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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> Electric - me or them?
Post Info TOPIC: Electric - me or them?
cherylbrv


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Electric - me or them?
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Everything has been working fine until we pulled into a new campsite on Monday, where they have FHU with 50 and 30 amp service, allegedly very new.  It was very hot so we were running both a/c's without a problem.  Until the middle of the night, when the power went off.  It should be noted that our site was at the end of the row and the space next to us was empty until about 6pm, although it was a small TT, probably running on 30amp.

In the morning, I reset the breaker in both the rig and the breaker box outside (although neither one was in the off position).  The power went back on for about 15 mins and then went off again.  This happened 3 times and then I couldn't get it back on.  BTW, I turned off the a/c in the bedroom (it got up to about 90 degrees in the room), the fan, my printer, and any other electric that wasn't necessary, but it still blew out.

I spoke with the owner who first suggested I was probably overloading the circuits.  I told him I didn't think so because I was able to run everything just fine and never had this problem before using a 50amp circuit.  He said he couldn't get an electrician over too quickly, and even if he could, it could take a while to fix if there was a problem.  He suggested I change sites or put myself on 30 amp.  Since Mitch wasn't home, I went onto 30 amp.  I had service for about 2 hours and then it went out again.

Later on Tuesday afternoon we changed sites (what a production to disconnect, hitch, park which takes us at least an hour, unhitch, reconnect, just to move a few feet!!) and connected to the 50 amp.  On one side of me was a person in a van (not even a class B) who was using 15 amp to run a fan.  Two sites on the other side were empty.  We had no problems running the electric the rest of Tuesday or all day Wednesday.  A small class A pulled in next to us during the day, but at 9:30 pm a larger class A (probably running 50a) pulled in on the other side.  The electric went out at 11:00 pm.  We turned off one of the a/c's and the printer, and reset the breaker.  So far so good.

So I need to ask whether the timing is just coincidental and there's yet another problem with my rig, or if there is a problem with the electric grid in the campground.  I can understand the breaker box being bad at one site, but in two that are on opposite sides of the park?   What kind of things should I look for to determine if it's us or them?



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Cheryl B. in her new RV

(well, not new any more! Full timing since 6/25/14)

2008 DRV MS 36TKBS3 (the CoW: Castle on Wheels), 2005 Ford F550 hauler (the Bull)

My blog is http://mitcheryl-rv-journey.blogspot.com/

My business: www.AZAdminSolutions.com
Sushidog


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Without at least a VOM, its hard to say, however I suspect the CG voltage is dropping too low because of too many users. A power conditioner (like this: hughesautoformers.com/ ) would help, but the problem most likely is the RV park owner's problem, maybe even a problem with the utility grid at his location. I would definitely check for low voltage, as this could easily damage equipment in your RV.

Chip

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cherylbrv


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How can we check for low voltage? We do have a surge protector, but it only has indicator lights - no other display.

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Cheryl B. in her new RV

(well, not new any more! Full timing since 6/25/14)

2008 DRV MS 36TKBS3 (the CoW: Castle on Wheels), 2005 Ford F550 hauler (the Bull)

My blog is http://mitcheryl-rv-journey.blogspot.com/

My business: www.AZAdminSolutions.com
Sushidog


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You can buy an volt meter at any big box hardware store. I like the Klein ET-50, but a simple radio shack type VOM will work fine.

Chip


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1999 National Tropical Class A gasser

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Judy L


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When we were looking for our first 5ver we were told by a sales person that we should keep a volt meter plugged into an outlet where it can easily be monitored to be sure that it doesn't drop below 110. He advised that if it dropped below 110 for very long it could damage appliances. He especially mentioned air conditioners. I have since read that the threshold for concern is actually lower than 110 but I have rarely seen ours go below that.


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cherylbrv


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Oh, Mitch knows about that stuff. I know he has a volt meter.


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Cheryl B. in her new RV

(well, not new any more! Full timing since 6/25/14)

2008 DRV MS 36TKBS3 (the CoW: Castle on Wheels), 2005 Ford F550 hauler (the Bull)

My blog is http://mitcheryl-rv-journey.blogspot.com/

My business: www.AZAdminSolutions.com
bjoyce


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If you have a Kill-A-Watt to check the usage of an appliance, it can also show you the voltage.

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LandYachty


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Workamping in a RV park this summer has been an eyeopener. A Good RV park will have a 200 AMP master breaker feeding 5-8 sites. (Remember that each site has a 50 AMP breaker), a Bad RV park may only have a 100 AMP master breaker. That being said, if the park wiring wasn't large enough to handle the total loads you get the "under voltage" problem you may be experiencing. I've been in your rig and don't see how you could overload the 50 AMP breaker. Obviously this is a park problem not yours and don't expect the owner to fix it! The only problem we have at the park we are working at is overloading the TV cable system and the TV's just get a little fuzzy. (because of that I have learnt just how many rigs to park close to our RV!)

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cherylbrv


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We did discover that the problem is definitely them -- when it's very hot and everyone in the park is running their a/c's, the grid can't handle that. It's been a bit cooler now, and the park has been a bit emptier, so no problems - at least with the electric. Having all sorts of other problems now, but that's another story!

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Cheryl B. in her new RV

(well, not new any more! Full timing since 6/25/14)

2008 DRV MS 36TKBS3 (the CoW: Castle on Wheels), 2005 Ford F550 hauler (the Bull)

My blog is http://mitcheryl-rv-journey.blogspot.com/

My business: www.AZAdminSolutions.com
Talensnana


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In two years of RVing and one of full time we have never experienced electric problem like you staTed until last week.  We were at a very full 140 site campground and we kept having power problems just like you stayed.   Husband checked everything out and found the power was fluctuating at the power connector.  We ended up running an extension cord from the site next to us and that helped for a little while.  We were there three days and all the class a's around us were experiencing the same problems.  Told the staff and of course they never have this problem.  Since we have left, we have had no other problems.  

I would not worry too much unless it happens at numerous parks.



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Oregonhiker


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I know your pain Cheryl. We have been out on a full summer trip and have stayed at 27 campgrounds so far. Of the 27, 2 have given us problems on the electric side. One had low voltage and the other had reverse polarity. Both cases we moved sites and the reverse polarity situation we actually got it to work on the third try(site). It is frustrating to me when we all have this happen once in a while. That isn't even going in to the low water pressure or bad or nonexistent wifi. But as I tell my wife, that is part of the adventure as long as it doesn't cause damage to our rig. Good luck and happy camping. Rick

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