Inverter-Power problem update

[GregN]

Well the problem is solved. No electrical problems with the rv. The problem was the park power. Too much power, Scotty! After the neighbors were having the same problem, they fixed it. They are able to increase and decrease to power to the pedestals as needed. Well it was to high. So when it spiked, it went over the high voltage for the Surge Guard and tripped it. They dialed it down and no problems now.

Thanks for everyone's help.

[jimcol]

Are you talking about converter or did you add an inverter? The converter in our rigs change A/C current from shore power to DC to run the 12volt side of our rigs as well as charge the battery. Perhaps if you give us the sympthons you are experiencing we can be of more help. Jim

[dyna_rider98]

Are you talking about inverter or converter? A few more details would be nice.

[GregN]

Sorry the converter. My surge guard keeps tripping on 50A.
Set up yesterday, all fine, power on, both airs running, Tele, and refer. no problems. It did trip in the middle of the night sometime, as I woke up cool, electric blankets was off. This morning all fine. About 6am it tripped again and was off until it reset, worked fine for hour and a half then tripped again. Tech for the surge guard said it could trip by something feeding back to the surge guard. I switch over to 30A with the surge guard still on the line and no problems so far.
I was having this problem last time I was out. I am at the same RV Park, same space. All the connections at every elec plug and box are tight. Replaced the GFI in the kitchen. Still was having the problem.

Never had this problem before. I did notice that the wire covering on the power cord has come out of the plug. I do have a replacement plug to fix that. I am just stumped. I don't have a tester to check the post outside, I am going to have the park maint. check it, but I don't think they are working today.

[1retired06]

My Progressive trips off if power surge occurs, or hi/low voltage parameters are compromised, and then kicks back on when parameters OK. Sounds like that might be one possiblity you are experiencing. A quick check, do you have an adjacent site where your power cord would reach the pedestal. If so, hook up to that pedestal, with the surge box. If no further problems, it could be a bad pedestal on your site. Check to see if anyone else with a surge box is having same problem. If so, could be a grid issue within the park, to include power spikes or brownout problems.

[twindman]

Certainly not a problem inside the unit, as Surge Guard is before anything inside like a converter. It does sound like the 50A pedestal is bad or whole park has low or high voltage.

[Art-n-Marge]

Typically a converter goes bad by staying bad. You are describing problems with the power supply like at the pedestal especially with 50 amp. Try another campsite, but typically bad power from a campground affects the whole campground (that is, wherever you connect, you'll eventually get another brownout or power spike at the pedestal). The only way to check this is head to another campground but that doesn't mean they won't have a problem either. Providing 50 amp requires twice the power draw from a campground. Many campgrounds just combine two existing circuits into one and put a 50 amp on it. I'm guessing there's a lot more to it since I've been some places where they're advertising new 50 amp capability is coming soon and you'll see whole sections of a campground are unavailable since they are completely redoing the wiring. If RV campgrounds were so good, the aftermarket products for this protection would not exist.

The reality is this is why there is such a successful aftermarket business for RV power protection devices and not just circuit breakers in our rigs that only protect against certain things. I hope you find the problem but I don't think it's your converter, unless it eventually dies since it's being subjected to all these power issues.

[jimcol]

I would check the plug going into the unit on your shore power line. You could be losing the neutral. Those lugs have a way of getting a little loose then go open when under full load. Once it cools down it makes good connection again until a load will create the same situation. Those lugs coming loose are why many of us opted for the 90 degree plug to try and take some of the downward strain off the anaconda. Jim

[GregN]

Thanks for the info. The park Maint. are here today and they will be checking the pedestal after lunch. I do plan on checking the cord, just have not got to it yet. So far no problems, but I am running on 30amp right now.

[steelpony5555]

I had problems with my plug, one side was pulled loose because of the way it bends and the weight of it. Have since got one of the 90 deg adapters. But it was causing my lights to dim and then go out, along with other problems. Just took it apart and redid the connections and tightened back down good, no problems since....

[1retired06]

Glad it was resolved and no problem with your RV. Great example of why a Progressive Like protection device is essential