Power problem

[Tenthumbs]

Need some help boys. Last week we were dry camping l had a griddle plugged in outside. I tripped the Gfci ,which is normal. Went to reset, but found the gfci to need replacing. When I tripped I obviously lost the power to all my outlets and appliances on that circuit. I also lost power to me living room AC Weird thing was that when I got home and plugged into to shore power I could run the second Ac. I replaced the Gfci the next day and had power restored to all those on the circuit. Now here is what I can’t figure out. I started the generator and have zero power to that Gfci loop or the second Ac but on shore power I do.
Any help is appreciated

[cavie]

turn the Generator breakers off then on.

[16ACE27]

Do when you say you were "Dry Camping" I assume you mean you were running the generator to power the griddle and ACs? So what you really have is no power to some outlets and 1 AC when running the generator but everthing has power on Shore Power?

If resetting the generator breakers doesn't fix it then check the wiring to you Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) especially the wire nut connections - a common Thor problem

[Tenthumbs]

Yes. Running power on gen only half power. But on shore power I have full boat.
1. Reset the gen beakers. Nothing
2. Checked transfer switch looks good. Actually had it replaced 5 months ago.

[Tenthumbs]

The string of power that’s not running is the Gfci circuit and front Ac when powered by gen.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Tenthumbs

Yes. Running power on gen only half power. But on shore power I have full boat.
1. Reset the gen beakers. Nothing
2. Checked transfer switch looks good. Actually had it replaced 5 months ago.

Then you'll need to break out the old voltmeter and start some real troubleshooting. The ATS may look good, but is it really passing both hot legs through from the generator? Is it getting both hot legs from the generator? those are the questions you need absolute answers to. Anything downstream of the ATS is good as evidenced by proper operation on SP.

[Tenthumbs]

Thanks so much for all the help guys.

[Alex Morgan]

I am also happy after received such kind o precocious feedback from all of you. as i am also facing same issue.

[TurnerFam]

sounds like you have the symptomatic problem of loosing one 'side' of your incoming power, which the ATS may control, or in this case, may be the issue.

[cavie]

you need the volt meter to measure power in and power out of the ATS.

[Tenthumbs]

With the ATS, is there one that is better than the next? If this happens to be the problem, this will be the second one that has failed in the last 7-8 months. Should I go a different route this time ?

[TurnerFam]

What was the symptom/problem with your first one?

I can't imagine that a second ATS has 'gone bad'...as these are fairly simple devices, only serving to switch between two different incoming 120v power sources, the Gen and Shore Power. The only mechanical part of the whole equation is the 'magnet' part of each switch that engages when power is present. Otherwise, the only other possible 'problem' is a loose wire, which is commonly the problem.
It's possible that it was the problem with your first, and probably the same problem with your current one.

You can remove the cover and check for all proper connections and tightness.

[Tenthumbs]

Not that it’s impossible, but the only reason I don’t think it’s a loose wire is we had been parked for two days running the gen. Lost the power to the Gfci circuit when I plugged in a griddle. Brought it home replaced the bad Gfci. Alll works fine except on gen.

[TurnerFam]

right, and that might be EXACTLY why a wire showed it's 'looseness', as the wire for that circuit heated up so greatly that it tripped that breaker, which also means that the wiring in the ATS had to heat up greater than usual, as well.

When heat and cold effect wiring, the wiring can expand and contract, therefore 'movement' can occur, exposing 'loose' connections that otherwise may never be apparent.

[Tenthumbs]

Man I love all this info. Thanks so much. I’m learning all the time. May be able to take my user name down to Ninethumbs soon lol

[JohnK]

I have friend at the place I store my coach and he had a power problem that 3 different RV “mechanics” could not solve. I am not familiar with your unit, but my friend asked me look at and to keep it short it turned to be a fussable link(basically an in-line fuse), it was affecting one leg only, it was not on any fuse panel, it took some time with volt meter to track it down. He got a replacement at Advance Auto for $7.50, he now keeps a spare.

[Srq221]

Your generator may run but the breaker on the generator itself may have tripped. Reset it.

[TxTig]

Originally Posted by Srq221

Your generator may run but the breaker on the generator itself may have tripped. Reset it.

I had the same problem on my last trip ... only one A/C unit running on gen power, but both working on shore power. I eventually checked the breakers on the generator itself. One of them was tripped. Reset it and problem solved.

[Junodtim]

It sounds like you guys have 50 amp rigs. The 50 amp shore power supply comprises of two 120 volt circuits. Does your generator supply two 120 volt circuits? I don't think so, but I've been wrong before. It sounds like your generator is only suppling power to half of your circuits. While your shore power supports all of your circuits.

[TurnerFam]

a generator, no matter 240v or 120v supplies ALL circuits, it just simply shares the love between both ‘sides’ of the breaker panel... mine is a 55amp 120v gen, so both sides share that 55amps, as needed : )