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06-02-2014, 07:40 AM
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#1
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Graham
Posts: 55
M.O.C. #6445
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Electrical Problems
Where do I start.... Let's try here, have a 2006 3400RL Montana that after a week-long Memorial Day outing and getting it back home I've run into some electrical problems. The 1st being I'm tripping a GFI on the house circuit,outdoor 110 receptacle, when I connected to shore power. By process of elimination I have it down to the circuit controlling the convection oven and refrigerator. Since this has not raised it's ugly head in the 5 years we've owned the Montana and hooking it up until the next trip. I have a portable power meter which is showing the voltage at the receptacles being 110 instead of the usual 120. Anyone run into antthing similar before calling an electrician? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
John Koerber
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06-02-2014, 07:56 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Benson
Posts: 3,121
M.O.C. #1658
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I would start by unplugging the micro and if that doesn't correct the problem try the fridge, then both.
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06-02-2014, 08:42 AM
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#3
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Maryville
Posts: 178
M.O.C. #10812
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If it runs through a GFI outlet, it could be bad. There's a history of that happening, and now I carry a spare. Good insurance! JT.
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06-02-2014, 09:28 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,227
M.O.C. #6433
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Were there any heavy rains or did you spray water into that area?
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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06-02-2014, 09:31 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Hanover
Posts: 1,472
M.O.C. #13325
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GFCI outlets do go bad over time. They aren't that expensive either. There's also the possibility that yours was wired like some others have reported (using the push-in connection instead of screwing the wires to it) and somethings happened there.
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06-02-2014, 02:52 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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Hopefully an easy fix with a new outlet.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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06-02-2014, 03:50 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ronan
Posts: 513
M.O.C. #5756
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Underneath the kitchen slide you will find a junction box with wire going in and out of the box. I had this same problem you describe and I took the face plate off and found it was full of water and all wires in the wire nuts corroding to the point they were losing contact took it apart and cleaned everything and resealed it and solved the problem. I checked every junction box under each slide and found the same problem so cleaned and resealed all of them. My guess was water was getting in them from the road spray in rainy weather and they were not sealed properly from the factory. I had the same year and model as yours hope this helps a little.
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06-03-2014, 11:59 AM
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#8
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Graham
Posts: 55
M.O.C. #6445
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Thank you all for your suggestions. I indeed go through some heavy rain with alot of puddles thoughout the journey. I'll be tackling the junction boxes tonight once off work, the GFI plug across from the sink was working correctly as I had to reset it once, but still will look at it next. Keep fingers crossed.
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06-03-2014, 03:41 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Chilliwack
Posts: 1,520
M.O.C. #12935
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Neither my fridge or microwave are on a GFI circuit, I would not think that yours are either. I can see no reason for either to be protected by a GFI circuit, particularly the microwave, it sure is not in our S&B's.
As others have had a problem with water getting into the junction boxes I would suspect you will find that is your problem as well. I do not know why water resistant boxes are not used in that application, I think if I ever encounter the problem the factory ones will be going and water resistant boxes will be installed.
Good luck with the project.
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06-03-2014, 03:56 PM
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#10
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Graham
Posts: 55
M.O.C. #6445
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Opened up the very first junction box directly under the refrigerator and sure enough water started dripping from the "Sealed" box, upon further investigation found that the wire bundle was laying in the puddle at the bottom of the box. I disconnected everything, re-cut the wires back, reconnected and put on new wirenuts, sealed with electrical tape then using the wife's hairdryer I dried and cleaned out the box before sealing it up again. Figured while I was on a roll to be safe and do the other three, two out of the four had water damage so well worth the troubleshooting and redoing all the connections. Fingers are still crossed but so far RV's been on shore power now for 90 minutes without any GFI's popping so just maybe we've put this problem behind us. Thanks again for all those who fired off suggestions, didn't need any more grey hairs!
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06-04-2014, 01:39 AM
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#11
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Summerville
Posts: 375
M.O.C. #8908
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Irlpguy
Neither my fridge or microwave are on a GFI circuit, I would not think that yours are either. I can see no reason for either to be protected by a GFI circuit, particularly the microwave, it sure is not in our S&B's.
As others have had a problem with water getting into the junction boxes I would suspect you will find that is your problem as well. I do not know why water resistant boxes are not used in that application, I think if I ever encounter the problem the factory ones will be going and water resistant boxes will be installed.
Good luck with the project.
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I think the he stated that he was plugged into the GFI on the house. Problem sounds like it is water somewhere, but it could be the GFI.
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Bobby . . June
2019 "3791RD" Montana - 2019 Chevy Duramax/Allison 3500 Crewcab
Summerville, South Carolina
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06-04-2014, 05:44 AM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Alexandria
Posts: 352
M.O.C. #12394
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I am always amazed at the amount of knowledge this board puts out there. Just a thanks to everyone willing to help and share their knowledge.
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______________________
2013 F350 SRW King Ranch
2011 3400RL
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06-04-2014, 06:09 AM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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the water filled junction boxes were a common problem. We avoided that on our 06 3400 by opening all of them and wiring and sealing them correctly based on the advise on this forum. Preventative maint.
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06-04-2014, 05:06 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,984
M.O.C. #5651
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Where are these junction boxes found? I haven't had any problems like this but want to be prepared.
__________________
Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
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