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Electrical outlets not working
Hey guys, I have a new to me 2003 26.5 mid bath, that we are currently renovating. Earlier today I was using one of the 110 outlets in the kitchen, without any generator or shore power (RV has solar and batteries fully charged) without any issues. I started up the generator to let it run for ten minutes or so and after I shut it off I realized I no longer had power from the outlet. I checked all the other outlets, including the microwave, and none are working now. I checked the fuses and the GCI switch under the kitchen countertop, tried resetting along with main breaker, and nothing. I started the generator back up and now have power to all outlets. Turned off and again no power. With solar and full batteries, the 110 outlets should be working correct? Thank you for any help.
2003 MidBath
Re: Electrical outlets not working
Reply #1 –
Quote from: A-Bone Capone  - 
With solar and full batteries, the 110 outlets should be working correctly? Thank you for any help.

Does your LD have a whole-house inverter? That is the only way you could have 120-VAC power available without shore power or have the generator running.
The generator issue may be caused by an intermittent transfer switch problem or a failing main breaker on the generator itself.
Hard to say what the exact problem(s) are without troubleshooting with a multimeter.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Electrical outlets not working
Reply #3 –
"With solar and full batteries, the 110 outlets should be working correct?"

Without running the generator? Not normally... unless, as Larry said, you have a large inverter that's connected to all the 120 VAC outlets ("whole house"). That isn't typical. A few Lazy Dazes have had one added, but it's an expensive upgrade, so few owners have done it. If you have all the manuals for your Lazy Daze, look through them to see whether there's a separate one for an inverter/charger. Or look on the walls for a monitor panel labeled Magnum or PROsine.

If your rig has this feature, you'll want to use it with care, lest you run down your batteries. These inverters can draw massive amounts of battery power if used to run appliances such as a coffeemaker or microwave oven. If the refrigerator is set to automatic mode while the inverter is on, even that can draw enough power to deplete your batteries in a few hours.

A whole-house inverter can be a very convenient thing, but it has to be used with discretion, and when using it you need to keep a close watch on your batteries' state of charge. Do you have an "intelligent"  battery monitor such as a Victron BMV-712, Balmar SG200, or Bogart TriMetric? If not, installing one is highly recommended. The little LED "idiot lights" that Lazy Daze provided are not nearly good enough to tell you what's going on with your batteries.

The more you can tell us about your rig's electrical system, the better we'll be able to help.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Electrical outlets not working
Reply #4 –
That’s a great question and I will look to see if it has an inverter connected to all outlets. I didn’t even think about since I had been using the outlet without any generator or shore power for at least ten minutes. I just happened to run the generator at the same time and realized they didn’t work again after that.
2003 MidBath
Re: Electrical outlets not working
Reply #5 –
Hello if you do have an inverter theres a reset on it you will have to find where the inverter is.
            Jody
2009 Kodiak 32 foot Island Bed
Re: Electrical outlets not working
Reply #6 –
As others have said, really need to understand how much solar you have, how many and what type of batteries.

Even with an inverter, the standard house batteries and two solar panels won’t get you very far.  Even with my 400ah of Lithium batteries, I have run into situations where I thought they were fully charged when they were almost depleted (settings in my battery monitor were wrong)
Dave

2017 TK
Re: Electrical outlets not working
Reply #7 –
Hey Dave, that’s a good point as well. I really shouldn’t expect much with two panels anyway. For me it was more about just charging a phone or something small without having to run the generator. I may need to look into upgrading this solar system at some point if I really need more out of it. Thank you.
2003 MidBath
Re: Electrical outlets not working
Reply #8 –
Quote from: A-Bone Capone  - 
"Hey guys, I have a new to me 2003 26.5 mid bath, that we are currently renovating. Earlier today I was using one of the 110 outlets in the kitchen, without any generator or shore power (RV has solar and batteries fully charged) without any issues"

Mr./Ms A-Bone Capone, I would be very curious to learn what you had plugged in to a 110 volt outlet in your Lazy Daze's kitchen that actually worked without shore power or generator power? Please help solve this mystery.

I have read posts from many new owners, (primarily on the Facebook groups) who are under the same belief you were, that solar power will let them run anything. As you are now learning, without an inverter, that just doesn't happen.

This is a very helpful forum with a wealth of information. No shame or harm in asking questions; we were all beginners at one time.
Welcome to the Owner's group.

Steve K

Steve K

2003 Mid-bath
Re: Electrical outlets not working
Reply #9 –
Oh no I know it won’t run everything haha we actually own a soda trailer that has a battery from a Nissan Leaf in it that DOES run everything, and I may do that to this as well. I had a diffuser and a phone charging on two different outlets for at least ten mins before randomly turning on the generator and then they stopped. I would like to be able to charge a phone or plug in a computer without having to run the generator, but first I guess I better go over the solar system it currently has on it.
2003 MidBath
Re: Electrical outlets not working
Reply #10 –
Quote from: A-Bone Capone  - 
  I would like to be able to charge a phone or plug in a computer without having to run the generator, but first I guess I better go over the solar system it currently has on it.

That’s easy to accomplish by simply installing a 12V to USB adapter in one of your 12V (cigarette lighter type) outlets in your rig.

Welcome to the neighborhood!
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Electrical outlets not working
Reply #11 –
"I would like to be able to charge a phone or plug in a computer without having to run the generator"

Greg (Hilola) hit the nail on the head: get a 12 V power adapter for your computer, and use a 12 V to USB adapter for your phone or tablet. In general, avoid using 120 VAC for anything that requires a hundred watts or less, if you can use 12 VDC instead.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
 
Re: Electrical outlets not working
Reply #12 –
Quote from: Joan  - 
Without getting too deep in the weeds, the 12V vs. 120V information on this link (ignore the pitch for the "home study course") may be helpful:

RV Electrical: All the Basics You Need To Know! | RVshare
Curious. Why didn't you refer her to the articles on The Companion? One is by Ken Fears and another by me.
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy