RV 110 and 12 volt electrics...any specialists ?

[RobertC]

Hey Folks,

Gotta ask someone, as taking it to the dealer is not an option for another week !! And this is my Windber transportation as well as accomodations ! :thumbsup: :laugh: !

Our Camper Van, a 1993 Ford e-250 19ft, upfitted by Coachmen has a 12 volt and 110 volt electric system like a regular rv or camper.

My 12 volt system has stopped working all of a sudden ? (more later)charging of house battery I presume, as well as all the lights and water pump won't come on...even with low house battery these devices should work full power while plugged in to 'shore power'

When i plug in to shore power like I typically would, and work with the 'breakers'... i notice their was a 'hummm' so i started flipping breakers, and find the 'receptacle' breaker causing the humming..as when i turn it to off...the humming stops.

Here is the only thing I can think of that caused it, as all this was working just prior to the following :doah: ...there is a small television above the fridge and stuff, and it was not secured properly..:shrug:...went around a corner and it fell off it's perch, it's cord yanking and bending the plug that was plugged in to one of the receptacles.

Now my 12 volt stuff won't come on, and my receptacles dont appear to work, and my breaker labelled receptacle humms if you turn it on.

When plugged in, the microwave and roof air conditioner do work as you would expect with shore power.

I am trying to think this through, and have no knowledge of electric systems except that they can fry you.

So that said...if the tv fell with enough force to bend the plug while being jerked from the receptacle, i'm thinking the receptacle could be damaged and could be preventing the proper 'circuit' from being established ??

Question one: if I were to replace the receptacle with a new one (while all is unplugged of course)....am wondering if this might 'cure' the humm from the breaker and allow the receptacle system to make the proper circuit and function correctly while plugged in ?

And two....could this also be what is affecting the 12 volt stuff ?

I know not to mess with electric stuff y'all....I also realize there are experts in many subjects out there, and with Windber approaching as rapidly as it is, and only one more pay period before I head that way, I want to do my darndest to analyze this thing and hopefully repair it on my own...I don't think I have enough time to get it thru the que at a local rv repair shop this time of year !

Thank you in advance for your help ! :thumbsup: !

Robert C

 

[x-90 rider]

Did you check your 110 & 12 receptacles with a meter to verify voltage? 110 should be AC and 12 volt should be DC.
Have you checked the fuses on your 110 to 12 converter box?

 

[RobertC]

Did you check your 110 & 12 receptacles with a meter to verify voltage? 110 should be AC and 12 volt should be DC.
Have you checked the fuses on your 110 to 12 converter box?

Hey x-90 Thank you for your input...am trying to round up a meter...so no to the first.

And I am going out there right now to check 'all' of the (visible) fuses on the converter box.

Back in touch w/ results..thanks, Robert

 

[RobertC]

Hey x-90 Thank you for your input...am trying to round up a meter...so no to the first.

And I am going out there right now to check 'all' of the (visible) fuses on the converter box.

Back in touch w/ results..thanks, Robert

Hey x-90...all the fuses (15 amp blade fuses) appear fine all solid wire...no smokey look at all.

Is my theory about the receptacle being messed up now, not allowing proper circuit got any substance to it ?

Thank you.

 

[markus]

Look at you "house" battery and see if there is a fusible link or inline fuse or something to that effect at the terminal. If not verify voltage at the house battery and follow where it goes. if its really dead or low, better verify that the relay or however/whatever they use to charge the house while driving is working.

 

[Stangrcr1]

Standard RV wiring has two independent circuits for 110 and 12. They only meet at one place and that is the converter/charger.

Obviously check the fuses and battery connections, and if that doesn't work...

If the falling TV broke the outlet, it should not affect the 12v system. When the RV is not plugged in, 12v is powered by the house battery. The humming is disconcerting, as that usually means high amp draw. Unplug everything 110v and flip that breaker back on, if there is still a hum, then the breaker is going bad or there is a short somewhere. Probably the outlet that had the TV.

As far as the 12v system, does any of the 12v system work when plugged in? If not then a fuse is blown or the charger/converter is shot. If none of the 12v works after a period of charging the battery, then the battery is shot or the converter is shot. It is common for the older converters to fail if there is a power surge/spike as they are not well protected. My neighbor just replaced his converter after the A/C on his rig failed and spiked the converter. Also, a failed 12v battery will kill the converter from high amp draw while trying to charge it.

 

[RobertC]

Look at you "house" battery and see if there is a fusible link or inline fuse or something to that effect at the terminal. If not verify voltage at the house battery and follow where it goes. if its really dead or low, better verify that the relay or however/whatever they use to charge the house while driving is working.

Markus, thank you for your input...I am hoping due to you alls suggestions that I may be on to something.

In hunting for an inline fuse, or something to that effect...led me to hunt the 'ford' fuse box...which I am still hunting...but read on..below..

Standard RV wiring has two independent circuits for 110 and 12. They only meet at one place and that is the converter/charger.

Obviously check the fuses and battery connections, and if that doesn't work...

If the falling TV broke the outlet, it should not affect the 12v system. When the RV is not plugged in, 12v is powered by the house battery. The humming is disconcerting, as that usually means high amp draw. Unplug everything 110v and flip that breaker back on, if there is still a hum, then the breaker is going bad or there is a short somewhere. Probably the outlet that had the TV.

As far as the 12v system, does any of the 12v system work when plugged in? If not then a fuse is blown or the charger/converter is shot. If none of the 12v works after a period of charging the battery, then the battery is shot or the converter is shot. It is common for the older converters to fail if there is a power surge/spike as they are not well protected. My neighbor just replaced his converter after the A/C on his rig failed and spiked the converter. Also, a failed 12v battery will kill the converter from high amp draw while trying to charge it.

Continued...:laugh: Stangrcr1 Thank you for your input also...none of the 12 volt works...

Going to pull the outlet and recconect the wires, to see if that makes the 110 breaker humm go away.

...back to the 12 volt story...when I found the owners manual there is a note in the back that says: "New circuit breaker for 12v charging system - (the 12v inside the camper) - breaker located behind van head lite (pass. side)" 55,921 miles #SHORTSTOP 12 v 228...

I ran out of light last night and my spotlight left too many shadows. I am just getting going now and am going to go out there and find that reset. Hoping that is it.

Thank you all for your help, and I'll let you know what I find out.

Robert

 

[Newoldstock]

Sometimes its better to take these things to an expert.

My father is 79 and very spry, he stilll drives and believe it or not tries to fix his own RV.
He buys old ones he can afford and fixes them up as bet he can and uses them for a while and resells them ( I don't understand why he just does ).

Often enough I get emails and phone calls about inverters, generators and wiring ( he was a mechanic so most of that within the limits he can lift and move at he does ).

I help him where I can with advice but often gtell him to find a RV/truck centre or electrician.
I don't know exactly what is going on from many of his discriptions and he sometimes makes things worse when he improvises a fix.

My fear is Dad is going to set the thing on fire going someplace or worse inthe night when he is sleeping.
SO this is why I have decided not to offer much in the way of advice on these things anymore.

I would work for beer and a good story if most of you guys where close at hand.
But I just don't feel right telling you to do things i can not see frst hand.

 

[Stangrcr1]

More than likely, that circuit breaker would allow the engine's alternator to charge the house battery while driving. There should also be a relay in that same wire to only allow charging the house battery while the engine is running.

If all 12v is dead with the RV plugged in, my first stop would be the converter. There is usually a breaker on it and maybe some more fuses.

 

[RobertC]

Sometimes its better to take these things to an expert.

.....

SO this is why I have decided not to offer much in the way of advice on these things anymore.

....

But I just don't feel right telling you to do things i can not see frst hand.

Hello NOS,

Thank You...you did provide advice 'take it to an expert' , and I appreciate your advice and knowledge :thumbsup: .

I realize I was just describing stuff in laymans terms, and without actually seeing things and using diagnostic meter's, it's just a 'shot in the dark'.

Here's my take on it...I am going to work w/ the couple of 'leads' I have like replacing that outlet while not plugged in, and seeking that 12 volt circuit breaker reset...and if this does not do it..although i'm sure i'll be searching and reading, but at that point i'll take it to an expert.

I do appreciate all of you all's advice, and i'll let you know what I find out...may even take some pictures of the circuit breaker when i find it, the outlet when i remove it, and a picture of the converter, so you all can at least have the benefit of knowing what brand of stuff i'm working with and what a few things look like.

Then I plan on taking a picture of the 12 volt lights working and something running plugged in to a functioning outlet !! :laugh: !!

Thanks, Robert