|
07-06-2018, 06:50 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: SARASOTA, FL
Posts: 290
|
HELP -Trip Canceled AC/Electrical POWER Concerns
Took the Terra out for our 2nd outing and [moderator edit] just starting going south. I had the shore cord plugged into a home outlet and noticed the extension cord (old and light duty) getting warm, so I changed it out for a heavier cord with no problems. I ran the AC on genny power for the 1.5 hr trek to St Pete in this sub tropic FL weather hot, humid and hot. Hooked up and about an ˝ hr in the breaker at the power pole blew. Reset it and it ran another ˝ hr or so and the breaker blew again. I noticed that my shore power cord was getting hot. Checked the polarity and had the surge protector on so all OK. When it blew a 3rd time I was moved to another site.
About 1 hr into the site one AC unit started leaking inside, rather consistently. Then the second unit started but at a slow pace. No water was running off the roof so I lowered the hydraulic jacks and a river of water flowed off the roof. I again checked the power cord and it was warm. We decided to pack up and head home as the inside temp was climbing to over 82 within 3 minutes from 70, humidity was thick and the dog was stressed. So my fellow RV’ers, where do I go from here?
Plans:
1. Climb on the roof and check the drains and weep holes, clean as needed.
2. Inspect the power cord, could it be bad?
Other suggestions or reasons for this? All this started outta nowhere!
__________________
2002 - Fleetwood Terra 32, 8.1 L; 496 Vortec GM on a P32 Workhorse chassis. 2014 Ford Fiesta SE , AT as my TOAD.
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
07-06-2018, 08:43 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
|
While on the roof take off the shroud and clean the coils of the condenser. Straighten any bent fins with a fin comb, available at most auto parts stores. Is your RV 30 amp or 50 amp? A 30 amp cord with two A/C units running might be close to the limit, but a 50 amp cord shouldn't be stressed. Check the plug connections for any sign of heating.
You mentioned a surge protector, is it only that or an EMS? An EMS often has a display telling voltage and amperage use.
__________________
Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
|
|
|
07-06-2018, 10:24 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SW Louisiana
Posts: 8,850
|
Looking at the owners manual for a 2003 Fiesta Terra as well as the sales brochures https://www.fleetwoodrv.com/resource...ESTA_TERRA.pdf it appears this is a 30 amp coach with an optional second air conditioner that came equipped with a power managing system that automatically turned off one of the air conditioners when the second one is running. See section 08-6 in the above pdf
Not exactly the best system for hot climates
__________________
2002 Safari Trek 2830 on P32 Chassis with 8.1L w/ 400 watts solar 420Ah LiFePo4
2017 Jeep Cherokee Overland & 2007 Toyota Yaris TOADs with Even Brake,
Demco Commander tow bar and Blue Ox / Roadmaster base plates
|
|
|
07-07-2018, 03:55 AM
|
#4
|
Registered User
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Blairsville, GA & WPB, FL
Posts: 3,993
|
You need to decrease your energy draw to less than 30 amps. With carefully energy management you might be able to get by with only 30 amps of shore power. You are tripping breakers and cord getting hot because you’re using more than 30 amps. You can’t run the refrigerator or hot water on electric...run them on propane. You cannot use the microwave or coffee pot or hair dryer without shutting one AC off.
I would rewire your second AC so you have a second cord (15 amps) that you plug into the GFI outlet on the pedestal giving you 45 amps of power when hooked to shore power.
|
|
|
07-07-2018, 04:34 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Florida panhandle
Posts: 1,233
|
turn everything off but 2 ac units, maybe clean your plug contacts
mine gets warm if I run like that on 30amps for extended periods, warm is ok, hot is not! go to propane on fridge, water heater
find some shade!
|
|
|
07-07-2018, 05:06 AM
|
#6
|
Registered User
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 7,114
|
IIf you are running a 30 amp service, When you run both A/C units, you're probable right at the limit, that's probably why you were tripping the breaker on the pedestal at the campground..
I'd recommend splitting the service so you can run one of the A/C units on its own 20 amp service..
|
|
|
07-07-2018, 05:32 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: SARASOTA, FL
Posts: 290
|
Thanks for the advice. I did have the AC on, fridge, 2 TV's at the same time. Had done this before with no problems but not when it was as hot and humid outside as yesterday. Guessing the AC units were working OT.
FOOTNOTE: when on Genny no problem running these appliances (AC units and fridge).
__________________
2002 - Fleetwood Terra 32, 8.1 L; 496 Vortec GM on a P32 Workhorse chassis. 2014 Ford Fiesta SE , AT as my TOAD.
|
|
|
07-07-2018, 05:33 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: SARASOTA, FL
Posts: 290
|
How would one splits the AC power supply?
__________________
2002 - Fleetwood Terra 32, 8.1 L; 496 Vortec GM on a P32 Workhorse chassis. 2014 Ford Fiesta SE , AT as my TOAD.
|
|
|
07-07-2018, 06:11 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,349
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fredk20716
Thanks for the advice. I did have the AC on, fridge, 2 TV's at the same time. Had done this before with no problems but not when it was as hot and humid outside as yesterday. Guessing the AC units were working OT.
FOOTNOTE: when on Genny no problem running these appliances (AC units and fridge).
|
I'll bet you have a 5500 watt, or more, generator. They have a 30 and 15/20 amp output.
The 15/20 output connects to your second AC so your not overloading the 30 amp circuit.
It's doing what others are suggesting you do with your shore power, adding a seperate 15 amp line.
A way I would do that, without disrupting your present system, is to cut the wire feeding the second AC ( you need to figure out which one and where that is ) and add a simple male and female plug inline. As in the picture below.
Under normal situations you would leave them plugged together. When needed, you unplug it, and run a heavy duty extension cord, from the pedestal to it. That way the pedestal 15 amp outlet independently powers that one AC.
If your not very familiar with 120 volt electricity, don't even attempt any of this.
|
|
|
07-07-2018, 07:37 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 244
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by twinboat
I'll bet you have a 5500 watt, or more, generator. They have a 30 and 15/20 amp output.
The 15/20 output connects to your second AC so your not overloading the 30 amp circuit.
It's doing what others are suggesting you do with your shore power, adding a seperate 15 amp line.
A way I would do that, without disrupting your present system, is to cut the wire feeding the second AC ( you need to figure out which one and where that is ) and add a simple male and female plug inline. As in the picture below.
Under normal situations you would leave them plugged together. When needed, you unplug it, and run a heavy duty extension cord, from the pedestal to it. That way the pedestal 15 amp outlet independently powers that one AC.
If your not very familiar with 120 volt electricity, don't even attempt any of this.
Attachment 209934
|
Good idea and the easiest place to find the second air wires would be at the breaker box and after the breaker.
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|