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11-05-2021, 11:47 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Western NY
Posts: 6,149
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DebiA
ok thank you very much. I am a lady who retired and purchased a 37 ft. ,2004 National Tropical with 32,000 miles, and I love it. when I asked Camping World tech. he said He can answer all my questions but, I have to make an appointment and pay over $100. (can't remember exact amount)and i refused.
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Good decision.
Charging for some basic operating info seems out of line. !it's of knowledge right here at iRV2 so just ask and I'm sure you will get help.
Did you buy from a dealer or private?
Did they run through normal operation of systems with you?
__________________
Don & Marge
'13 Newmar Ventana 3433 - '14 CR-V TOAD
'03 Winnebago Adventurer 31Y - SOLD
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11-05-2021, 11:47 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Posts: 5,146
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Lots of good advice above. Some actions suggested are usually not required.
Plugging in or unplugging while high power devices are "on" can cause substantial arcing at the plug. This will cause eroding of the pins on the plug and sockets. Replacement will be needed soon.
Switch "off" the pedestal breaker. The pedestal breaker is the breaker on the shore power pedestal that you plug your exterior 50 amp cord into. Almost all shore power pedestals have a breaker next to the socket.
After the plug is securely connected or disconnected, switch the pedestal breaker back "on".
It does not hurt to switch A/C and heaters inside your RV "off". It will be easier on the pedestal breaker when you switch it "off" before plugging in or unplugging.
I agree with the previous posts that recommend a "surge protector". In a 50 amp 240 volt system a functional neutral pin is vital to protect your appliances.
Other RV'ers forget to switch "off" and the neutral connection in the socket can become damaged. Without a good neutral connection 240 volts can be applied to your appliances. Of course that often destroys them. The surge protector will prevent this.
__________________
Paul Bristol
Kodiak Cub 176RD
Nissan Pathfinder 2015
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11-05-2021, 01:30 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 1,414
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DebiA
ok thank you very much. I am a lady who retired and purchased a 37 ft. ,2004 National Tropical with 32,000 miles, and I love it. when I asked Camping World tech. he said He can answer all my questions but, I have to make an appointment and pay over $100. (can't remember exact amount)and i refused.
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Honestly - I would not pay the camping world tech - his comment about "paying $100 before he would answer anything" seems more like a money making gimic .... and my experience with most "camping world techs" is that *here* in this forum, you will get faster, much more accurate and experience based advice than the vast majority of "techs" out there (though, to be fair, there are a many good ones, you just need to know them in advance before you pay them .... and in my experience, the *good* ones will answer a few questions without even thinking about money...
The advice given above is good. The high-level things to keep in mind are 1) if the generator is running, it will take priority over the shore power (in terms of feeding power to the coach), 2) if you have high draw items running (like the AC, microwave, coffee maker, pretty much *any* thing that "creates heat", it is a good thing to shut them down before you toggle either shore or genny power on or off .... this avoids potential electrical arcing at the contacts in the power transfer switch. doing so once or twice is not going to cause catastrophy, but done repeatedly over time the contacts in the switch will wear out prematurely. making sure the breaker in the shore pedastal is off when either connecting or disconnecting both protects the transfer switch and the contacts on the external plug itself.
Likewise, sudden changes in power to high draw items (and most electronics also for that matter) also tends to cause wear and premature failure in them - which is why it is good practice to shut them down when you change power source (but again, not likely a catastrophy). On the other hand, the transfer switch will "technically" toggle quickly between shore power or generator if both are energized, *but* doing so will likely create something of a quick "glitch" in the power going to the stuff in the coach - again, not really friendly to them ....
The idea of an external surge protector I would reinforce as high priority .... as it sounds like you found out with your current ECM failure???
__________________
- 2017 Newmar London Aire -
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11-05-2021, 06:33 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 3,199
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mudfrog
Not to nit pick but if he shuts it off before turning off the genset, then it won't matter if he plugs on into shore and turns on the breaker. The ac won't come back on until he physically takes action at the thermostat. On that note though, I definitely agree to give it a few minutes before turning the ac back on. Most thermostats do have the delay built in but,, ya never know.
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Actually my thermostat is 12 volts and it only delays when first turned on. If there is a power interruption there will be no delay when the power comes back if the battery switch is on because the thermostat doesn't know the power went out, it is still telling the compressor to run. I found this out when my EMS started shutting me down momentarily because of low voltage and I didn't have the 2 min delay programmed in to the EMS because I thought the t-stat would take care of it. The compressor repeatedly kept starting till I could run over and kill it.
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Brian, 2011 Winnebago Via Class A on Sprinter Chassis
2000 Jeep TJ toad
Tucson, AZ
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11-05-2021, 06:52 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,813
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Yup, pretty much all correct information.
To simplify the process. Shut everything that runs on 120v you can. Leave the battery disconnect switch on. If the pedestal you plug into has a breaker, make sure it is off before you plug or unplug. But as someone said. You may run into a place that does not have a breaker at the plug. Most common in places that have only 30 amp.
I am currently in Mexico and the breaker box is at the other end of the park so I am plugging into a live 30 amp outlet. As others have said, a surge protector is cheap insurance. I have a Hughes Watchdog that is hardwired. It has about a 10 second delay, so even when I plug into a “live” outlet, the only power draw is what the surge protector draws.
If you go with one of the portable ones that plugs into shore power, then you plug you cord into it, plug it in first, turn on the breaker, if the surge protector says the power is good, turn off the breaker, plug your cord into it, the turn the breaker back on. If there is no breaker, plug the surge protector in, check the power, if it is ok, unplug it, plug you cord into it, the plug the surge protector into the outlet. The slight delay a surge protector gives prevents arcing to you plug.
__________________
2006 Winnebago Journey
39K
Cat C7
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11-05-2021, 07:01 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,813
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Winemaker2
Good decision.
Charging for some basic operating info seems out of line. !it's of knowledge right here at iRV2 so just ask and I'm sure you will get help.
Did you buy from a dealer or private?
Did they run through normal operation of systems with you?
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Yup, if you bought it from a dealer they should have run you through everything. I have a friend who works at a dealer and his entire job is to deliver to new buyers. When I say deliver, I don’t mean take it to them. I mean walk them through the entire operation of the Rv. He frequently spend 1/2 day or more showing people how to operate their new to them RV.
If not from a dealer. Would the previous owner be willing to walk you through it. Maybe buy a nice dinner afterwards.
Or, I will guarantee if you have a question at a campground, look for some crusty old dude having a beer. Most are more than happy to help. Especially if you find a campground with a lot of seasonal campers. A cold beer or some snacks will get you an afternoon of knowledge.
__________________
2006 Winnebago Journey
39K
Cat C7
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