-
Electrical Problem
I have an electrical problem. It is not life and death emergency, but it is urgent.
I plugged in Monday to a 50 amp plug on a church where I have parked at least once per year for 16 years. I believe I put the 50 amp plug in. (Edit: On closer inspection, I did not put this plug in.)
My wife checked the panel before going to the back of the bus after about 12 hours of being here and all was good. I checked 15 minutes later as I went to the back and side one/inverter one was in error, not inverting, but the incoming power light was flashing.
I have Trace/Xantrex 4024 inverters I think.
I understand that power light flashing to mean the power is getting to the inverter and is ready to be sent to the coach. I cleared the error and it began inverting, but the incoming power light kept flashing.
I went down to the inverter bay and every 30 seconds inverter one clicked as if it was trying to switch to normal operation, but did not. After several times of that clicking every 30 seconds, the inverter would go into error, stop inverting and nothing on side one was energized. The error listed was Over current.
For those of you that do not know, my Vantare does not have inverter circuits and non-inverter circuits. Everything is routed through the inverters.
For kicks and grins I started the generator and both inverter one and two came online with the generator. The shore power light on both inverters was flashing as is normal if hooked to shore power when the generator is running.
I turned the generator off. Inverter two switched over to shore power and inverter one did not. It was doing the same as before, clicking as if it was trying to bring the shore power online and eventually going into error and ceasing to invert at all.
I turned on the generator and both sides are now powered up with the generator. Once inverter one goes into error the fridge has no power.
This could be a problem with shore power or connections in my coach between where the shore power comes in and the inverter. However, the shore power light on the inverter is flashing properly so the inverter is sensing shore power. I did not check voltages at the plug because it is raining cats and dogs. The volt meter inside shows normal voltages.
It could also be an inverter problem. Ideas, pointers, answers?
I am posting this tonight after 1:00 central. I guess I will probably leave the generator running tonight and check back here in the morning for answers.
Thank you,
Davy
-
11 Replies
-
I have zero knowledge of how Vantare set up its coach electrical system, but before I started assuming there was an issue with the coach or its inverters I would verify each leg of shore power was powered. If it was OK at the receptacle, I would then make sure the power cord or plug was OK.
-
Your best bet Davy is to call Inverter Service, they can help you identify the problem, tell them your a PC guy. My 4024’s show a solid green light on AC1 if all is good.
-
Yes, I will check the shore power source when this storm passes and I am not standing in a puddle next to the building.
You are correct, Tom, The AC1 light is solid green when all is in good, but mine always flashes when there is shore power at the inverter, but the inverter has not “kicked” in yet. That usually only takes a few seconds after connecting to shore power. AC1 also flashes when the generator is powered and AC2 (Generter power) is in solid.
About 5 this morning I woke from sleep and remembered the Manual Inverter Bypass Switch.
On my coach there is a switch for each inverter. It normally needs no adjustment from the Normal OFF mode.
I used inverter one to turn the generator off after daylight. This left side two in good and side one malfunctioning as it had last night.
I turned the Manual Inverter Bypass Switch to the utility side. The AC1 light flashed for a few seconds, the electric and inverter seemingly began to function properly for about one minute and then the AC1 light on inverter one went completely off like there was no power coming in, but inverter one says it is inverting.
However, nothing on side one is working, I am guessing because I have the inverter bypassed.
I will check shore power when I can safely do so. Until then I suppose I will have to run the generator for any power on side one.
I need Ben Cummings. I sure miss him. Any ideas, Jeff or anyone else that understands Vantare set up? Hopefully this is only a power issue.
Davy
-
The bypass switches will indeed bypass the inverter(s) and connect either shore or generator power directly to the AC breakers. If you bypass inverter 1, connecting the shore power directly to AC breakers AND you are still having on-board issues, it is another indication that that “leg” of the shore power is bad.
I had a very similar issue in my Featherlite , had to run the generator overnight and was able to confirm the one side of the breaker had tripped (RV park ended up replacing the breaker).
Consider getting one of the Progressive Boxes that plug into the power source and give voltage, hertz, and amps used. It will be another “data source” should you run into similar issues again. In my case, it confirmed no-power on the problem leg. It would have also shown under/over voltage.
-
I have some answers. Last night when this began inverter one was flashing the AC1 light telling me that shore power was at the coach, but not in good at the inverter. By this morning that light was not blinking even though inverter two had good power.
I had to wait until the evening for the storms to pass so I could check it out. There was good power on both sides of the breaker once I finally found the panel inside the church. I thought maybe I had installed this plug in 2003, but on closer inspection, I knew I had not. I had never been inside the room where the panels are located. Plus someone had ran a 15 amp house plug and piggybacked off the 50 amp plug. Ouch!
When I checked the voltage on the plug itself, one side had solid power and the other side showed signs of past burning and it had intermittent power. Holding my meter leads firmly the 120 volts would come and go.
I turned the breaker off, removed the plug and it literally came apart in my hand.
It has been burned for a long time, maybe from a lose connection on one the the hot sides.
I was able to fish some slack from a wire trough on the inside of the wall into the box and cut off a couple of inches of wire that was brittle from the heat. I bought a 50 amp box and plug from Home Depot and now it is back in business.
Everything is fine in the bus with shore power connected. I hope the crazy power I was getting from that burning plug did not do any damage to the inverter.
Thank you for your help.
Davy
-
Roy wrote: “Consider getting one of the Progressive Boxes that plug into the power source and give voltage, hertz, and amps used. It will be another “data source” should you run into similar issues again. In my case, it confirmed no-power on the problem leg. It would have also shown under/over voltage.”
Ditto what Roy wrote! One of the best investments I’ve made for the coach. I plug it into the shore power first, then I plug the coach plug into the Progressive box. Tells me IMMEDIATELY if the shore power is working. Get the more expensive version. Well worth the money … especially if you’re like me and no the most adept with a multi-meter.
I’ve had it for about two years now. Two or three times I had it “trip out” due to low voltage.
-
It’s a good day Davy when the problem is at the pole, good job sorting it out.
-
This the model you use? Is Progressive Industries the unit with the impressive warranty. I have read the discussions before, but my mind leaks.
Progressive Industries EMS-PT50X Portable RV Surge Protector – 50 Amp
-
DAVY,
I use the EMS HW50C that is hard wired into the coach with a remote display that shows volts and amps on each leg.
-
Yes, that’s what I use Davy except it’s an older style.
-
Yes Davy that’s the one!
Log in to reply.