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   Thor Forums > Thor Tech Forums > Maintenance and Repair
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 09-21-2019, 04:33 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.2
State: Maryland
Posts: 10
THOR #16540
50 amp service not working but 30 amp does

OK.

Been struggling with this. This is our maiden voyage in a class A. We plugged in to 50 amp service and the main ac and receptacles did not work. We had no power for microwave, fridge etc. TV worked but no DVD. Back AC unit did work

Plug in 30 amp now ac works some outlets, fridge,microwave obviously can only run one ac so what’s up. Any thoughts? I have checked breakers, fuses etc. if I run the generator all things work.

__________________
chiefd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2019, 04:47 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Brand: Keystone
Model: Sprinter
State: Florida
Posts: 1,422
THOR #15553
You need a volt meter. You need to measure the ped voltage every time before you plug in. You need to know weather both line legs 1 and 2 have voltage. I suggest you purchase an EMS from progressive industries or Surge Guard.

Check all your 120 breakers. Turn the off then on. I assume you are using a 30/50 dogbone if you plugged into 30 amps. All circuits should be working if this is correct. You just won't be able to run both A/C at the same time.

If your not getting full power then something is wrong with your dog bone. here come the volt meter again.
__________________
2011 Keystone Sprinter 323BHS. Retired Master Electrician. All Motor Homes are RV's. All RV's are not Motor Homes.
cavie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2019, 07:21 PM   #3
Junior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.2
State: Maryland
Posts: 10
THOR #16540
Yes I’m using a 30 amp dog bone and all is working. I’m not much of an electrician how would I check the pole for 50 amps. Do I Chavez one n ground and check each leg? What should it read?
__________________
chiefd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2019, 10:06 PM   #4
gmc
Senior Member
 
gmc's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 32A
State: Florida
Posts: 1,873
THOR #2829
Quote:
Originally Posted by chiefd View Post
Yes I’m using a 30 amp dog bone and all is working. I’m not much of an electrician how would I check the pole for 50 amps. Do I Chavez one n ground and check each leg? What should it read?
A 50A RV outlet should read 110v from EACH hot lead to neutral... and 220v between the hot leads.
When using the dog one adapter, the output of the adapter will read 110v from each hot lead to ground, and 0v between the hot leads (as the same hot lead is split between the two legs in the adapter.. This works because (most of) our rigs don’t truly use 220v - just lots of 110v.
__________________
Greg
Not yet retired...
Florida (Michigan transplant)
2014 Hurricane 32A
2000 Infinity (previous)
gmc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2019, 10:10 PM   #5
I Think We're Lost!
 
Bob Denman's Avatar
 
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
I would just be guessing... but I'd almost think that this problem will trace back to the condition of the pedestal.

Good luck!
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
Bob Denman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2019, 10:36 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 29M
State: Texas
Posts: 2,672
THOR #11781
Ask the campground manager to move you to another site. Sounds like one leg of the 50A service is out at the pole. If you had a EMS that would have told you the story prior to hooking up the coach. I wouldn't mess with someone else's facilities since you are not a qualified electrician.
__________________
Lt Keefer
2018 Hurricane 29M
CHF, Saf-T-Plus, SumoSprings
Lt Keefer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2019, 10:40 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Georgia
Posts: 2,585
THOR #4735
you've simply lost one LEG of your 50amp double-pole service....easy, happens all the time for some....so

check the campground's power pedestal outlet, and breaker set... as probably a loose wire is apparent in one or the other...

if not, then your own shore cord could have a loose connection at the plug end, or at the end which terminates within your AtS(auto transfer switch)box...

if not, check your own Main Panels' 50amp double-pole breaker, and see if one of the incoming wires to either side is loose.


just an FYI, your 50amp service is TWO different 50amp incoming lines - so when you have 'some' things working, and some thing NOT, it's evident that you have lost power from one of those lines... your main panel is 'split' with some breakers on one hot line, some on the other.... your FRONT main a/c unit will be on one side, the REAR a/c unit on the other, which is why ONE works, but not the other...

If you are using a 30amp adapter to the 30amp camgpround outlet, everything is 'working' because the adapter is able to use the power from the 'good' line and share it to both 'sides' of your RV's main panel : )
__________________
the Turners...
two Campers, two Electric cars
former diesel pusher traveler
TurnerFam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2019, 12:10 AM   #8
gmc
Senior Member
 
gmc's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 32A
State: Florida
Posts: 1,873
THOR #2829
Quote:
Originally Posted by TurnerFam View Post
...
If you are using a 30amp adapter to the 30amp camgpround outlet, everything is 'working' because the adapter is able to use the power from the 'good' line and share it to both 'sides' of your RV's main panel : )

I think this would rule out the issue being IN the RV...
The 30amp adapter having everything working says his shore cord, ATS, and breaker panel is fine...
__________________
Greg
Not yet retired...
Florida (Michigan transplant)
2014 Hurricane 32A
2000 Infinity (previous)
gmc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2019, 12:32 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Georgia
Posts: 2,585
THOR #4735
it's true - the 30amps being 'shared' across the two hot legs of the shore cord mean that the cord, the ATS, and the main panel should be o.k., and the suspect feature would then be the Campground's breaker, or outlet wiring.

There are many situations, especially in new/newer RVs, where the factory does not 'tighten' wiring in the RV great enough to overcome the initial travel and power usage, revealing 'loose' wires that eventually cause these same types of issues. Campground power can certainly have the same thing happen after years of usage and wear, especially on the outlet itself.
__________________
the Turners...
two Campers, two Electric cars
former diesel pusher traveler
TurnerFam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2019, 12:48 PM   #10
Junior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.2
State: Maryland
Posts: 10
THOR #16540
Thanks to all. Here is what the meter read 115 on one leg and nothing on the other leg. So it was the pole. Thanks to all for the education.
__________________
chiefd is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
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
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Thor Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.




All times are GMT. The time now is 03:47 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2