partial electrical power loss

msjeanne28

Smelled a burning electrical odor outside the trailer. Inside more (slight). All electric plug ins are out, air, ceiling fan out. Fantastic fan, , lights, fridge (but on auto- doesn’t look like elec working on it) all working. Looks like we are on 12v, fuse panel in hall wall that says main GFI we cannot get to reset. I am assuming we have battery power but no shore power. Plugged into a 50 amp at the house with good power. Hubby unplugged to move the cord and plugged it back in from the wall- could that have caused something? I have been living in the trailer due to house issues (long story- bad contractor), so air was running. about 2 weeks ago, the fuse tripped when at a dog show (plugged into 50 amp) and outlets on the passenger side were out. Reset fine. I have looked everywhere and cannot find a GFI plug.
2008 Cameo 32SB2

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Posted: 7:05 PM – Aug 10, 2016

msjeanne28

update: unplugged everything outside from shore power including surge protector and everything came on *except* the passenger side plug ins. That includes the microwave (haven’t tried turning on the air). Same issue I had at the dog show. Breaker still shows red but half the trailer is working.

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Posted: 7:41 PM – Aug 10, 2016

Papere

In my Cameo the GFI receptacle is near the kitchen sink.

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Posted: 7:15 AM – Aug 11, 2016

Fulltimer50

If a GFI plug has no power to it, it will not reset.

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Posted: 7:24 AM – Aug 11, 2016

JohnD222

If you smelled something burnt on the outside, you have a serious issue. Could be a bad power cord or cord end, bad receptacles for that cord, lose cable connections inside from there to the circuit breaker box, a transfer switch that is shorting out, lose wires in the circuit breaker box, etc.

Is you smell burning, a fire is not far behind. You have been lucky twice.

If it was me I could try all of the above, but my advice is turn the shore power breaker off at the stick, and unplug the trailer from shore power. A stick house electrician should be able to track it down, but is unlikely to know what to do about the transfer switch. Simple solution is to take it out if it is the problem or possible problem.

Your battery charger is probably on a dead 110 volt circuit, so 12 volt won’t last long running lights. Save the batteries for the fridge!

B.W.Gentry
Owner/Admin
2007 Carri-Lite XTRM5
Breckenridge, TX

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[CLOC-AdminKeymasterKeymaster]

I am having a very similar issue on my 2010 36Max. (minus the burning smell). The power on the Microwave/Stove top circuit keeps coming and going (last 2 days at 2 different parks) the rest of the coach remains powered. TV, A/C, frig  continue to run normally. I have plugged in a AC Line Voltage Meter into the the receptacle for the microwave and the one at the sink. At one point yesterday it was showing no voltage and 10 minutes later 118. (I left the microwave unplugged) For the last couple hours that circuit has been stable but wondering if anyone can shed light on just this circuit being effected and it going from no power to 118 volts with no changes made by me? Thanks

B.W.Gentry
Owner/Admin
2007 Carri-Lite XTRM5
Breckenridge, TX

[JohnD222ParticipantTopics - 8Replies - 518Total - 526]

Under the slide is a large hinge that has the electric wires running through it from the body of the 5er to the outside wall of the slide.    It is possible that one circuit has been bent so many times it has broken – not likely but possible.   More likely a weak/corroded connection at the breaker box, or a weak/corroded circuit breaker.  If you have an inverter sub-breaker panel, check all of those connections too.  Tighten all terminal lugs, then pull on wire to be sure tip has not broken off.  If any “look” frosty/corroded, remove wire cut wire to clean copper, reinsert and tighten. Unplug shore power first!!

 

Repeat – Unplug shore power first!!

JohnD222
Based in Florida except summer
2013 36FWS Lifestyle (our great 2010 Cameo 36FWS has happy owners)

[CLOC-AdminKeymasterKeymaster]

To close the loop on my issue:

I just had my Iota transfer switch go out. These switches were recalled and ours went out with a pop and a lot of burn damage inside the switch.  We count ourselves fortunate there was no fire. Since we have a portable generator and have no intention to add an Onan we opted to do away with the switch. the box in the front compartment is “dead”.  If we decide at some point down the road to add a generator I will add a quality transfer switch at that time. For now it seems that it is one less thing to go wrong.

https://www.ncconsumer.org/news-articles/electrical-issue-in-recreational-vehicles-prompts-recall.html  This a recall by Keystone but if Carriage was in business they would likely have recalled it too.

B.W.Gentry
Owner/Admin
2007 Carri-Lite XTRM5
Breckenridge, TX

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