Lazy Daze Owners' Group

Electrical Issues - (The Bane of My Existence)...

February 23, 2025, 01:22:36 pm

I'm currently in Puerto Penasco and true to form when I plugged into shore power, none of my outlets worked.  However, after resetting the breaker the issue resolved.  I'm ashamed to say I immediately went to the dark side and called the RV technician I use in Las Cruces who told me to reset the GFCI breaker.  (Extra points to me for knowing where it was in the control box to the left of my kitchen sink.)

However, before I did that I went outside to flip all the various switch positions on the inverter, and the one on the far left position started flashing and beeping and I then put it back to the position on the far right where the tech told me to not move it. 

A year ago if some recall I was having an issue linked to the install of the new inverter.  When I got home I took the RV in, and the tech rewired the inverter correctly and told me to leave the switch on the inverter in the same position ALL of the time.  He also told me there would be a ten second or so delay when I turned it on from the inside switch.  Apparently his assistant installed the new inverter before and basically just swapped it out with the same wiring configuration not checking the proper configuration.  Because of that the owner checked and rewired it properly at no extra charge.  However, I would think his assistant would have checked the wiring to make sure everything was working properly instead of just basically swapping out the unit.

However, now since I plugged into shore power I have three "new" issues.

1.  The 12-volt outlet that powers my XM radio has stopped working. 
2.  The 12-volt outlet in the rear of the mid-bath between the two sofas has stopped working.  When I bought the RV there was a office light with a small bulb that had been somehow wired behind the back wall.  It's stopped working also.  (I never liked the light, and actually would like it removed.)
3.  The Lazy Daze panel with the thermometer that you press it to light up and show the levels of black/gray/water no long lights up when you push it in.

I should probably ask about my convertor because always when I've plugged into shore power previously the fan would come on and run periodically.  The fan hasn't run since I plugged into shore power.  It has a breaker switch too, but I don't want to flip any more switches until I know what I'm doing. 

Since there are no real RV techs here, I'm wondering what type of person (electrician/handy man/etc...) I should try to resolve the issues.  When you have an older RV and have different people do work on it, it seems that many times the work isn't done correctly and corners are cut so to speak.

I always appreciate any and all help and thanks in advance...

Cheryl

Re: Electrical Issues - (The Bane of My Existence)...

Reply #2 – February 24, 2025, 12:07:26 am

Hello Cheryl.  I’d like to help but these types of issues are usually a challenge for me even when everything is in front of me.  I’m having some difficulty understanding your issues sight unseen.

One thing seems clear to me and that’s the 12V system isn’t working properly.  Have you checked the voltage at the house batteries?  If so, what’s the voltage.  I’d also check the battery cables for corrosion and if they are tight.

I’d also check for any loose connections in the fuse panel.  I’d check for a bad fuse in the fuse panel using a simple 12V tester or a multimeter.  All the breakers in the fuse panel should be on to include the converter breaker.  Double check by flipping each completely off and then back on.

That’s about all I can suggest right now.  Hope this helps.

Re: Electrical Issues - (The Bane of My Existence)...

Reply #4 – February 25, 2025, 10:22:16 am

I can only maybe explain the theory.  Maybe this can help you understand maybe what is going on.   I'll share what I'd do if it was me having this problem.

The convertor changes AC to DC when plugged in a AC source.   An inverter changes DC into AC.  
Sooo my I'd guess if I was having issues with my 12v DC systems when plugged into a AC source I think my converter was at faught.  I would unplug from the AC source to see what is my 12v system is working off my battery bank.  This will tell me where the issue may be.  
Without AC and DC test equipment I can't tell you how ' clean' the engery source is.   Bad AC can take out electrical very fast. 

Glen