Loss of Shore/Generator Power

[RVersOnline]

Perhaps others have experienced this....

Just before we left our full service site this morning in Ajo, heading for dry camping at Organ Pipe, I noted that I was only getting power from the inverter -- not from shore power. Being an older park, I surmised that perhaps the Surge Guard had detected an irregularity, and cut off the power. Since voltage was still around 12.5, I figured it must have happened quite recently.

At Organ Pipe I turned on the generator -- and in general it appears no A/C was coming through. With the inverter on, I'm able to run a few A/C things (like the DataStorm dish!) -- at least for the present. I find I don't have any manual that discusses the physical inverter -- just the control panel. On the inverter, there is a red "reset" button, which I held down. Just prior I'd seen two green lights on the inverter top. One says "network", and I can't read the other one which would be top left if the inverter had been put in horizontally, rather than vertically. As it is, I was barely able to make out the "reset" next to the red button. After pushing and holding that one, all the LEDs went out, then they all came one. Then it reverted to just one green LED, "network". At one point the inverter itself stopped working, but seemed to restart (inverter power only) after I pressed one of two buttons next to the "reset" button, and which have captions I just can't read due to the way it's installed.

One more oddity. Although the generator does not seem to charge the batteries, or to put the fridge on electric (versus propane), I *can* run the A/C while the generator is on. I thought that only happened when there was A/C present -- which for the most part at least it is not.

I'll of course call WRV in the AM, but before I lost the inverter power again (and DataStorm), thought I'd put up this (not-so) quick post to see if others may have encountered this one.

[RVersOnline]

Perhaps others have experienced this....

Just before we left our full service site this morning in Ajo, heading for dry camping at Organ Pipe, I noted that I was only getting power from the inverter -- not from shore power. Being an older park, I surmised that perhaps the Surge Guard had detected an irregularity, and cut off the power. Since voltage was still around 12.5, I figured it must have happened quite recently.

At Organ Pipe I turned on the generator -- and in general it appears no A/C was coming through. With the inverter on, I'm able to run a few A/C things (like the DataStorm dish!) -- at least for the present. I find I don't have any manual that discusses the physical inverter -- just the control panel. On the inverter, there is a red "reset" button, which I held down. Just prior I'd seen two green lights on the inverter top. One says "network", and I can't read the other one which would be top left if the inverter had been put in horizontally, rather than vertically. As it is, I was barely able to make out the "reset" next to the red button. After pushing and holding that one, all the LEDs went out, then they all came one. Then it reverted to just one green LED, "network". At one point the inverter itself stopped working, but seemed to restart (inverter power only) after I pressed one of two buttons next to the "reset" button, and which have captions I just can't read due to the way it's installed.

One more oddity. Although the generator does not seem to charge the batteries, or to put the fridge on electric (versus propane), I *can* run the A/C while the generator is on. I thought that only happened when there was A/C present -- which for the most part at least it is not.

I'll of course call WRV in the AM, but before I lost the inverter power again (and DataStorm), thought I'd put up this (not-so) quick post to see if others may have encountered this one.

[Jim Bragg]

From what you have said I would start at the transfer switch with a volt meter. With the genset running being very careful check the incoming side for voltage. If you have 120 volts then one of the relays has failed.

[Dale777]

RVersonline,

See this irv2 thread for a very similar problem that I had just before Christmas.

Bad Transfer Switch

It might give you some clues. My problem turned out to be a bad transfer switch. I replaced it and all was okay.

[RVersOnline]

Morning brought both a new day and -- at least for now -- generator power to our dry camping location at Organ Pipe. Reason unknown -- but welcome anyway. Many thanks to those who responded on such short notice. We actually were pulling in almost enough solar power (3 panels/engineered system) to keep the house batteries almost topped off -- and with a bit more conservation, perhaps we could have stayed pretty much fully charged. But it's comforting not to have to rely on that!

[silverleaf-tim]

it sounds to me like your surge guard transfer switch is not latching and therefore not letting power through from the generator to the coach....you can check it out with a volt meter

[Old Rv'er]

My guess is the wiring in the Surgeguard has finally come loose. Everyone is talking about it, and many of us have already check it. Look for "Poor Engineering by WRV cost me 300 dollars", that whole thread talks about different electrical issues, which you most likely need to check. Hope things are not as bad as some.