Electrical issue

Tamijackett · 02-03-2021, 04:52 AM

A couple weeks ago our power kept surging. Found water in our 50 amp external plug, dried it out and all was good. Then two days ago our power went out again. In that I mean I was getting 110 from plugs but nothing else running. Batteries drained out. Had a repair guy come out and replaced the converter but then could not get the appliances or plugs to work. Everything on panel seems fine except when he tested the gfi plug it was coming in at 240v, he has no idea why.....any help is appreciated....

wiredgeorge · 02-03-2021, 06:25 AM

It does sound like your old converter was fried but sound like your new converter was hooked up incorrectly. Find a tech who knows what they are doing and use an ELECTRICAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM such as:
https://www.progressiveindustries.net/ems-pt50x

There is also a similar EMS unit that can be wired into the trailer that may have caught your water issue and shut things down before the converter fried:
https://www.progressiveindustries.net/ems-hw50c

**chuckster57** · 02-03-2021, 06:48 AM

George: converter wired wrong won’t make 240V, it only produces 12VDC.

OP: you need a professional electrician to check your power source, I bet it’s wired wrong.

wiredgeorge · 02-03-2021, 07:02 AM

If both 110V legs were tied from a 50A line wouldn't this put 240V on the 110V breakers? How would an electrical supply go from working properly (well surging some) to wrong? I am sure you know more of these things than I do but this seems odd on its face.

**chuckster57** · 02-03-2021, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

If both 110V legs were tied from a 50A line wouldn't this put 240V on the 110V breakers? How would an electrical supply go from working properly (well surging some) to wrong? I am sure you know more of these things than I do but this seems odd on its face.

I don’t know, I’m not an electrician either. If it was “proper” for a bit then I wonder if there isn’t an issue in the supply box. Maybe more water?

wiredgeorge · 02-03-2021, 10:11 AM

I do most all my own wiring but a complicated situation is out of my wheelhouse. Hopefully, the OP will come back with more facts that help smarter folks gain some insight as to what is going on. I probably wouldn't use the camper with 240V at any outlet, would check the wiring at the source and get a professional to fix the problem. Sounds like a bad install to my untrained eye and it appears the power source is problematic as well with the "surges".

Javi · 02-03-2021, 10:22 AM

3 phase OPEN DELTA... guy pulled the wrong line to the plug

Canonman · 02-03-2021, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tamijackett

A couple weeks ago our power kept surging. Found water in our 50 amp external plug, dried it out and all was good. Then two days ago our power went out again. In that I mean I was getting 110 from plugs but nothing else running. Batteries drained out. Had a repair guy come out and replaced the converter but then could not get the appliances or plugs to work. Everything on panel seems fine except when he tested the gfi plug it was coming in at 240v, he has no idea why.....any help is appreciated....

Not a 3 phase problem. Full 50a service worked until the water problem. Dried out the plug and all worked again. Then the ac power went partially out. Outlets worked but nothing else. I'd bet one leg of the service went out. The other leg the one that feeds the 110v outlets was still OK. The leg that fed the converter and other 110v accessories was open for some reason. Converter replacement caused more problems and was probably not installed correctly. OP needs an electrician to check the 50 amp supply and verify proper power connections from the pedestal right through the power supply panel in the trailer. 240v at he GFI is likely caused from power being back-fed through the neutral (just a guess). Dangerous situation! I'd disconnect all from the pedestal until qualified help arrives.

Customer1 · 02-03-2021, 04:55 PM

Simple really, you have an open neutral in your 50a service.

Oh, and you need a better tech.

CedarCreekWoody · 02-03-2021, 06:09 PM

I, too, think you need to unplug from shore power until you get someone to check your wiring. You could do serious damage to your electrical system and appliances.

**JRTJH** · 02-03-2021, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Customer1

Simple really, you have an open neutral in your 50a service.

Oh, and you need a better tech.

That was my first inclination too. The plug got wet, the neutral shorted out, arc'ed and melted some, creating a "weak connection at the damaged wire". When it dried out, it worked until a load was placed on it, then the neutral "melted through" creating an open neutral which allows 240 VAC to be felt on both legs.

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