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shore power and inverter issues
Greetings,

I own a 2003 26 MB.

A problem recently started happening on a trip to Utah, as if that matters! :)
I'm not sure if our system experienced an electrical surge at an RV park.

When I am plugged into shore power, my 110 outlets do not work. The microwave is an easy way to test/see this. It is off. The fridge switches from AC to Gas. Using other outlets in the rig also show that the outlets don't work.

When I unplug from shore power and turn on the inverter, the 110 outlets work. The microwave is on. The fridge switches from Gas to AC and using other outlets works.

When plugged into shore power, the overhead coach AC unit works and the control panel for the inverter tells me that I am indeed connected to shore power and that the battery is charging.

Any ideas how to debug this?

Also, can anyone explain how the shore power, converter, inverter, solar panels are all wired up?

I contacted Lazy Daze and they tell me there was an aftermarket modification made to my rig. That is, the inverter that is currently installed wasn't installed by the factory. My inverter is located in the outdoor access locker underneath the coach batteries - in the same storage locker as the fresh water tank drain ball valve. Is this where others have their inverter?

Thanks for any hints or help!

-m
2003 MB
Re: shore power and inverter issues
Reply #1 –
OK, the shore power connection works, because the air conditioner works.  So, the power is getting from the pedestal, through your ATS (automatic transfer switch) to the power panel, where the circuit breakers are located.

In my power panel, power for the outlets comes in from either shore or generator, then power goes to my whole house inverter and controller through a single circuit breaker.  At that point, if I am on shore or generator power, the inverter/controller routes the incoming 120v AC power out to the outlets, bypassing the inverter function.  That output is routed to a secondary breaker box where there are circuit breakers for the refrigerator, the microwave and the other outlets.  If I am on batteries, the inverter takes 12v DC, switches it to 120v AC, and sends that to the outlets.  Output for the air conditioner is routed from the main power panel directly to the air conditioner via a pair of breakers.

Let's disregard the microwave for a moment.  With a shore power connection, power is being delivered to your main power panel but (on my system) not to the secondary power panel.  Without shore power, you have no power coming into the main power panel but you can get power out of the inverter to the secondary power panel.

If the circuit breaker feeding the inverter/controller were bad, the inverter would never sense the presence of shore power, so power would be delivered to the secondary panel all the time, so you would always see power at the outlets.  If the breakers in the secondary panel were bad, you would never see power at the outlets.  The fact that you have power at the outlets some of the time means that the breakers are ok, as is the wiring. 

The problem must be in your inverter/controller.

Mine has a built in circuit breaker, reset via a button on the side.  Read your manual and determine where your inverter's internal circuit breaker is located, and try resetting it.  If that does not cure the problem, my guess would be that you have a bad inverter/controller.

Without knowing how your system is set up, I don't think we can be of too much help on this.  Everything depends on how your system is wired, and it can be very different than ours.  For example, my refrigerator can be run off the inverter, but to do so, I need to unplug the refrigerator from the shore-powered outlet and plug it into the inverter-powered outlet.  Clearly, my setup is different in some ways than yours.

I hope this was some help.  Good luck.

Ken F in NM

'08 MB
Re: shore power and inverter issues
Reply #2 –
One other thing to check is your GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter). A campground glitch or just plain aging could cause it to trip, disabling all your household AC  outlets except (in a normally wired LD) the microwave oven and the air conditioner. The GFCI will be either a circuit breaker or a duplex outlet with "TEST" and "RESET" pushbuttons. Find it and try pushing the reset button. You might get lucky.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: shore power and inverter issues
Reply #3 –
     I side with Andy for the simple thing, the GFCI breaker in your distribution panel. The handle will be at the halfway point showing that it is tripped. To reset it, turn it off (down) first to load the spring, then turn it back on by flipping the handle all the way up. This should return normal operation. If there is a continuing fault, it will immediately trip again. Then you need to find the problem, usually by unplugging items until you can get the GFCI to stay on. Occasionally the GFCI breaker goes bad. They are easy to replace. RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: shore power and inverter issues
Reply #4 –
Seems like we've seen a lot of troubleshooting posts lately which prods me to thank our coterie of whiz kids and shade tree mechanics who are always there to provide answers and suggestions to those with Lazy Daze technical and mechanical problems. We know who you are and you know who you are. We non-techies, newbies, klutzes and nerds REALLY appreciate your contributions.

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: shore power and inverter issues
Reply #5 –
"Seems like we've seen a lot of troubleshooting posts lately which prods me to thank our coterie of whiz kids and shade tree mechanics who are always there to provide answers and suggestions to those with Lazy Daze technical and mechanical problems. We know who you are and you know who you are. We non-techies, newbies, klutzes and nerds REALLY appreciate your contributions."

I hate "Me, too" posts, but golly - if ever there was a bunch of folks who deserve a pat on the back, a hearty thank you, and free beer for life, it is our handy dandy members that help us all out.  My SAVE box is stuffed with gems, subjects properly indicated with colored flags.  Hopefully I'll never need any of them, but maybe . . . some day . . . I will actually be out on the road in our lovely Lazy Daze, but hopefully not need any of the repair notes - just the fun ones!

   Virtual hugs,

   Judie  <-- Sierra Vista, Arizona
   Adventures of Dorrie Anne | Photographing the West

   Today:  Ladies and Gentleman
   ******************************
 
2015 Leisure Travel Unity (Sally Forth) - 2024 -
2009 Pleasure-Way Excel TS (Joyce) - 2019 - 2024
2018 Sportsmobile - (Hopper) 2023 - 2024
2005 RB (Dorrie Anne) - 2009-2022, 1985 TK (Gertie) - 1991-2001
1999 Mountain Aire (Francine) - 2001 - 2009
Re: shore power and inverter issues
Reply #6 –
I too hate “me too” posts.  😂.

But, the gratitude I feel for the support of this community transcends a simple “like”.
Paul
'92 Mid Bath
Re: shore power and inverter issues
Reply #7 –
A short tale along those lines - About 10 years ago when I began looking into RV's as a possibility for my future, I joined several RV owners' user groups, including this one.  What I saw in other groups was some bickering and a lot of complaining.  What I saw here was more along the lines of "I wanna share this idea that worked for me" and "I need some help," followed by a flood of supporting posts.  That positive support was a large part of the reason I eventually bought a LD.

Ken F in NM
'08 MB
Re: shore power and inverter issues
Reply #8 –
Here's another "me too".  While I was researching what kind/class of RV to buy, i was on a forum - don't remember which now - that was talking about how to design interiors for dyi van conversions. Someone suggested Andy Baird's website. From there I discovered this forum.

Thanks to the incredible wealth of tech info & personal experience on Andy's site, and all the resources & discussion here, and simple good fortune using Craig's List for the first time, I ended up with an LD that has been a joy to travel in and virtually trouble free. Bless you all!
2007 MB
Re: shore power and inverter issues
Reply #9 –
Welcome Susie

Always glad to see new names and faces! Nothing but accommodation and benefits on this board.    ;)
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: shore power and inverter issues
Reply #10 –
Ken, Andy, and Ron,

Thanks for all the info and suggestions.

I dug in a bit deeper into my electrical system. Here is how it goes and where I think the problem is.

My 03 Midbath was retrofitted with an aftermarket Inverter/Charger - a Fleet Power FP 1500-12 for the record.

Thus, whoever did the update circumvented the converter/charger that is below the sink. That is no longer used as I pulled the cover and see that there is no longer the 120VAC wires going to it.

My system is wired:

(Shorepower + Generator) -> ATS -> 1st Breaker Panel

1st Breaker Panel -> (Air Conditioner Breaker + Inverter/Charger Breaker)

Inverter/Charger -> 2nd Breaker Panel -> (Microwave Breaker + Other Outlets Breaker)

It looks like all the 120VAC outlets are fed from the Inverter/Charger, thus that is the unit that looks like the problem.

I just put the RV down for the winter, so this will be one of the things to tackle next spring.

If anyone has any good resources for digging into an Inverter/Charger, let me know! ;)

Thanks for all the help.

-m
2003 MB
Re: shore power and inverter issues
Reply #12 –
SOLVED

A quick followup for anyone that sees this thread in the future.

My Fleet Power inverter/charger did get fried. That was the issue.

There is an ATS (automatic transfer switch) on the inverter/charger that switches between shore power and inverted power. The terminal that the shore power "hot" connected to was fried. Thus the ATS on the inverter/charger wasn't able to allow the shore power to pass through to the circuits that it was servicing.

I've replaced the inverter/charger with a Xantrex Freedom 458 and things are working again.

Thanks for all the help.

-m
2003 MB
 
Re: shore power and inverter issues
Reply #13 –
Thanks for the followup with solution to close out the thread.
Joel & Terry Wiley
2013  31 IB   ORWAN   / 2011 CRV Tow'd LWEROVE