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kmetz77 · 04-11-2021, 01:28 PM

I'm hoping someone can assist. We have a 2017 Thor Four Winds 31L. Making our 2nd trip with it. Arrived at my brother in laws for a few days. He has a 5th wheel on a 50amp, and set up a 30 amp for us. Instead of ground, neutral, and power he hooked up power to 2 legs of the plug, essentially turning it into a 50 amp. When we plugged in and turned on the AC, smoke poured out of the inverter/breaker panel. Microwave blew a fuse. Once we figured out the power issue and fixed, we connected and everything is working, or so we thought. Last night I noticed the lights inside getting dim, and they really dimmed out when I opened the fridge and the fridge light turned on. Checked the coach battery and it was almost dead. Couldn't even start the generator. Started the engine and the lights immediately brightened and the battery charged off of the alternator. For some reason the interior lights and fridge aren't powered by the 30amp main power anymore, but are using the coach battery. I have to start it several times a day to charge the battery. Does anyone know what the issue could be? Thanks.

Mich F · 04-11-2021, 03:34 PM

I'm guessing that your main 30 amp breaker has popped or blown or the convertor is fried so your house battery is not getting charged. Your interior and frig lights run off the house battery
You would have been much better off if your BIL hadn't rewired his 50 amp outlet and you just used a 50 amp to 30 amp pigtail wire.

Sbrownstein · 04-11-2021, 03:37 PM

Fried orblown fuse on converter. If that's all you are very, very lucky.

wolfe10 · 04-11-2021, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmetz77

Instead of ground, neutral, and power he hooked up power to 2 legs of the plug, essentially turning it into a 50 amp.

Putting 240 VAC into 120 VAC appliances will "let the smoke out".

You need to check every 120 VAC appliance that was run on that connection.

powercat_ras · 04-11-2021, 04:18 PM

Your brother connected you to a 240 Volt Dryer Outlet, or perhaps to a 240 Volt Outlet in the garage intended for a big power tool or welder. Your 30 Amp Shore Power Input uses 120 Volt power. Not sure how he managed to do this as your 30 Amp 120 V Plug will not fit into a 240 V dryer or welder outlet.

Since you stated smoke poured out of the breaker panel, chances are your issue is that the 120 VAC to 12 VDC converter charger is in the lower section of that unit and took a catastrophic failure due to being hit with 240 VAC when it is designed for 120 VAC.

If so, your fix is to get a replacement unit. They are readily available, even thru Amazon, and the labor to replace is no more than an hour.

The fridge control board runs on 12 volts, as do the ceiling fans and lights. So those things stop working right when the 12 volts gets weak. You may be able to get by until you get the converter charger fixed by getting a small 6 amp 12 volt battery charger and connecting it to your coach battery.

chunker · 04-11-2021, 05:57 PM

Get an EMS, Electrical Management System, not a "surge protector, an EMS. His wiring might have fried the EMS but your RV wiring would have been saved.

chunker · 04-12-2021, 04:34 AM

[QUOTE=powercat_ras;5709334
The fridge control board runs on 12 volts, as do the ceiling fans and lights. So those things stop working right when the 12 volts gets weak. You may be able to get by until you get the converter charger fixed by getting a small 6 amp 12 volt battery charger and connecting it to your coach battery.[/QUOTE]

I second that suggestion. Several years ago the charging function of the Magnum Inverter/charger quit. We were on a 3 month trip and up in Nova Scotia with no way to fix it. At the suggestion of the Magnum rep, I got a 10 amp charger and would put that on the house battery bank while were were at the various locations. At the completion of the trip, I had the inverter/charger repaired. Still have that portable charger and it's on this trip.

chs · 04-12-2021, 06:20 AM

Just make sure you have someone else do the repairs. No offense intended, it's just some have the required knowledge and some don't.

KanzKran · 04-12-2021, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmetz77

Instead of ground, neutral, and power he hooked up power to 2 legs of the plug, essentially turning it into a 50 amp.

A 50A RV connection is 120/240V. He gave you 240V only, like you would use with larger machines, well pumps, or welders. It's no surprise that things got smoked. As someone suggested, the better move would have been to use a 50A to 30A dog bone adapter to get 120V. Or a sparky to wire a proper TT-30 receptacle from the panel with a 30A breaker.

You've got to examine wiring that may have been cooked, as well as the charger which may be damaged, and any other loads that were connected and powered at the time. Smoke means something was damaged to the point where it should be replaced, including wire insulation.

Rockwood27 · 04-12-2021, 06:49 AM

As part of your inspecting all appliances, recheck the refrigerator if it's a Norcold or Dometic. They work off of propane or 120V. The 120V side may be fried, while still functioning on LPG.