Lost 30A service

D

Deb

New member
Oct 23, 2016
358
6
3
Pulled into our site this evening plugged in the 30A turned on the ac and came back 5 minutes later to find no power and the 30A adapter hot.

Have had no problems running the ac before. Looking for a main breaker. P.O. has installed an intel lip owner inverter. Any idea where to start??

Hotter than a bear in here tonight.
--
Deb McWade
Logan Lake, BC, CAN
"Li'l Sister"
'77 Kingsley, 403, EBL EFI;
TZE167V101404
It's Bigger on the Inside!
 
The fact your 50 to 30Amp adapter was hot shows there was a poor connection within the adapter or its connectors. I would suspect the adapter first.
Maybe a neighbour could loan you one to test.

The campground store may have them for sale.
--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
 
Thanks folks. We tried another campsite - no go. No one else had a spare they could loan us to test (not many folks around tonight for some reason)
Breakers were all good - nothing tripped, and no blown fuses on the inverter. I had run both ac at once on the 30A past couple of days but must have
been lucky!! And of course the Onan was being stubborn on start up and I didn't want to drain the house batteries.

Campground office is already closed, so I guess it's off to Walmart for a replacement adapter and close fingers that was the problem From what you
are both saying, certainly sounds most likely to be the culprit.

But, as problems go, so far, mine have still been less than monumental - one blown fuse, one hot fuse holder (cleaned up the connection and no more
hot!) the spring in the awning pin broke so we had to push it in one hole at a time to close the awning 2 days ago. Now this. But nothing earth
shattering, nothing trip interrupting. Just another learning experience and something to write in the trip journal!
--
Deb McWade
Logan Lake, BC, CAN
"Li'l Sister"
'77 Kingsley, 403, EBL EFI;
TZE167V101404
It's Bigger on the Inside!
 
I carry a couple adaptors. So i can plug in about anything. My 30 amp to 15 amp cord and my fan came in handy on saturday to verify a 30 amp
campground outlet was dead.

I also keep one of these:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Power-Gear-3-Wire-Receptacle-Tester-50542999/16561511?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222228016731164&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=40873258712&wl4=pla-78765756632&wl5=1020086&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=16561511&wl13=&veh=sem

Tells me pretty quick
If there is power or not

Let me know if you need anymore assistance or a place
To park. Just off i-94, st. Cloud, MN exit 171.
--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
 
I have 50 amp with no problems with both (original) AC's but my question
is: what is the "adapter" that is mentioned?

> I carry a couple adaptors. So i can plug in about anything. My 30 amp
> to 15 amp cord and my fan came in handy on saturday to verify a 30 amp
> campground outlet was dead.
>
> I also keep one of these:
>
>
> https://www.walmart.com/ip/Power-Gear-3-Wire-Receptacle-
> Tester-50542999/16561511?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=
> 22222222228016731164&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=40873258712&wl4=
> pla-78765756632&wl5=1020086&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=
> 8175035&wl11=online&wl12=16561511&wl13=&veh=sem
>
> Tells me pretty quick
> If there is power or not
>
>
> Let me know if you need anymore assistance or a place
> To park. Just off i-94, st. Cloud, MN exit 171.
> --
> Jon Roche
> 75 palm beach
> St. Cloud, MN
> http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
William S. Schurman
box 772806
Steamboat Springs, CO
80477
1978 Palm Beach
TZE168V100258
 
There are adapters that on one end plug into a 50A outlet, and the other female end take a 30A plug. And again from 30A on one end to a male 15A.

You can find them on Amazon or Walmart for as little as 5 bucks.

These are helpful if you only have a 15A power source. You can still plug in normally, but mostly just to charge batteries. Maybe run on AC for a
bit before the cord gets warm.

Also helpful if all you have to plug into is a 50A outlet, and your plug is 30A. Just put the adapter in line. and your good to go. I did this at
Elkhart as the 30A plug was already spoken for.

--
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan
 
OK, I get it, I have a 50 A to 30 A "dog bone" in case the campground only
has 30 amp.

> There are adapters that on one end plug into a 50A outlet, and the other
> female end take a 30A plug. And again from 30A on one end to a male 15A.
>
>
> You can find them on Amazon or Walmart for as little as 5 bucks.
>
> These are helpful if you only have a 15A power source. You can still plug
> in normally, but mostly just to charge batteries. Maybe run on AC for a
> bit before the cord gets warm.
>
> Also helpful if all you have to plug into is a 50A outlet, and your plug
> is 30A. Just put the adapter in line. and your good to go. I did this at
> Elkhart as the 30A plug was already spoken for.
>
>
> --
> 77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson
> carb and dizzy.
> Mid Michigan
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
William S. Schurman
box 772806
Steamboat Springs, CO
80477
1978 Palm Beach
TZE168V100258
 
Picked up a new dog one adapter. We're in Chippewa Falls and have access to a 50a outlet. Front air works as does water heater but not rear ac nor any
of the outlets. Breaker box shows outlets and the rear ac share the bottom left pair of 20A breakers. Looks like it got fried in the process. Once I'm
settled somewhere for a couple of days I will shut off the main breakers, pull those and replace them. Hopefully it's just a matter of that breaker
gone when I blew the adapter. Could be that rear ac pulled too much for everything to handle with the front also running.
--
Deb McWade
Logan Lake, BC, CAN
"Li'l Sister"
'77 Kingsley, 403, EBL EFI;
TZE167V101404
It's Bigger on the Inside!
 
Deb,

Even before you change the circuit breakers, you may want to disconnect
shore power and, if you have one, turn off your inverter. Pull the
breakers cover and tighten every screw in the box. You'll probably find a
lot of them loose; perhaps some loose enough to cause the loss of power
you've experienced. That's a simple preventative maintenance item everyone
should perform periodically. Even home breaker boxes, constantly exposed
to heating and cooling, and using ductile conductors, develop loose
connections. Constantly vibrating on the road makes RV's much more prone
to the malady.

​Ken H.​

> Picked up a new dog one adapter. We're in Chippewa Falls and have access
> to a 50a outlet. Front air works as does water heater but not rear ac nor
> any
> of the outlets. Breaker box shows outlets and the rear ac share the bottom
> left pair of 20A breakers. Looks like it got fried in the process. Once I'm
> settled somewhere for a couple of days I will shut off the main breakers,
> pull those and replace them. Hopefully it's just a matter of that breaker
> gone when I blew the adapter. Could be that rear ac pulled too much for
> everything to handle with the front also running.
> --
> Deb McWade
> Logan Lake, BC, CAN
> "Li'l Sister"
> '77 Kingsley, 403, EBL EFI;
> TZE167V101404
> It's Bigger on the Inside!
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
since you said your 30 amp adapter got hot, I would lean towards one of the 50 amp plug pins has lost contact with its internal wire. In a 50 Amp
plug there is 2 circuits carrying power and a single Neutral. So 1/2 of your breaker panel is not getting power.

If your 50Amp main plug is a molded construction, (which it will be if it is original), you will not be able to take it apart. You can buy
replacement plugs that screw together. Buy a replacement 90 degree plug and look up an electrical contractor in the local town and pay them to put it
on properly.

You should be able to get away with one A/C unit unless you find yourself in the southern states without shade in the summer.

Just my guess after 45 years of troubleshooting electronics.
--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
 
:uhoh: Oich! OK - smack me and screw my head back on. Put my glasses on (the READING ones) and actually READ the breaker switches - ON is toward the
centre of the box, not toward the bottom.
So.... flipped the bottom breakers switches UP and guess what!? Everything is fine. :blush: So, Although I DID fry the 50 to 30A dog-bone,
everything else is fine and runs perfectly on the 50A connector.

I think I'm going to go to bed now and start the day over!
--
Deb McWade
Logan Lake, BC, CAN
"Li'l Sister"
'77 Kingsley, 403, EBL EFI;
TZE167V101404
It's Bigger on the Inside!
 
First rainy day when you have some time, I'd do what Ken Henderson suggested... unplug the coach, take the front panel off the breaker box and tighten
all the connections. I believe I got more than a full turn on each screw when I did mine.
--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
 
Picked up a new dog one adapter. We're in Chippewa Falls and have access to a 50a outlet. Front air works as does water heater but not rear ac nor any
of the outlets. Breaker box shows outlets and the rear ac share the bottom left pair of 20A breakers. Looks like it got fried in the process. Once I'm
settled somewhere for a couple of days I will shut off the main breakers, pull those and replace them. Hopefully it's just a matter of that breaker
gone when I blew the adapter. Could be that rear ac pulled too much for everything to handle with the front also running.
--
Deb McWade
Logan Lake, BC, CAN
"Li'l Sister"
'77 Kingsley, 403, EBL EFI;
TZE167V101404
It's Bigger on the Inside!
.......,,,,,,
 
Thanks Jerry. That is something I was not aware of! You are right..... That is VERY different. I most definitely was lucky the first couple of times
I ran them both.

Everything running great on the 50A last night.

I'm learning something very important everyday on this trip.
--
Deb McWade
Logan Lake, BC, CAN
"Li'l Sister"
'77 Kingsley, 403, EBL EFI;
TZE167V101404
It's Bigger on the Inside!
 
> Great. Now pick one AC or the other to run on the 30 not both.

Thanks. Yes - In future I plan to alternate. I will also make sure I switch the fridge over to the LP before I turn on the ac.
--
Deb McWade
Logan Lake, BC, CAN
"Li'l Sister"
'77 Kingsley, 403, EBL EFI;
TZE167V101404
It's Bigger on the Inside!
 
> Deb,
>
> Even before you change the circuit breakers, you may want to disconnect
> shore power and, if you have one, turn off your inverter. Pull the
> breakers cover and tighten every screw in the box. You'll probably find a
> lot of them loose; perhaps some loose enough to cause the loss of power
> you've experienced. That's a simple preventative maintenance item everyone
> should perform periodically. Even home breaker boxes, constantly exposed
> to heating and cooling, and using ductile conductors, develop loose
> connections. Constantly vibrating on the road makes RV's much more prone
> to the malady.
>
> ​Ken H.​


Thank you Ken. On the list of things to do. That's good information that as with all things electrical, I have in limited supply. Much
appreciated-both the adivice and the patience x( for newbie self-inflicted problems. That goes to everyone on this trip so far. Keeping me
relatively relaxed amid the confusion.
--
Deb McWade
Logan Lake, BC, CAN
"Li'l Sister"
'77 Kingsley, 403, EBL EFI;
TZE167V101404
It's Bigger on the Inside!
 
:uhoh: Oich! OK - smack me and screw my head back on. Put my glasses on (the READING ones) and actually READ the breaker switches - ON is toward the
centre of the box, not toward the bottom.
So.... flipped the bottom breakers switches UP and guess what!? Everything is fine. :blush: So, Although I DID fry the 50 to 30A dog-bone,
everything else is fine and runs perfectly on the 50A connector.

I think I'm going to go to bed now and start the day over!
--
Deb McWade
Logan Lake, BC, CAN
"Li'l Sister"
'77 Kingsley, 403, EBL EFI;
TZE167V101404
It's Bigger on the Inside!
——————-
 
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