Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > RV SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES FORUMS > RV Systems & Appliances
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-20-2014, 06:37 PM   #1
Member
 
Lexi2007's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: South Texas
Posts: 39
It's the Newbie Again

We're still exploring our Lexington and learning every day but every day leads to new questions.

We resolved the generator stoppage and have interior lights, idiot lights, and light in the fridge.

But no A/C. We checked the breaker and fuse box and all looks intact to me.

Now, on the control panel there is a switch for an "Arctic Pac". What is it for, what does it control and does it have anything to do with the A/C.

Thank you in advance.

Lexi's Mom
__________________
Ken & Val [Lexi's mom] Moczygemba & Tori the dog
Adkins, TX southeast of San Antonio, TX [Go Spurs!]
2017 Coachmen Concord 300 TX
Lexi2007 is offline   Reply With Quote
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!

Old 06-20-2014, 10:23 PM   #2
Registered User
 
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 905
Are you plugged in? Is generator running? Is breaker on generator tripped? Is GFCI tripped? The Arctic Pacific is probably tank heaters/blanket heaters for fresh/grey/black.
milasman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2014, 05:57 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,232
Your roof A/C uses 12V for the circuit board and t-stat, and 120V for fan and compressor.
jesilvas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2014, 07:37 AM   #4
Member
 
Lexi2007's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: South Texas
Posts: 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by milasman View Post
Are you plugged in? Is generator running? Is breaker on generator tripped? Is GFCI tripped? The Arctic Pacific is probably tank heaters/blanket heaters for fresh/grey/black.
No we weren't plugged in to shore power. Yes the generator was running and seemed to be working well. I will need to locate the breaker on the generator, is it A/C specific because we did have power to everything else. Is the GFCI A/C specific? if so where would I likely find that.

Thanks for the assistance.
__________________
Ken & Val [Lexi's mom] Moczygemba & Tori the dog
Adkins, TX southeast of San Antonio, TX [Go Spurs!]
2017 Coachmen Concord 300 TX
Lexi2007 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2014, 07:39 AM   #5
Member
 
Lexi2007's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: South Texas
Posts: 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by jesilvas View Post
Your roof A/C uses 12V for the circuit board and t-stat, and 120V for fan and compressor.
Could you please explain again in simpler terms? Besides being a newbie RV owner, I know very little about electricity and electrical systems in general. Is there something specific I should check on the rig?

Thank you for trying to help.
__________________
Ken & Val [Lexi's mom] Moczygemba & Tori the dog
Adkins, TX southeast of San Antonio, TX [Go Spurs!]
2017 Coachmen Concord 300 TX
Lexi2007 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2014, 08:03 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
adonh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Missouri City, TX
Posts: 1,309
t-stat = thermostat , requires 12 V. What happens when plugged into shore power. Have you checked your wall outlets to make sure you have 120V with generator on, with shore power. You can use a simple tester that lights up when to insert the 2 pins in the plug, or just take a small lamp and plug it in to the outlets in the coach to see if you have 120 V power.
__________________
Don
2003 Forest River Cardinal Platinum 37' 5th Wheel
1976 31' Airstream
adonh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2014, 08:06 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Davdeb1's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Avon Lake, Oh
Posts: 2,958
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lexi2007 View Post
No we weren't plugged in to shore power. Yes the generator was running and seemed to be working well. I will need to locate the breaker on the generator, is it A/C specific because we did have power to everything else. Is the GFCI A/C specific? if so where would I likely find that.

Thanks for the assistance.
Do you have power to any 110v plugs. They look like household plugs. The lights, refrigerator light, and other lights are 12v battery power. They will work whether Genny is running or not.
12v is DC. It comes from the battery. 110v is ac. This is what is produced by the Genny or shore power. your Genny could be running, but if the breaker or on/off switch is switched off, you won't have 110v ad power.
Can you plug something in and make it work? If not you do not have 110v ad power coming into your RV.
The only way to locate the breaker for the Genny is look for it.
I suggest you Google GFCI so you know what plug you are looking for.
By the way some say 110v and others say 120v. Both are the same. It is ac power, it comes from the shore power or Genny.
__________________
2000 HOLIDAY RAMBLER ENDEAVOR
40 FT--330HP CAT
2 SLIDES-TOAD 2012 focus
Fulltime-Home is where we park it.
Davdeb1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2014, 08:11 AM   #8
YC1
Senior Member
 
YC1's Avatar


 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FL
Posts: 11,403
Quote:
Originally Posted by Davdeb1 View Post
Do you have power to any 110v plugs. They look like household plugs. The lights, refrigerator light, and other lights are 12v battery power. They will work whether Genny is running or not.
12v is DC. It comes from the battery. 110v is ac. This is what is produced by the Genny or shore power. your Genny could be running, but if the breaker or on/off switch is switched off, you won't have 110v ad power.
Can you plug something in and make it work? If not you do not have 110v ad power coming into your RV.
And to add to this. Some RV's need to have the shoreline cord plugged into an outlet in the same area the cord comes out of. They do not have an automatic switch so must be plugged in to what is the generator outlet.

I had an rv that also had a switch inside to select from shoreline or generator as well as having to be plugged in to the outlet mentioned.
__________________
Certified Senior Electronic Technician, Telecommunications Engineer, Telecommunications repair Service Center Owner, Original owner HR 2008

.
YC1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2014, 09:06 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,232
No offense, but if you don't understand electricity and don't have a meter to test, you either are going to have to learn a lot quickly, or let someone work on it in the mean time.

It's not hard, but there is a lot to learn.
jesilvas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2014, 10:05 AM   #10
Member
 
Lexi2007's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: South Texas
Posts: 39
We Did It!

Thanks to all of you for the advice and for not talking to me like I am an imbecile.

I located the circuit breaker on the generator and reset it. Then I started the generator and let it run for about 2 minutes. Before starting I checked the oil to make sure it was ok and it was. Then I plugged the voltage tester into one of the plugs and it worked. After a few more minutes, I turned on the A/C and IT WORKED! Now I am running the generator because I don't know when it was last worked.

If I'm not pushing my luck, can ya'll answer a few more questions for me?

1. Is there a proper sequence to starting the generator, turning on the auxiliary batteries, powering up the water pump and hot water heater?

2. Is there a proper sequence to do things when first you pull into the RV
park?

3. Is there a proper sequence to shut down everything and prepare to leave?

I'm sure there are more questions to come, but I am about ready to load 'er up and go camping!

PS, my hubby has some medical issues that require me to become as knowledgeable as I can about this rig so that he doesn't have to worry. He bought the RV mostly for me. I know I have a huge learning curve but I'm up to it.

Thanks again to you all.

Regards,
Lexi's mom
__________________
Ken & Val [Lexi's mom] Moczygemba & Tori the dog
Adkins, TX southeast of San Antonio, TX [Go Spurs!]
2017 Coachmen Concord 300 TX
Lexi2007 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2014, 11:54 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
Davdeb1's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Avon Lake, Oh
Posts: 2,958
There are no auxiliary batteries. There are house batteries, they power the lights, refrigerator light and board, the a/c thermostat and board, and they are used to start the Genny. They are charged by the Genny and Shore power and they should always be on.
There is the chassis batteries, they start your engine and power most things on your dash.

2. Pull into Rv spot, get level, hook up water, sewer and shore power. Open slides if you have them. Then you can turn on water heater. You can have water pump on anytime, it runs off house batteries. Keep refrigerator on automatic. You don't need Genny unless you don't have shore power.

Leaving, dump tanks if you are books up to sewer, then reverse above procedure. If no sewer, dump on way out of park.
__________________
2000 HOLIDAY RAMBLER ENDEAVOR
40 FT--330HP CAT
2 SLIDES-TOAD 2012 focus
Fulltime-Home is where we park it.
Davdeb1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2014, 12:05 PM   #12
Moderator Emeritus
 
"007"'s Avatar
 
Nor'easters Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 30,785
Here is a thread for newbies plus to also many links for coach functions.
All systems require 12v for operation your AC's, micro, fridge if on electric all require 110 volts for operation plus the 12v's.
__________________
98KSCA, 99MACA, 03 KSCA-3740- 8.1 Chev-- ALLISON Trans
VISIT the NEWMAR QUICK TIPS & EASYMODS 1 & 2
QUICK TIPS # 3
RV SYSTEMS & APPLIANCES & RECALLS --- TECH INFORMATION
"007" is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2014, 02:08 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
wa8yxm's Avatar
 
Damon Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
The only "Proper sequence" for generator start I know of is this. Basically turn everything off (Water heater, A/C's Microwave, Big ticket items, you should also turn off TV's and Radios for different reasons)

IF not already disconnected from Shore power (House or park) DO so and wait at least one minute. (Three is better).

Start generator... When any of the following happens. You can start turning stuff back on, any order, one at a time I'd start with the A/C cause,,, Welll.. I want COMFORT First.

You hear the transfer switch CLUNK
The microwave clock lights up
Interior lights brighten
Any device plugged into a wall outlet not turned off starts working (Fan for eample).

Generator circuit breakers like to shut off for no good reason by the way.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
wa8yxm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2014, 03:01 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Plantation, Fl
Posts: 1,876
As for "powering up the water pump and hot water heater", if you're at a park and have your hose hooked to their water supply, you don't use your motor home water pump. You should have a pressure regulator like the following Camco 40055 Brass Water Pressure Regulator - Walmart.com on your hose, to prevent possible excessive water pressure through the park water connection. If you're not hooked up to city/park water, you just turn the pump on. You turn on the hot water heater after first making sure the heater is full, by turning on a hot water faucet until you have a steady stream of water. I'll assume your water heater is propane gas only, as that's the most common, so your gas has to be turned on also.
__________________
2024 Jayco Redhawk 26 M (OCCC challenged)
2017 RWD F 150 with a drive shaft disconnect
Mich F is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
newbie



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
A handful of newbie questions pdmlynek iRV2.com General Discussion 18 08-27-2014 05:18 AM
Newbie here Salty-Dawg New Member Check-In 11 03-31-2014 10:40 AM
Newbie LouieP New Member Check-In 11 03-09-2014 07:03 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:28 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.