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RV Shore Power Not Working: Complete Troubleshooting Guide
Electrical Medium 45 minutes 113 👍

RV Shore Power Not Working: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Plugged into shore power at the campground last night and absolutely nothing happened — no lights, no AC, nothing. Breaker on the pedestal looks fine and my neighbor's rig is running perfectly on the same circuit. Starting to wonder if something fried inside the transfer switch. …more
Samsung RF18 Refrigerator Installation Guide: Bounder 35E RV Door Opening Dimensions
Ac Refrigeration Hard 4-6 hours 102 👍

Samsung RF18 Refrigerator Installation Guide: Bounder 35E RV Door Opening Dimensions

Apparently I'm tackling my Samsung RF18 residential refrigerator install in my Bounder 35E this Saturday — what measurements and prep work do I need ready for the door opening? I've measured the door opening and it's just barely larger than 24.5 inches at the narrowest point, and Samsung lists the RF18 at exactly 24.5" wide with doors removed.

I'm worried I might get the refrigerator delivered and then find out it won't actually fit, or worse - damage something trying to force it through. Has anyone successfully done this installation? I know some people remove windows for residential fridge installations, but I really don't want to go that route if I can avoid it. The measurements seem so close that I'm concerned about whether this is actually feasible or if I'm setting myself up for a costly mistake. …more
Why Your RV Trips GFCI at Home But Not Campground: Complete Troubleshooting Guide
Electrical Medium 1-2 hours 96 👍

Why Your RV Trips GFCI at Home But Not Campground: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Turned on my motorhome at 11 PM and it tripped the home GFCI again — works perfectly at campgrounds but I need this solved before departure.

I've tried different adapters, rewired a busted GFCI inside the rig, even turned off ALL the breakers including the main panel breaker. Still trips my house GFCI every time, whether it's the garage, side of house, or front outlets. What gives? Why would it work everywhere else but trip GFCIs at home? There's gotta be something specific causing this, right? …more
RV Chassis Battery Draining & Dead Outlets - Troubleshooting
Electrical Medium 2-4 hours 94 👍

RV Chassis Battery Draining & Dead Outlets - Troubleshooting

Finally followed the manual's advice to check the converter first when my outlets died, but my RV chassis battery keeps draining even though the converter tests perfectly. here and I'm at my wit's end with my 2018 Winnebago Vista. The chassis battery keeps going completely dead every few days, even when we're plugged into shore power at the campground. I've already replaced the battery twice thinking it was just old, checked all the obvious stuff like dome lights and radio, and even had the alternator tested - everything checks out fine.

What's really driving me crazy is that this just started happening about a month ago out of nowhere. We've been full-timing for three years without any major electrical issues. I'm wondering if there's some parasitic draw I'm missing or if the battery isolator could be acting up? Has anyone else dealt with this nightmare? I'm getting tired of jump-starting this thing every other day and my wife is about ready to sell the rig and get a travel trailer instead! …more
RV Whirlpool Refrigerator Cycling Every 30 Minutes: Is It Normal? [202
Ac Refrigeration Easy 30 minutes 92 👍

RV Whirlpool Refrigerator Cycling Every 30 Minutes: Is It Normal? [202

Looked everywhere for answers on my Whirlpool residential refrigerator cycling every 30 minutes—my neighbor says it's normal, RV dealer says it's broken, YouTube says something else entirely. The ambient temperature here is around 65°F, and I have both the fridge and freezer set to the 3rd snowflake setting.

I haven't timed it exactly with a stopwatch, but I keep noticing it kicking on again after what feels like a short time. I'm concerned this frequent cycling might be a sign of a problem or could lead to premature failure. I try to keep the vents clean when I can access them. Should I be worried about this 30-minute cycle pattern, or is this within normal range for an RV refrigerator in these conditions? …more
How to Safely Use Multiple RV Campground Pedestal Outlets: Electrical
Electrical Easy N/A 86 👍

How to Safely Use Multiple RV Campground Pedestal Outlets: Electrical

I looked at my campsite setup and realized I need to safely tap multiple pedestal outlets for my RV without creating an electrical disaster. My toyhauler is plugged into the 50A service, but I'm thinking about also using the 20A outlet on the same pedestal for my residential washer/dryer and an electric tankless water heater.

Specifically, I want to plug in an electric tankless water heater for my toyhauler's setup, but I'm concerned about whether a 20A outlet can even handle that kind of load. Are these outlets on the same breaker as the 50A service? I don't want to trip breakers or worse, cause any damage to the campground's electrical system.

What's actually safe to plug into those extra pedestal outlets when you're already using the main 50A connection? I'm being extra cautious because I've heard horror stories about RV electrical issues. …more

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RV Sewer Hose Freezing Temperature & Cold Weather Protection
Plumbing Medium 30 min 86 👍

RV Sewer Hose Freezing Temperature & Cold Weather Protection

Nobody can seem to agree on whether I should winterize my RV sewer hose system now or wait until temperatures actually threaten my specific setup. Current setup involves a dual-hose configuration with approximately 30 feet total length running to septic connection point.

Critical issue: The final two feet of hose rises approximately two inches above the main run elevation before connecting to the septic inlet. This creates a low point where effluent can accumulate rather than draining completely. Overnight temperatures are forecast to drop to 25°F for the next 48 hours.

What is the precise freezing temperature for RV sewer hoses, and does the uphill section with potential standing water create additional freeze risk at this temperature threshold? …more
RV Red Fault Light No Power: How to Fix Partial Electrical Outage
Electrical Medium 30 minutes to 2 hours 85 👍

RV Red Fault Light No Power: How to Fix Partial Electrical Outage

Tried rewiring my RV's electrical system yesterday but something still doesn't seem right — red fault light is on and half my outlets have no power. My Class A has this red fault light glaring at me from the power panel, but it's not a total blackout situation. AC is running fine (thank goodness!), but my fridge, microwave, and some outlets decided to take a vacation.

I already tried the usual suspects - reset every GFCI I could find inside and messed with the main power cord panel outside where shore power comes in. Still got that annoying red light mocking me.

This partial power thing is driving me nuts. What should I be checking next to get everything back online? …more
How to Store LiFePO4 Batteries in Winter: RV Cold Weather Battery Guide
Solar Batteries Easy 1 hour preparation 83 👍

How to Store LiFePO4 Batteries in Winter: RV Cold Weather Battery Guide

Somewhere along the way, the previous owner of my newly purchased RV completely abandoned proper winter storage for these LiFePO4 batteries through multiple harsh seasons. My battery documentation shows a storage temperature range of 14° to 122°, which concerns me since Spokane winter temperatures tend to drop within 10° of zero.

The batteries are currently located under the entry steps, and I'm considering three options:
1) Leave batteries in the coach and risk potential damage like case cracking
2) Install heating pads or battery blankets
3) Remove and store batteries indoors

I'm leaning towards removing the batteries indoors, but I'd appreciate input from those with experience. Can anyone talk me out of this approach or confirm it as the best strategy? …more
Transfer Switch Ground Wire Not Connected - Winnebago View Fix
Electrical Easy 30 minutes 81 👍

Transfer Switch Ground Wire Not Connected - Winnebago View Fix

Nobody expects to find their 2021 Winnebago View 24D transfer switch ground wire completely disconnected at 11 PM when you're supposed to leave tomorrow morning. While replacing a damaged shore power cord, I opened up the transfer switch box and discovered that the main coach power ground wire isn't connected to anything - it looks like it was just cut short with barely any copper showing.

The RV has been this way since we bought it new, and I've never opened this box before. I'm wondering if this could somehow be intentional (maybe related to how the inverter is wired?) or if this is a serious problem that needs fixing right away. Should I be concerned about safety issues, and is this something that typically happens at the factory?

I'd really appreciate some guidance from more experienced folks - I want to make sure I handle this correctly and safely. …more
50 Amp RV Surge Protector Guide: Best Models, Installation & Protection Tips
Electrical Medium 2-3 hours 74 👍

50 Amp RV Surge Protector Guide: Best Models, Installation & Protection Tips

Turned on the weather this morning and saw another storm system rolling in, which has me panicking since I still don't have a 50 amp surge protector for my RV. I've been looking at units ranging from basic portable models to high-end hardwired systems, particularly needing a 50 amp solution that provides at least 6000 watts of surge protection.

I'm torn between getting a portable unit versus installing a hardwired unit directly into my electrical system. The portable units seem more flexible, but I'm concerned about theft since they'd be hanging outside at campgrounds.

What are the real-world advantages and disadvantages of each approach? Is the protection quality different between hardwired and portable surge protectors, or is it mainly about security and convenience?

I want to make sure I'm getting the best protection without overspending on unnecessary features. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance,
Bill …more
How to Replace a Fisher Paykel Drawer Dishwasher in Your RV: Complete
Appliances Medium 2-3 hours 74 👍

How to Replace a Fisher Paykel Drawer Dishwasher in Your RV: Complete

The Fisher and Paykel drawer dishwasher in our motorhome just went completely dead and I'm worried about electrical hazards with kids around. It's the same brand I have at home, and I'm wondering if I'm overthinking this whole situation.

Can I just grab a regular residential Fisher and Paykel drawer dishwasher and swap it in? I mean, dirty dishes are dirty dishes whether you're parked in a Walmart lot or your driveway, right? Or is there some RV voodoo that makes the home version incompatible with my rolling palace?

Before I potentially turn my galley into a flood zone, has anyone successfully done this swap? What should I be checking to make sure I don't create an expensive water feature where my dishwasher used to be? …more
2004 Tioga 29S Phantom 15W Battery Drain on Galley Circuit
Solar Batteries Medium 45 min 73 👍

2004 Tioga 29S Phantom 15W Battery Drain on Galley Circuit

Turned to my local RV tech about a 15W battery drain on my 2004 Tioga 29S galley circuit and he wants to replace the entire electrical panel—seriously? Through systematic testing with my solar charge controller display, I've isolated the drain to the galley circuit by pulling individual fuses.

All visible galley components are confirmed off: refrigerator switch is off, microwave is unplugged, and no lights or appliances are operating. Shore power is disconnected, and I've verified that gas detectors and other small 12V devices aren't the culprit - this 15W draw is substantial enough to drain my house batteries completely.

What hidden electrical components commonly run through the galley circuit that could account for this level of continuous power consumption when the aux switch engages? I need to identify what background systems might be energizing on this circuit that aren't immediately visible or obvious. …more

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Class A RV Tripping GFCI on Hot Days - Solar Inverter Fix
Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours troubleshooting 64 👍

Class A RV Tripping GFCI on Hot Days - Solar Inverter Fix

During these scorching summer days, this complete RV newbie is baffled why my Class A's GFCI keeps tripping every few days and I'm totally lost. The RV isn't plugged directly into the GFCI outlet, but there's one on the same circuit that keeps popping.

I'm wondering if my solar inverter might be the culprit since it seems heat-related? Or could this be pointing to a battery that's starting to go bad? Just trying to figure out if this is normal wear and tear or something I need to address before it gets worse. …more
Best Weatherproof RV Surge Protector Covers: TRC vs Camco Review
Electrical Easy 30 minutes 59 👍

Best Weatherproof RV Surge Protector Covers: TRC vs Camco Review

Left my 50-amp surge protector hanging on the pedestal through a week of thunderstorms and the housing is showing moisture inside the display. Debating between the TRC and Camco weatherproof covers but can't tell from the photos which one actually keeps rain out. Anyone used both? …more
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