Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > General Discussions about our Montanas
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-02-2014, 07:40 AM   #1
Koerb
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Graham
Posts: 55
M.O.C. #6445
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
 
Koerb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2014, 07:56 AM   #2
8.1al
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Benson
Posts: 3,121
M.O.C. #1658
I would start by unplugging the micro and if that doesn't correct the problem try the fridge, then both.
8.1al is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2014, 08:42 AM   #3
trustymopars
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Maryville
Posts: 178
M.O.C. #10812
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.
trustymopars is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2014, 09:28 AM   #4
BB_TX
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,133
M.O.C. #6433
Were there any heavy rains or did you spray water into that area?
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
BB_TX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2014, 09:31 AM   #5
WaltBennett
Montana Master
 
WaltBennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Hanover
Posts: 1,471
M.O.C. #13325
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.
__________________
WaltBennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2014, 02:52 PM   #6
1retired06
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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
1retired06 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2014, 03:50 PM   #7
boat391
Montana Master
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ronan
Posts: 513
M.O.C. #5756
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.
boat391 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2014, 11:59 AM   #8
Koerb
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Graham
Posts: 55
M.O.C. #6445
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.
Koerb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2014, 03:41 PM   #9
Irlpguy
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Chilliwack
Posts: 1,520
M.O.C. #12935
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.
Irlpguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2014, 03:56 PM   #10
Koerb
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Graham
Posts: 55
M.O.C. #6445
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!
Koerb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2014, 01:39 AM   #11
The Old Fogies
Montana Fan
 
The Old Fogies's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Summerville
Posts: 375
M.O.C. #8908
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.




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.
__________________
Bobby . . June
2019 "3791RD" Montana - 2019 Chevy Duramax/Allison 3500 Crewcab
Summerville, South Carolina

The Old Fogies is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2014, 05:44 AM   #12
Chasnracin
Montana Fan
 
Chasnracin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Alexandria
Posts: 352
M.O.C. #12394
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.
__________________
______________________

2013 F350 SRW King Ranch
2011 3400RL
Chasnracin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2014, 06:09 AM   #13
richfaa
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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.
richfaa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2014, 05:06 PM   #14
twindman
Montana Master
 
twindman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,925
M.O.C. #5651
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
twindman is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
110v electrical problems Mike Sutton Montana Problems, Problem Solving & Technical Help 12 09-11-2016 06:44 AM
Electrical problems jdvier Repairs & Service 10 11-17-2012 04:12 AM
Electrical Problems Bill and Lisa Montana Problems, Problem Solving & Technical Help 30 07-03-2007 01:06 AM
Electrical Problems Okie Guy Montana Problems, Problem Solving & Technical Help 9 08-09-2006 11:08 AM
Electrical Problems on My 05 2955rl EagleRunner Montana Problems, Problem Solving & Technical Help 6 05-31-2006 04:32 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:03 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.