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Boyd R · 02-26-2017, 07:46 AM

Wanted to share this story as it may help others if they have this issue.

This started a couple weeks ago. The coach started dropping 110volt randomly, and on different circuits. It would make microwave clock flash, turn Bose sound bar on TV off, sometimes the fridge would go out, sometimes washer. Power came back on within seconds, and it never once kicked a breaker or gfi.

This originally happened a couple times a day, but progressively increased.
I checked everything I could think of. My 50 amp cord, pulled cover off breaker box in coach and check for loose wires or hot breaker, I eliminated my surge protector at the pole.....NOTHING.

Talked to a friend here and he said he had a similar issue on his American Coach, and it was inverter related. So I look at my inverter remotes, and sure enough, one of them was reading "no inverter comm". When I tried turning it off and on, It said "unknown fault".

So out come the books. I did both soft inverter reboot, and hard reboot , no change. The remote would just go back and fourth between those screens.
The "power drops" were becoming more frequent. So I called Entegra CS ( I am still under warrenty).

I am thinking I must have a bad inverter, and CS agreed, but wanted to talk with magnum first. Magnum wanted me to eliminate the cable between the inverters, and the remotes ( screens inside coach) . The cable is simply a phone cord like a house phone uses.
So I went to store and bought 2 short phone cords, removed the two remotes, and took them under and plugged them direct to inverters. Both screens worked perfect. Left them like this for 24 hours, never dropped 110.

Good and bad here, issue is the cable that connects, but it runs through basement, up wall, through ceiling ! Ughhhhh !!

I trace through basement, found no issue. I then bring remotes back up to coach, and plug them back in........basically hoping for a miracle I guess.

When I plugged second one in, I wiggled it around, and screen went crazy. So I swapped and hooked other remote to that cable, same thing, screen goes crazy as I wiggle it around.
It turns out to be a bad end on the cable. I go to hardware store, buy the tool and new ends. Replace the ends........problem solved. It's been about 5 or 6 days, no issues.

Lot of work to find that simple fix, but I learned a lot about the system.

Matt D · 02-26-2017, 07:52 AM

Nicely done Boyd!

Very helpful write up. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience.

-Matt

brobox · 02-26-2017, 08:24 AM

Thanks for sharing your experience. Ted Cook told me I had a bad cable end as well. At one time Entegra was making their own connection, but the failure rate was high. I have one of the homemade connections that will need to be replaced. Thanks for letting me know it will be an easy fix.

Gary.Jones · 02-26-2017, 08:26 AM

You DA MAN BOYD !!!!! That problem and fix now goes into my "Things to Remember" file. Nice "catch"

Gary

RubiconTrail · 02-26-2017, 08:52 AM

Thanks Boyd, good info!

Boyd R · 02-26-2017, 09:14 AM

Should have added that the total cost of the tool and ends were about $13.00, two phone cords were around $7.00, and CS offered to reimburse me for any cost. I never ask for them to send a tech out, but I am confident they would have if needed.

I told them to just send me a care package with some shirts, and make sure they note what I found in case it happens to others.

I read a lot, and have learned a lot on these boards from that. Sharing story's like mine help all of us, and I certainly have absorbed more knowledge from these boards than I contribute........