Need help! (miswired outlet)

[Martman]

So I brought my camper home to open it up for our first trip of the season next weekend, I just had an electrician add a 30 amp plug to my service at home to make it easier to get the camper ready for our trip rather than plugging into a 110 outlet but as I plugged my camper in I heard a pop at the camper and now I have no power! The main breaker in the camper was not tripped nor was the breaker in the panel for the house. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions on where to start?

[nomad297]

You better check the voltage at your new outlet. Chances are, it is wired for 220. Hopefully not, though.

Bruce

[mikeyk101]

My guess is that it was wired wrong. It was probably wired up as a 30a appliance instead of for 30a RV power. I don't remember where I got this from but it may help.

[Martman]

I plugger it into 110 and put my tester on it and have power all the way to my main panel in the camper. All the outlets are working, microwave is on powered theater seats on but that’s it. I did disconnect the battery so I didn’t get the illusion that something was hot but just running off the battery.

[D W]

If your power cord fit into the receptacle that the electrician installed then it's assumed that he installed the correct NEMA 30TT receptacle. I'd be willing to bet that the electrician didn't follow the correct installation instructions and miss-wired it as a 220V. The NEMA 30TT receptacle is clearly marked "125 VAC - 30A MAX". If you post a picture of the breaker that the receptacle is wired to, we can tell for sure.

[Herk7769]

That outlet was most likely wired incorrectly and you have 220 there and not 110.

Putting 220 across your panel will kill anything that was turned on when you applied power. That means your converter for sure and maybe your TV and/or air conditioner.

Your converter will almost always be killed unless you were very lucky.

Hope your electrician is insured.

[wmtire]

Your electrician may have incorrectly wired your new 30 amp outlet for 240 volts. This happens a lot (we have many many threads on this) and when it does, that pop you heard was your converter.



Do not reconnect to that 30 amp outlet until some things are confirmed.


Please read this thread below, and how to check to see if it is wired incorrectly for 240 volts....as per post #3 in that thread


https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...let-27223.html


EDIT: It appears Herk and I were posting at the same time. LOL

[Martman]

[wmtire]

Yep, it's wired for 240 volts. That's a double pole breaker. Get your electrician back out, as he's done damage now. Tell him to read the face of the NEMA TT-30 Receptacle he put in. It's in print that it's 125 volts only. Bad stuff


You will need a new converter. The microwave, televisions, electric fireplaces, fridge control boards could need replacing, but they are hit and miss. They may or may not be damaged.

[Herk7769]

The correct way of stating house voltages are 240 and 120.

220 and 110 are also in common use among folks who are NOT electricians (like me).

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Martman

Attachment 254609
Attachment 254610

My deepest condolences.
We see that far too often here.

[Martman]

So do I need a new converter? I’m at a loss of what to do or where to begin with repairing the camper.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Martman

So do I need a new converter? I’m at a loss of what to do or where to begin with repairing the camper.

Well the first step is contacting the electrician and have him come over and repair the wiring. He also needs to take responsibility for the damage to your camper. Get it in writing that he will take responsibility.

Then take it to a dealer and get a quote for the camper repair. Make sure they check out ALL 120 volt items (converter, TV(s), air conditioner, and microwave).

Once you know the estimated repair costs, then file with your electrician's insurance.

Once you get the check, then come back here to see if a DIY repair is possible with your skill level; if not, let the dealer fix it.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Martman

So do I need a new converter? I’m at a loss of what to do or where to begin with repairing the camper.

I've been involved forum wise, with many members who have had this happen. The converter always gave up the ghost when this happened, so you will definitely need a new one there. That was the pop you heard most likely. As I stated earlier, the other 120 volt things may or may not be damaged.


If you paid an electrician to do this, they are liable for this. You do want to contact them and explain what they did, and see what they want to do.


DO NOT reconnect to this outlet until it is correctly wired and connected to a single pole 30 amp circuit breaker. As I also stated previously, the outlet itself has 125 volts stamped on it. A professional should catch this, but sadly, some don't...and do damage. You can also print out that pdf file in the previous link I posted to. It explains how to properly wire a NEMA TT-30R.


Your outlet. Notice the 125 volts molded on it?

[D W]

Originally Posted by Martman

So do I need a new converter? I’m at a loss of what to do or where to begin with repairing the camper.

Get your electrician back out there and point out what's circled on this pic. Have him wire it correctly and while he's there do a check on the electrical items in you rig. He should have insurance to cover his "malpractice".

[Martman]

Here is the problem. The electrician was a friend of a friend that did the work under the table cash job! I’ll have him fix the wiring but not sure about repairs to the camper. Im a very mechanically inclined person so I can handle repairs on my own and I already have the camper panel box and converter out and the converter appears to look good not like the photos above at all. Also when I plugged my battery in everything in the camper worked with the exception of the fireplace. That being said in your opinions should I replace the converter? Not sure how to test it to see if good or not. It does plug into the back of the camper panel do you think I could plug it into an extension cord to see if it functions or not. Just don’t want to do any more damage than what’s already done!

[Martman]

Originally Posted by Martman

Here is the problem. The electrician was a friend of a friend that did the work under the table cash job! I’ll have him fix the wiring but not sure about repairs to the camper. Im a very mechanically inclined person so I can handle repairs on my own and I already have the camper panel box and converter out and the converter appears to look good not like the photos above at all. Also when I plugged my battery in everything in the camper worked with the exception of the fireplace. That being said in your opinions should I replace the converter? Not sure how to test it to see if good or not. It does plug into the back of the camper panel do you think I could plug it into an extension cord to see if it functions or not. Just don’t want to do any more damage than what’s already done!

[Herk7769]

Can you work with a Volt/Ohm Meter?

With power on the camper (from the 120 outlet not the new one), measure the voltage on the red and white wires that are together. If the output is 13 volts or more you dodged an expensive bullet. If nothing or less than 13 volts it is bad.

Turn off everything that is 120 volts and try your air conditioner; see if the compressor comes on and blows cold air. If it does you are golden; if not you need an air conditioner.

Turn on your TVs and make sure they boot up and play. Check your HDMI inputs for damage my plugging in an HDMI source like a disc player and see if the TV will recognize it and play a disc.

Turn on the microwave and heat up a cup of water. See if it gets hot. If not your magnetron is shot.

Turn on the fireplace and see if it heats up. Try and select different heat settings.

If everything works I will be shocked, but that would be awesome news for you.

At least you will know where you stand.

Good luck.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Martman

Here is the problem. The electrician was a friend of a friend that did the work under the table cash job! I’ll have him fix the wiring but not sure about repairs to the camper. Im a very mechanically inclined person so I can handle repairs on my own and I already have the camper panel box and converter out and the converter appears to look good not like the photos above at all. Also when I plugged my battery in everything in the camper worked with the exception of the fireplace. That being said in your opinions should I replace the converter? Not sure how to test it to see if good or not. It does plug into the back of the camper panel do you think I could plug it into an extension cord to see if it functions or not. Just don’t want to do any more damage than what’s already done!

Well, that's a bummer.....so it sounds like it's coming out of your pocket then.


As I stated, I have been involved with many members who have had this happen. I don't recall any of them getting by without replacing the converter.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

Can you work with a Volt/Ohm Meter?

With power on the camper (from the 120 outlet not the new one), measure the voltage on the red and white wires that are together. If the output is 13 volts or more you dodged an expensive bullet. If nothing or less than 13 volts it is bad.

Turn off everything that is 120 volts and try your air conditioner; see if the compressor comes on and blows cold air. If it does you are golden; if not you need an air conditioner.

Turn on your TVs and make sure they boot up and play. Check your HDMI inputs for damage my plugging in an HDMI source like a disc player and see if the TV will recognize it and play a disc.

Turn on the microwave and heat up a cup of water. See if it gets hot. If not your magnetron is shot.

Turn on the fireplace and see if it heats up. Try and select different heat settings.

If everything works I will be shocked, but that would be awesome news for you.

At least you will know where you stand.

Good luck.

I'm going to add a caveat to Lou's advice above. If you are just now currently plugged into a regular 120 volt outlet at your house, as I am thinking you said you were...then it's most likely only 15 amps. I probably would not try to test the air conditioner on a 15 amp outlet (you will notice that the air conditioner's circuit breaker inside your RV's electrical panel is probably 20 amps in itself)...and only test one thing at a time or you will definitely overload a 15 amp circuit.