Need Help with Electric Problem - Montana Owners Club

srandall · 10-06-2007, 02:01 AM

Help!

We just brought our new Montana home last night and even after spending 4 hours at the dealer going over everything we have a power problem when we got home. We asked specifically if we could use the power source from home to plug in to our Montana. He said yes, we had to plug in the pig tail adapter (50-30)(which we did)and then add the black adapter (which we did) After that I plugged the extension cord into the house and we heard this huge racket and of course started to panic. We were told that he was going to turn everything off before we left and we discovered he left the air on. Luckily we opted for the inline surge protector. We turned everything off we could and still only the front lights (roof area) come on. We could not get the fan on and the only thing in the bedroom area were the two little lights over next to the bed area.

Help any suggestions. We are first time RV'ers and this is very frustrating.

Thanks
Robert and Sharon Randall

Ozz · 10-06-2007, 02:05 AM

Check your home breaker that serves your new trailer, check the breakers in your Montana as well.
Try and use at least a 14 gage extension cord, a 12 gage would be best, nothing less, because of voltage drop.

srandall · 10-06-2007, 02:16 AM

Thanks! I will let you know what happens.

richfaa · 10-06-2007, 02:24 AM

I have to make some assumptions here. I assume you connected to a regular home ckt or outside GFI ckt which is probably a 15 or 20 amp ckt and the "racket" you heard was the A/C attempting to start up at those low amps. Take all high amp draw stuff off line...Hot water tank fridge,(switch to propane) turn the thermostat off so the furnace or A/C can not come on. Check your home breaker associated with the receptacle you are plugged into..check all breakers and fuses in your iota..It sounded like you only had 12V's working and were perhaps on battery..were those lights that were on dim??? also do as OZZ suggest on the wire gage...

H. John Kohl · 10-06-2007, 03:00 AM

Trouble shooting over the computer is hard. OZZ and RICHFAA have given you good advice. Unplug your trailer from the house extension cord. Use a drop lite or something to test the extension cord to see if it has power. (Definitely make sure it is heavy duty as OZZ stated.)
In the trailer I would open the breaker panel and turn off all breakers inside the trailer. (Note: go out side to your hot water heater and MAKE SURE the black switch is in the off condition.) Once you know you have power to the extension cord and all breakers in the trailer are off then plug in the trailer to the extension cord.
At the IDA panel turn on the doubled 50 Amp main breaker. These are like the Mains to your house. DO NOT turn on the hot water heater or the Air Conditioner breakers at this time. Now Turn on one breaker at a time labeled for lights and see if things start lighting up. If it works after you make sure the Air Conditioner is turned off remember to turn on all breakers so they will work when you have the correct power and need to use the devices.
There are a couple of ways to turn off the Air Conditioner but the break is the sure way for this test. (NOTE: You should not use these breakers as switches. It has been reported here that continued switching will weaken them requiring replacement. They are Breakers, not switches.)
The items by them selves that will draw too much current for your 15 or 20 amp house service are: Air Conditioner, Hot Water Heater, Microwave, Fire Place and Dryer.
Good luck, I hope this helps. Let us know how you do or ask more questions. Please remember to be our eye and ears and give is details so we can help you.
Cheers,

Emmel · 10-06-2007, 03:22 AM

These guys are right on for the electricity problem. I just wanted to add that don't under any circumstances turn your water heater on without any water in it! Not good on the element.

srandall · 10-06-2007, 12:58 PM

Wanted to thank you for your advise on the 12 gauge extension. We finally got the problem figured. After we purchased a new extension cord(s)every thing finally came on as it should. But, the breaker kept tripping.

We finally discovered that the dealer left the antenna booster on. We have never had one before so that did not come to our minds to check that. But, once we got the booster shut off and the new extension cords plugged in. Everything ran just as it should

Certainly a good lesson for us new 5th wheelers.

mamashappy · 10-06-2007, 02:37 PM

just remember that you will have lots of "good lessons" in the first few weeks, and you will learn best from those first-learned lessons. Be prepared for it and soon you will be an expert, like the guys who helped you out today

noneck · 10-06-2007, 04:20 PM

Hmmm, antenna booster trips AC breaker? I would not think so...if the built in one it should be 12vdc? Here's my short list....
Alternating Current pigs;
1) Air Conditioner
2) Water heater running on AC
3) Refrigerator running in (Auto) and detects AC so electric element is used
4) Stuff you plug into AC Outlets and forget you did
5) TV's plugged in and not even turned on yet!

Ozz · 10-07-2007, 01:55 AM

And there is also the possibility in every case of home outlet supplied RV power, that there are other house loads on that circuit. A dedicated breaker to the Rv is best case.

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