1 minute long Power outages

[Dssigler]

19 Phaeton 37BH - Electrical issue. Recently purchased a MarCELL pet monitor and plugged it in with the fireplace (dedicated circuit not running thru inverter). MarCell is sending alerts to a power outage a couple times a day, lasting for only 1 minute each outage. Noticed @ campground with 50amp service but getting it at home with a 30amp service. Took my Progressive EMS out of the equation and still getting the 1 minute power outages. Could it be the SurgeGuard transfer switch? And if so, how do I test that it's the problem?

[luvlabs]

Since the MarCell is the last thing that you added, you might want to add that to the top of the suspect list.

If you are getting an electrical fault, your Progressive EMS will tell you the last fault that occured.

While you are checking things, turn off all electrical sources, remove the cover of the transfer switch, and tighten all wire connections. Turn everything back on and see if you get any repeats.

[Old-Biscuit]

Are they REAL outages?

Have to reset clocks?

AC equipment shutting down etc?

Are you really loosing AC Power for a Minute?

Or is that Med Alert Monitor faulty.....bogus outages


In the Power Plants I worked in we always asked "WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU DID" before the problem happened

[Dssigler]

UPDATE: I plugged in an old clock radio, the kind where the time flashes if it looses power, into a different circuit, not going through the inverter. Got an alarm from Marcell and sure enough the time was flashing on the clock radio. So, it happening on multiple circuits but not on any circuits going through the inverter. Time to open up the SurgeGuard transfer switch…

[Skip426]

Before you go after your coach ; ask you neighbors in the park if they're having outages .

The inverter will power up any circuits it's attached to , as soon as shore power is removed , so your microwave clock will keep time .

My surge guard waits to see a steady power supply for over 200 seconds; after an interruption , could be park power is going down for only a couple of seconds and your surge guard doesn't restore power to the coach for a minute .

[vsheetz]

Sounds like your troubleshooting so far is good. Occurs at more than one power pedustal indicating unlikely the source dropping out. Using a non- inverted outlet.

Which transfer switch do you have? 41260 or other? 41260 doesn't have a delay - others may.

Do you have a cord reel or some other device ahead of the transfer switch?

Power flows from transfer switch to main 50a breaker panel, so unlikey after the transfer switch.

You could try another non-inverter branch circuit to check its not the fireplace circuit. The laundry or outlet for the block heater are options.

Snug up wire connections in the transfer switch.

The 60 second delay could be from the Marcell reporting. The power outage just a momentary blip.

Here's my Tiffin power flow diagram.

[Skip426]

[QUOTE=vsheetz;6164984]Sounds like your troubleshooting so far is good. Occurs at more than one power pedestal indicating unlikely the source dropping out. Using a non- inverted outlet.


Note to self ( yet again ) re-read original post before responding .

Happens in park and at home ; missed that line of info .

[nehog]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Are they REAL outages?
...

This is the real question. For example, I have a tester that monitors power lines for outages, drops and other factors that can have an effect on equipment. (The device actually prints a chart of voltage and marks any drops or spikes, for example.)

However there are ways to test without expensive equipment. One is a light that once power is removed will turn off and not turn back on. (A touch light, for example...) Another is a small cheap clock that when the power is interrupted loses time and resets to 0:00 and flashes. Many ways to test.

[nehog]

Originally Posted by Skip426

Before you go after your coach ; ask you neighbors in the park if they're having outages .

A few years ago we were having short unexplained outages. Some campers would have a power failure, others would not. (these were not really short, typically five to ten minutes...)

Being an EE and familiar with power systems, I figured out that one of the three phases coming into the section of the campground where we were was failing. So if a site was on the failed phase, it lost power. If the site was on one of the other two phases, no lost power!

It was an interesting situation. I do not recall the fix, only that we moved to another site later and that one didn't have any problems.