need help with electrical problems

[mikebough]

I have a 2003 Providence motorhome. There is a drop in voltage when I turn anything on. We use two electric heaters in the winter season and when we do the volts drop from 120 to 100. When I turn on the following the drops are,
Convection oven, 7 volts
Hair drier 3 volts
Electric heater 10 volts
Toaster 3 volts

Since we bought this unit we have had to;
Replace the circuit board in fridge twice
Replace two surround sound systems
Replace two direct TV receivers
Replace the thermostat for air conditioner three times
Replace switch for water heater which dealer says they don't carry because they never go bad
We had a fire in junction box under bed
We had a fire in rear air conditioner

Can someone tell me how big a problem voltage loss is and what might be the cause is.

Thanks
Mike
mikebough@yahoo.com

[mikebough]

I have a 2003 Providence motorhome. There is a drop in voltage when I turn anything on. We use two electric heaters in the winter season and when we do the volts drop from 120 to 100. When I turn on the following the drops are,
Convection oven, 7 volts
Hair drier 3 volts
Electric heater 10 volts
Toaster 3 volts

Since we bought this unit we have had to;
Replace the circuit board in fridge twice
Replace two surround sound systems
Replace two direct TV receivers
Replace the thermostat for air conditioner three times
Replace switch for water heater which dealer says they don't carry because they never go bad
We had a fire in junction box under bed
We had a fire in rear air conditioner

Can someone tell me how big a problem voltage loss is and what might be the cause is.

Thanks
Mike
mikebough@yahoo.com

[RV Wizard]

Mikebough, Welcome to iRV2.com. We are glad to have you join us here. You have a problem of voltage drop probably caused by too small of wire gage for the total length of the circuit. I would recommend you check all wiring connections in the distribution panel, the transfer switch, and the shore power panel with the campground. If all connections are good and tight and you do not find any burnt wiring then the Supply feeder to the lot's electrical connection point is to blame. Let us know what you find when you have an electrician or yourself check thses issues.

[mikebough]

mike&amy
The wiring coming out of the breaker box is 12/3.The wiring going into the box is a lot larger but not labeled. We have this problem anywhere we go. We first noticed the problem because when the air conditioners come on our 120 volt lights dim badly.
Thanks
Mike

[RV Wizard]

Have an electrician pull the breakers, check the bus bars as well as all wiring and connections. You could even have a bad transfer switch points connection causing the voltage drop. Be sure he checks the neutral side as well as hot side. Look for a source of heat. An infared temperature tester could help as well.

[NeilV]

Mike,

Do you have this problem only when using shore power or does it happen when on the generator also? If only when on shore power it could narrow things down to between the shore power side of your transfer switch and the power lead in.

Regards,

Neil

[mikebough]

Neil
I only have this problem with shore power.The park power is 50 amps and is fairly new. I polished the plug in with a diamond dust eraser so I know there is no problem there.
Thanks for your concern.
Mike

["007"]

Mike you did not say what your coach power is 30amp or 50 amp. Like RV-Wizard said the transfer sw seams to be acting up maybe only cutting in 1/2 of the power over loading that half of ckts in MH. Have you seen wiring into transfer sw or has a electrician checked out cord wiring into trans-sw? Serious problem, like Neil said is everything normal when Gen is on with no voltage drops?
If you take off cover of trans-sw you can see relays operate, you can measure voltage on both sides off bottom relay, that goes to main braker box in coach, should read same voltage on both power leds up to your ckt braker box in coach at transfer sw relay output. Try this with GEN than power from CG. Should be no difference between the two. "007"