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Old 08-06-2021, 12:01 PM   #1
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power only works when microwave is running.

I have 120 V to the circuit breaker panel but the*power only works when the microwave is running.
I ran the microwave to see if it worked, and set it for 9 seconds. For those 9 seconds everything worked, then when the 9 seconds were up, everything shut down again.
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Old 08-06-2021, 12:23 PM   #2
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I’d start by checking all electrical connections at the panel/converter. Make sure there are no loose or disconnected wires.

I sent this to my brother who is an electrician for his thoughts.
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Old 08-06-2021, 12:39 PM   #3
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Fascinating. Absent a feat of magic, I'd say there are some really, really big problems in your service panel. If your microwave is on it's own circuit breaker the only thing common to the other circuits is Neutral and the Ground. This is not a good situation. If you are not versed in electricity I highly suggest you enlist the services of a competent electrician to sort it out.
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Old 08-06-2021, 12:41 PM   #4
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Is your RV of the 50 amp or 30 amp type?

What are you currently using for 120 volt AC power?
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Old 08-06-2021, 12:43 PM   #5
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And define 'no power'. No power to AC outlets? Or no power to anything including all your DC circuits.
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Old 08-06-2021, 12:50 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by D W View Post
Fascinating. Absent a feat of magic, I'd say there are some really, really big problems in your service panel. If your microwave is on it's own circuit breaker the only thing common to the other circuits is Neutral and the Ground. This is not a good situation. If you are not versed in electricity I highly suggest you enlist the services of a competent electrician to sort it out.
Yup, seen it before. 240 VAC service and one appliance on one side of the busbar was feeding power through it to power the other side of the busbar.

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Old 08-06-2021, 12:55 PM   #7
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50 amp
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Old 08-06-2021, 12:56 PM   #8
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Is your RV of the 50 amp or 30 amp type?

What are you currently using for 120 volt AC power?
50 amp. I have 50 amp shore power at my home.
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Old 08-06-2021, 01:00 PM   #9
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open neutral somewhere. could have easily damaged other items
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Old 08-06-2021, 01:00 PM   #10
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And define 'no power'. No power to AC outlets? Or no power to anything including all your DC circuits.
The microwave has power. Volt meter reads 120 V from panel main breaker to ground bar, zero V to neutral bar, and the converter and outlets work only when the microwave runs.
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Old 08-06-2021, 01:02 PM   #11
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Yup, seen it before. 240 VAC service and one appliance on one side of the busbar was feeding power through it to power the other side of the busbar.

Ray
So what do I do about it?
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Old 08-06-2021, 01:11 PM   #12
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open neutral somewhere. could have easily damaged other items
The electrics worked perfectly until the original converter quit. I replaced it with another 55 amp converter. When I turned the power on, everything worked for a second, then there was a click and a huge cloud of white smoke billowed out of the cubbyhole where the converter was. Then nothing worked. Then I installed another new converter and the result is what I posted earlier.
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Old 08-06-2021, 01:30 PM   #13
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The electrics worked perfectly until the original converter quit. I replaced it with another 55 amp converter. When I turned the power on, everything worked for a second, then there was a click and a huge cloud of white smoke billowed out of the cubbyhole where the converter was. Then nothing worked. Then I installed another new converter and the result is what I posted earlier.
I'd test your 50amp outlet. Make sure it's putting power out properly.

https://www.myrv.us/electric/Pg/testing.htm

Typically the magic white smoke is let out of the converter when 240v is applied to one of the 50amp legs.
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Old 08-06-2021, 01:31 PM   #14
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open neutral somewhere. could have easily damaged other items
Yep. You most likely have an open/loose neutral. That's what I was expecting.

Check the white wire which is your neutral. It is what keeps each side of your 50 amp RV at 120 volts. An open neutral can cause all kind of voltage fluctuations and weird things when you turn on loads like your microwave.

Start at the outlet at your house and make sure the white neutral wire is secure. Go inside the RV electric panel and do the same. If you don't find a problem there it can be in the shore power cord or RV inlet for the shore power cord.

Do this while the power is disconnected and house circuit breaker off. You also want to check the neutral in your house panel feeding the 50 amp outlet.
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Old 08-06-2021, 02:02 PM   #15
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The microwave has power. Volt meter reads 120 V from panel main breaker to ground bar, zero V to neutral bar, and the converter and outlets work only when the microwave runs.
Whoa! You should not have 120V between the breaker and ground. You need to disconnect from shore power immediately and get your Neutral wires straightened out.
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Old 08-06-2021, 02:11 PM   #16
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I see that you replaced a converter and that is when all of this started. I think you have something miswired or something came loose while doing the converter change. If you are unsure of what it is, it would be a good idea to get some new eyes which are familiar with electricity on the system, they will likely see something which is not right.

The test of 120V to ground and 0V to neutral tells me there is a problem with neutral at a minimum.
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Old 08-06-2021, 02:21 PM   #17
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The electrics worked perfectly until the original converter quit. I replaced it with another 55 amp converter. When I turned the power on, everything worked for a second, then there was a click and a huge cloud of white smoke billowed out of the cubbyhole where the converter was. Then nothing worked. Then I installed another new converter and the result is what I posted earlier.
There you go... your answer is right there.
You miswired something and now you need to find what burned off/up.
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Old 08-06-2021, 02:57 PM   #18
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Whoa! You should not have 120V between the breaker and ground. You need to disconnect from shore power immediately and get your Neutral wires straightened out.
Yes you should have 120v to both ground and neutral, these are tied together at the main manel in the house.

The ground to neutral should be very close to zero

The OPs comment on zero volts to neutral confirms the suggestion of a neutral issue.

If the power inlet is near the converter I would start there then go to the camper panel. It could be anywhere though
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Old 08-06-2021, 04:24 PM   #19
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power only works when microwave is running.

Quote:
Yes you should have 120v to both ground and neutral, these are tied together at the main manel in the house.

The ground to neutral should be very close to zero

The OPs comment on zero volts to neutral confirms the suggestion of a neutral issue.

If the power inlet is near the converter I would start there then go to the camper panel. It could be anywhere though
Agreed, that's exactly correct on the voltage measurements. My money is on the possibility that the original converter failed due to the open neutral but perhaps the owner was not there to see the failure.

This is exactly what a good, protecting EMS prevents.

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Old 08-06-2021, 04:50 PM   #20
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Sounds like your microwave circuit is wired in series with one side of the breaker panel,
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