Electrical possible problem - RV-Dreams Community Forum

RVPAINTER · RV-Dreams Family Member

Electrical possible problem

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey there, where in Canada are you?

You could be on generator servicing the CG. (I'll bet you are.) Most likely there simply isn’t enough reserve power feeding the line and when the amps go up the source (generator?) can’t keep up with the power required and the volts go down.

Had that condition many times up there – and a couple of times in the US “30 amp” plug or not.

Keep that EMS on-line – it’s protecting you as it did us. Nice to have that volt and amp meter isn’t it so you know what’s happening.

Bill

dianneandsteve · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have the Surge Guard Voltage Regulator that monitors the incoming voltage. It will increase or decrease the voltage by 10% to maintain an acceptable voltage and shut you down if it's unacceptable.
I have experienced your problem a few times in the last couple of years...last week as a matter of fact and always on 30 amp. We were fine for most of the first day at our site until more rigs pulled in then my Regulator kept kicking us off after the boost couldn't keep up. After those rigs left the next day I was fine until the next group showed up. I enquired with my neighbour and he said the microwave was stuggling and they noticed dimming lights but never lost power. (They don't have a voltage regulator) I mentioned this to the owner and he said he has never had a complaint or problem. Ya right!
After we returned from an outing the next day the owner said he had an electrician come in and checked it out and found nothing. Of course the campsite was almost empty and those that were still there were out for the day so there was no load on his mickey mouse power line.
I'm no expert but I believe some campgrounds have extremely poor power...especially those offering 15 & 30 amp only. Guess what...we go to another campground and voila...no problems?!
I would also like to know if there is another reason for this aggravating situation.

RVPAINTER · RV-Dreams Family Member

We just returned from a month in Hubbard Nova Scotia - we are now just off the shore of Old Quebec City on Ile' d' Orleans which is in the middle of the Ste. Lawrence River for 3 weeks - 2 more to go. I checked with the campground and they say not on a generator.

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

The campground is having an old wiring/substandard sized wiring issue.
We too have run into this issue at several beach campgrounds. Ususally in the late afternoon, people returning from site seeing, AC's all crank up, everyone fixes a snack or starts dinner. The wiring that was installed in 1960 that was great then isn't so great now.

RVPAINTER · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Jim, I'm hopng there is nothing internal in my rig causing it. The campground says they just had all new wiring run underground as compared to the overhead of prior years. We'll be out of here in two weeks so we'll see what happens at the next campground back in the USA! We just have to be careful and kind of operate like we are plugged into 15 AMPS. However we cannot run the A/C at all so we have a couple of fans going.

Ranger guy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hope you had a great time in Nova Scotia thats were Im from Cape Breton.

RVPAINTER · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ranger guy - we had a wonderful time in Nova Scotia - Hubbards - was just loved the friendly people and the beaches and the scenery was FANTASTIC!!!! The campground was not all that great but the one thing it had going for it was its LOCATION - a hop-skip & jump to a lot of the south shore "TO DO" So many little villages to visit and tour. We were there a month and it was such a positive experience.