Electrical Problem/Help Needed

[Booner]

We used our new (to us) '99 Starcraft Spaceliner PU this passed week for the first time.  Everything was working except for one electrical problem.  

When connected to the campground power supply, only one outlet would work.  The PU is set up as follows: converter and one outlet on the left side (also the side where the hook-up power cord is), then two inside outlets, the fridge, and two outside outlets on the right side.  The outlet on the left next to the converter worked fine, but no power on the right side.  The fridge also did not work on 110V power, but worked and cooled nicely on propane.

Where should I start looking for the problem?  Suggestions please and thank you.

[Recumbentman]

In the area around your converter you should have some elect. breakers like the ones in your house. reset them by flipping them off and then back on. If that doesn't fix it remove the cover to your converter and there should be fuses like the ones in your car. pull those out and verify if one is blown.
let us know what you find to be the problem.

[coach]

I'll suggest you look closely at the outlets and determine if any are GFI with the test and reset buttons.
I have one branch protected by a GFI with white buttons on white outlet, very hard to see (I did notice it once I had the power center apart).
That's when I noticed that the front outlet was on a branch not GFI protected while all the others were chained off off the outlet under the sink in the dark with white on white reset button! A simple push was all it took.  I also found the air conditioner outlet under the bench I use with an electric heater. The A/C outlet is protected with a 20A breaker.

[Booner]

Both the breakers under the converter cover are on, flipped them off then back on as well.  Checked all the fuses (there are 3 15 amp and 1 20 amp), all are good.  All the outlets have a sticker on them that says GFCI Protected, the outlet below the sink (which is the working outlet) is the only one that has the Test/Reset buttons.  Still no power from the outlet on the other side of the PU next to the fridge, the two outside outlets or the outside outlet the fridge is plugged into.

If the GFCI in the outlet below the sink (the only one with the Test/Reset buttons) is bad/broken, would it still work, but just not send power on to the other outlets?  Would replacing that outlet solve the problem?  (I'm wishing I was better with electrical stuff right now.)

I found a couple mobile RV techs in the yellow pages.  Does anyone know what a reasonable rate for a mobile RV tech to come take a look at it would be?  Or would it be more cost effective to take it to the local Starcraft dealer?  

Any ideas on what else I could look for or opinions on getting it repaired.  Again, thanks!

[coach]

No idea of cost.
Know an electrictian? a neighbor, a handy man, etc?

The power center on a PU is just the distibution point like a household panel with an included converter.

You could have a wire disconnected in the distribution center that serves the right side of the PU since it sounds as that entire branch is out. In my case that was the branch that worked since my outside outlets where chained off the GFI I didn't notice.


If all of yours claim GFI orotection, they may be daisey chained off the one GFI outlet. A loose or disconnected wire on that outlet could result is loss of all outlets downstream.

[Booner]

Think I may have found the problem.  Took the GFCI outlet out and spliced the load/line wires together and the other outlet, the outside outlet, and the fridge outlet now work.  This leads me to believe there was either a loose connection in the GFCI outlet or the whole outlet is bad.  Going to the local RV center for a new outlet and will be back to wire it up shortly.  Stayed tuned for what I hope is a successful repair update....

[Booner]

Success!!!

Don't know if it was a loose wire or a bad GFCI outlet, but I replaced the outlet and wired it back up and ALL outlets are now working.

Lesson Learned (for me and anyone else):  a GFCI outlet can still be working but may not be supplying power on to the next outlets in the chain.

Thanks for the suggestions and assistance.

[wavery]

Success!!!

Don't know if it was a loose wire or a bad GFCI outlet, but I replaced the outlet and wired it back up and ALL outlets are now working.

Lesson Learned (for me and anyone else):  a GFCI outlet can still be working but may not be supplying power on to the next outlets in the chain.

Thanks for the suggestions and assistance.

Probably a loose wire. If the outlet itself was working, it was more than likely (like 99%) supplying power to the screws that hold the wires in place.

When a GFI outlet quits....it quits. It will refuse to "Reset" all toghether.

[hoppy]

Success!!!

Don't know if it was a loose wire or a bad GFCI outlet, but I replaced the outlet and wired it back up and ALL outlets are now working.

 I have to agree with wavery on this one. When a GFCI is fried... it's fried.
It does sound like it was a loose connection at either one or both the tributary wires...... especially since the recepticles that I have seen in the past are the type where you strip the insulation off the wires, and slide it in to the recepticle, and then it "should" lock in to place.
 Great news that you found the problem with little cost for the repair.

[Booner]

Could have been just loose wires, but I figured that while I had it all apart, I'd just replace the whole outlet as well since a new outlet was only $12.  

Just glad it was a cheap and relatively painless repair.  Again, thanks to everyone for the tips and advice.

[wavery]

Could have been just loose wires, but I figured that while I had it all apart, I'd just replace the whole outlet as well since a new outlet was only $12.  

Just glad it was a cheap and relatively painless repair.  Again, thanks to everyone for the tips and advice.

For what it's worth....I would have done the same thing. I'm about to do that with my brakes......if I've gotta go to all the trouble of taking something off (that may fail later) I'm replacing it. With my brakes, I'm replacing the entire assembly, backing plate and all.

[carapr]

GFCI outlets can and do go bad. One in my house shorted out in the middle of the night and tripped the circuit breaker. The GFCI outlet was still hot but when I connected down stream outlets to the load side wires it tripped the breaker. It never tripped the GFCI outlet.

All of the outlets in my Rockwood are protected by one GFCI outlet. It is tripped every time I get to my campsite. I guess the bumpy ride causes it to pop out. I plug the camper in a few days before a trip so the refrigerator can cool down. I have to remember to reset the outlet so the refrigerator will have power.

[coach]

Could have been just loose wires, but I figured that while I had it all apart, I'd just replace the whole outlet as well since a new outlet was only $12.  

Just glad it was a cheap and relatively painless repair.  Again, thanks to everyone for the tips and advice.

Glad it was painless and you did it yourself. Just consider what you saved by diagnosing the problem.