Temperary power failure

[whitesub93]

I have our RV plugged in in the driveway and sometimes when using small stuff like TV or vacuum the power will shut off like a breaker is thrown. This has dome this a couple of times and when I check the breakers they are all okay (in RV and at power source) and after about 4-5 minutes I hear a pop like a large breaker thrown and the power comes back on. Any ideas anyone??? Y'all have never let me down yet so I'm looking forward to your thoughts.

[mhs4771]

Almost sounds like a low voltage situation where the Transfer switch doesn't stay energized (typical seems to require the Shore power to energize it's relay to allow shore power. Or if you have a good EMS it could be shutting down on a low voltage condition.
Either would provide a rather loud clunk when the relays re-energize.

[Dave W]

If you have a surge protector installed, it can trip - overload, temperature, low voltage, etc. Once things return to normal (cooled, heavy power source turned off) it will reset, usually in 2 to 4 minutes with a heavy clacking noise. This is regardless of brand.


Remember, if you are plugged in to a house outlet, they are normally 15 amps. A vacuum cleaner (~12 amps) and a couple 120VAC lights (~.6 amp each) will 'eat' that in a hurry plus line loss if using a small capacity or very long cord

[MARK A]

Are you using a small gauge extension cord? A 16g cord isn't going to want to run much besides the battery charger, especially if it's a 50 footer.


Mark

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by MARK A

Are you using a small gauge extension cord? A 16g cord isn't going to want to run much besides the battery charger, especially if it's a 50 footer.


Mark

Unfortunately, many, if not most of those orange extensions from a big box store are 16 AWG and at 50' are rated 10 amps, at 25', 13 amps. Usually I have a 12AWG on ours unless it's over the winter, then it's just the converter charging the battery and tI use my low buck, 100 foot 16 AWG cord

[whitesub93]

I'm using a 100ft 10/4 cord running to the 50amp RC box and the RV plugged into that with factory cord. This did not happen when I ran both 15,000 BTU a/c's and lights. Crazy huh. And it has a factory built in surge protector.

[whitesub93]

Originally Posted by whitesub93

I'm using a 100ft 10/4 cord running to the 50amp RC box and the RV plugged into that with factory cord. This did not happen when I ran both 15,000 BTU a/c's and lights. Crazy huh. And it has a factory built in surge protector.

And the power cord is running from the breaker box with a dedicated 50 amp breaker.

[rohrmann]

I'm not sure Keystone was installing any surge protection devices in Montana's back then, and no EMS devices either. Nothing on our unit.

[whitesub93]

Originally Posted by rohrmann

I'm not sure Keystone was installing any surge protection devices in Montana's back then, and no EMS devices either. Nothing on our unit.

According to paperwork I received when I purchased it from the original owner, it was special ordered by them with a ton of extras. including the built in power surge.

[Carl n Susan]

I am a 2012 Big Sky with all the features owner and there was no EMS system installed or available then. I have since added one. Perhaps the previous owner add one too. If it is a hardwired unit there should be a display gauge somewhere. A portable unit has the gauge on the EMS unit and you would know if you have one.

[Dave W]

[QUOTE=Carl n Susan;1217608 If it is a hardwired unit there should be a display gauge somewhere. [/QUOTE]


True, but only if the PO purchased it separately if it's the Southwire (new owner)Surge Guard brand instead of the better EMS. That LCD monitor was an accessory when I purchased one, about $50: https://rvpower.southwire.com/produc...r-lcd-display/


It still does the job, just without as many standard bells and whistles

[whitesub93]

Originally Posted by Carl n Susan

I am a 2012 Big Sky with all the features owner and there was no EMS system installed or available then. I have since added one. Perhaps the previous owner add one too. If it is a hardwired unit there should be a display gauge somewhere. A portable unit has the gauge on the EMS unit and you would know if you have one.

I looked on the paperwork from the consignment lot (PPL) where I purchased the unit and it states in the upgrades list "50 AMP Surge Guard hard wired". I spoke with the lot and the previous owners in person and they all said it was factory ordered with LOTS of extras. Onan generator and the such. They even had the factory install a pass through for their cat to go from the inside under the stairs all the way to the basement to use the litter box. I'm not sure if the solar panels and Blue Sky Energy management systems are factory installed, but they look like it. Would a hard wired surge guard doing it's job be what's happening?

[jimcol]

Your description of what you are experiencing is exactly how mine works when it detects a problem.

[TWP723]

Sounds like the EMS is shutting down circuits when needed. Open ground? Over/under voltage or maybe just a plain bad EMS.

[whitesub93]

Originally Posted by TWP723

Sounds like the EMS is shutting down circuits when needed. Open ground? Over/under voltage or maybe just a plain bad EMS.

I have a hard wired surge guard, no EMS. Thinking about getting a new external surge guard to put at the pole so I can see what's going on.

[rohrmann]

A surge protector will not shut power down and turn it back on again. An EMS will do that, so if you have a name brand Surge Guard, that will be an EMS type protection device and it will protect against more than a 'surge', which is rarely an issue that most will see, and more likely what you experience is an open ground or neutral, low or high voltage, frequency not at 60Hz, or other things, and these will cause the EMS to shut down until the issue is clear.

If the issue is in the RV, especially if it is between the plug on the shore cord and anywhere in the RV, a plugin EMS at the pedestal or outlet that the cord is plugged into will not see the issue, as any of these devices will only look backwards toward the source of the power, meaning toward where the power comes from, and only if the problem is really from the source will the plugin device see the problem. If you happen to have someone who has a plugin EMS that you could borrow, that would be a quick way to prove the source of your power good or bad.

[Dave W]

[QUOTE=rohrmann;1217884]A surge protector will not shut power down and turn it back on again.

/QUOTE]


If you are talking about a Surge Protector brand name, yes, it will shut power off then restore it once the load or trouble are removed. They have an approximate 130 second delay(~2 minutes) before restoring that power. Mine has tripped several times in CGs where there have been significant power fluctuations and it always comes back on within that time frame once that power stabilizes.

[whitesub93]

Originally Posted by rohrmann

A surge protector will not shut power down and turn it back on again. An EMS will do that, so if you have a name brand Surge Guard, that will be an EMS type protection device and it will protect against more than a 'surge', which is rarely an issue that most will see, and more likely what you experience is an open ground or neutral, low or high voltage, frequency not at 60Hz, or other things, and these will cause the EMS to shut down until the issue is clear.

If the issue is in the RV, especially if it is between the plug on the shore cord and anywhere in the RV, a plugin EMS at the pedestal or outlet that the cord is plugged into will not see the issue, as any of these devices will only look backwards toward the source of the power, meaning toward where the power comes from, and only if the problem is really from the source will the plugin device see the problem. If you happen to have someone who has a plugin EMS that you could borrow, that would be a quick way to prove the source of your power good or bad.

I really need to see if I can find the number for the original owners and ask them about what was installed as a surge guard.

[whitesub93]

[QUOTE=Dave W;1217898]

Originally Posted by rohrmann

A surge protector will not shut power down and turn it back on again.

/QUOTE]


If you are talking about a Surge Protector brand name, yes, it will shut power off then restore it once the load or trouble are removed. They have an approximate 130 second delay(~2 minutes) before restoring that power. Mine has tripped several times in CGs where there have been significant power fluctuations and it always comes back on within that time frame once that power stabilizes.

And thats what mine does, stays off for a couple of minutes and pops back on. This is getting interesting.

[jeffba]

sure does look like the extension cord is too light and you are tripping your EMS. the sound you hear is the relay engaging for your hardwired EMS.