kind of outlet are you plugged into. Are you using any kind of adapter.

You are not plugged into a 240 volt 30 amp appliance outlet by chance?

With your 12 volt and 120 volt stuff not working, I have a bad feeling what has happened, and what you plugged into.

If you had someone wire a 30 amp outlet for you, did they make it 120 volts or 240 volts. If 240, you just fried your converter, and possibly your television, and microwave.

EricE · 05-19-2017, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerwilson

It's a 30 amp and I have it connected straight to the house.

Connected to a normal house plug (15amps)? That will run the microwave but not the AC. Still, should run any lights and such.

kenandterry · 05-19-2017, 09:35 AM

What do you mean "I have it connected straight to the house"?

Do you have a 30amp connector installed at your house?
Has it worked before?
Was it professionally installed by an electrician?
Any breakers tripped at your panel in your Salem?

5picker · 05-19-2017, 09:38 AM

I'll ask again... do ANY of the outlets work and have you checked for voltage at the breaker/distribution box? Or even where the shore power attaches to the trailer?

**wmtire** · 05-19-2017, 09:41 AM

Please, immediately check the circuit breaker inside your house that powers the outlet you are connected to with your RV.

See if it's tripped. Also see if it's a single pole or double pole breaker. That will tell us what we need to know...and can troubleshoot from that point towards the RV.

donniedu · 05-19-2017, 09:44 AM

GET A VOLT METER AND LEARN TO USE IT!
Yes, Im yelling. This is pretty basic stuff. If your plugged into an outside outlet it will be GFCI protected. Find it and see if it is tripped.

jerwilson · 05-19-2017, 09:45 AM

Well, I figured it out for now. The two outlets on my front porch for some reason do not have power to them so I moved the cord into the house and it works fine. I shut the AC off so I didn't try to use too much power. Not sure why my two front porch outlets aren't working, they were the other day when I had the RV plugged into it.

**Mr. Dan** · 05-19-2017, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerwilson

Well, I figured it out for now. The two outlets on my front porch for some reason do not have power to them so I moved the cord into the house and it works fine. I shut the AC off so I didn't try to use too much power. Not sure why my two front porch outlets aren't working, they were the other day when I had the RV plugged into it.

Your front porch outlets are probably protected by a GFCI outlet. Find that and reset it.

EricE · 05-19-2017, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerwilson

Well, I figured it out for now. The two outlets on my front porch for some reason do not have power to them so I moved the cord into the house and it works fine. I shut the AC off so I didn't try to use too much power. Not sure why my two front porch outlets aren't working, they were the other day when I had the RV plugged into it.

They flipped the GFI or breaker because you tried to run the AC, and other high utilization stuff on 15amps. You can't do that.

5picker · 05-19-2017, 09:55 AM

You probably had the AC on that day too. It pulled too many amps and kicked the breaker in your house or tripped the GFCI that protects them. Check at your house breaker box for a tripped breaker. You may have to throw them off and back on as some breakers when they trip don't show it easily. If the outlets are GFCI protected you'll need to reset the outlet that protects the porch outlets.

Also when using a 'house' outlet to power your trailer... most don't play well with plugging them into a GFCI protected outlet because your trailer has a couple of GFCI outlets in it and they can work against each other.

As mentioned... get a multi-meter and learn to use it.
That should have been the first thing you did to check for power long before posting here for help.

**wmtire** · 05-19-2017, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerwilson

Well, I figured it out for now. The two outlets on my front porch for some reason do not have power to them so I moved the cord into the house and it works fine. I shut the AC off so I didn't try to use too much power. Not sure why my two front porch outlets aren't working, they were the other day when I had the RV plugged into it.

Glad you got it figured out.

Most likely you overloaded the circuit. As I asked above, go to your houses electrical distribution box and check the circuit breakers for a tripped one that powers the outlets on your porch.

Here are a couple of good articles I usually recommend to newer forum members. You may want to book mark them and read at your leisure:

Basic electric:

Basic RV Electricity - RV Information (RV Maintenance)

RV Electric

Your very important converter:

RV Converters and Amp Draw - RV Information (RV Maintenance)

Suburban water heater (if applicable to your RV):

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...tml#post327988

Refilling propane cylinders (if applicable)

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ng-133760.html

and last but certainly not least..... welcome to the forums. As you see, everyone is eager to help a fellow Rv'er in need.

jerwilson · 05-19-2017, 10:15 AM

Thanks everyone! I can't believe I got all these helpful replies in about 15 minutes! You guys rock!!!

muddyrode · 05-22-2017, 07:53 AM

You may need to get a meter to trouble shoot.
after getting our new unit i hook it up to the power as i have a 50 amp feed on my machine shed for yard use it worked fine at first, i then lost all shore power inside the unit,
upon testing i found that i only had power on one leg inside the unit
so upon troubleshooting this is what i found

Not sure if this was Monday morning or a Friday afternoon build or somebody took the day off so a fill tried to do the job
but this could have ended bad
i,m glad it was bad enough that it failed completely to be able to find

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