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RV Electrical Problems: 12V & 120V Troubleshooting Guide 2024
Electrical Medium 2-6 hours 301 👍 4

RV Electrical Problems: 12V & 120V Troubleshooting Guide 2024

Around $500 in parts later — replaced the main breaker, cleaned all connections, checked the transfer switch — my 2007 Holiday Rambler Admiral SE still won't recognize shore power.

I'm pretty sure 110V is making it to the rig since I can measure it, but somewhere between the plug and my appliances, something's not happy. Energy management panel is dark too. What's the logical troubleshooting order here? I keep hearing about transfer switches and breaker panels but honestly don't know where to start without making things worse! …more
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
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
Can You Run an RV Dryer on 30 Amp Shore Power? Complete Guide
Appliances Easy 10 minutes research 93 👍

Can You Run an RV Dryer on 30 Amp Shore Power? Complete Guide

Already dealing with my 2019 Forest River's 4-year-old dryer constantly tripping the breaker — should I repair it or just replace with something more 30-amp friendly? We have a 2024 Tiffin Open Road and I'm not sure if I can use the dryer when we're plugged into a 30 amp hookup at campgrounds.

I've heard mixed things about whether dryers work on 30 amp service or if you need 50 amp. Some people say it depends on the dryer type? I'm honestly not even sure how to tell what voltage our dryer is or what that means for power requirements. Any guidance would be really appreciated! …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
Southwire EMS Built-in vs External Surge Protector: Do You Need Both?
General Easy 15 minutes to verify 87 👍

Southwire EMS Built-in vs External Surge Protector: Do You Need Both?

Opened my 2022 Holiday Rambler 38N DP and discovered it's eating through surge protectors way faster than normal, despite having the built-in Southwire system. Dealer says I might not need an external surge protector like a Watchdog since it's already built in.

Does a built-in Southwire surge guard provide the same protection as a standalone EMS unit? Should I still install an external surge protector or is the built-in system sufficient? Want to make sure I have proper protection without buying unnecessary equipment. …more

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50 Amp RV Inverter Charger Replacement: Complete Installation Guide 20
Solar Batteries Hard 4-6 hours 86 👍

50 Amp RV Inverter Charger Replacement: Complete Installation Guide 20

Finally moved into an RV with a 20-year-old Tradewinds inverter/charger unit that's completely dead and I have absolutely no idea how to replace it. The repair shop is offering a used Magnum MS2812 (2800VA) for $700 installed, but I'm concerned about its actual charging capacity versus my requirements.

My RV is wired for 50A shore power service, and I need an inverter/charger that can handle the full charging load. The shop claims the MS2812 will work, but the specifications seem to indicate it's only a 30A charger unit. Are there any legitimate 50A inverter/charger options available under $1000, or should I be looking at different manufacturers like Progressive Dynamics or Aims for this price range? …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
2006 Fleetwood Tioga Fuel Shutoff Switch Location: Complete Guide
Engine Easy 15 minutes 84 👍

2006 Fleetwood Tioga Fuel Shutoff Switch Location: Complete Guide

Tried everything to get my 2006 Fleetwood Tioga running after it started cutting out randomly yesterday, but can't even find the fuel shutoff switch. I think it might be related to the inertial fuel shutoff switch, but I honestly have no idea where to even start looking for it.

Could someone please help me understand where this switch is typically located on this model? I've heard it could be in a few different spots but I don't want to go tearing apart panels randomly. Any guidance on the most common locations would be really appreciated! …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
Winnebago EKKO Shore Power & Water Leak Fix - Expert Guide
Electrical Medium 2-3 hours 78 👍

Winnebago EKKO Shore Power & Water Leak Fix - Expert Guide

After discovering shore power and water leak issues in my brand new 2025 Winnebago EKKO, I'm trying to decide between returning it or tackling the repairs myself. First, when I connect to shore power, the batteries aren't charging at all and there's an 'OPEN GRD' warning on the transfer switch. The shore power connection shows a red G light with green L and N lights. Second, there's water dripping right above the driver's seat coming from somewhere in the plastic overhead area between the left storage compartment and the TV mount. We have a cross-country family trip planned next month and I need to know if it's safe to travel with these problems. The battery issue is preventing me from running the generator when the coach battery gets too low. Is this something I can fix myself or do I need to head straight back to the dealer? …more
RV Battery Disconnect Switch Problems: Why Salesman Switches Fail
Electrical Easy Informational 77 👍

RV Battery Disconnect Switch Problems: Why Salesman Switches Fail

Since following that popular YouTube fix for my Thor Outlaw's battery drain, the salesman switch "solution" turned my minor electrical issue into a complete nightmare. Despite being marketed as a battery disconnect, this switch fails to eliminate parasitic draw completely while simultaneously disconnecting the batteries from the charging system when on shore power.

The design creates a problematic scenario: batteries continue draining through various circuits even when 'disconnected,' but they cannot receive charge from the converter. This results in dead batteries after extended storage periods, particularly when parked indoors where solar charging is unavailable.

I'm experiencing about a 50% probability of completely dead batteries, where they're disconnected from the converter and lack sufficient power to even reconnect to the charging system. The indicator light provides no reliable signal about the switch's actual position, making it impossible to track battery connection status.

What are the most effective solutions for addressing this flawed disconnect system? Are there proven workarounds that other Thor Outlaw owners have implemented, or should I be looking at bypassing this switch entirely? …more
RV Heat Pump Amp Draw: How Many Amps Does Your Unit Use?
Ac Refrigeration Easy 30 minutes 75 👍

RV Heat Pump Amp Draw: How Many Amps Does Your Unit Use?

Turned down a Class A with a heat pump because I'm terrified of being that neighbor constantly tripping breakers — am I overthinking this? We're plugged into 30-amp service at home while I pretend to know what I'm doing with all these fancy RV features.

Basically, I need to know how many amps this heat pump is going to suck down when it kicks on. I'm already running the usual suspects - fridge, lights, maybe the TV so I can ignore my responsibilities - and I'd rather not find out the hard way that I'm overloading everything. Anyone know the typical amp draw so I can at least look semi-competent when explaining to my spouse why the power keeps cutting out? …more

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50 Amp RV Surge Protector Guide: Best Models, Installation & Protection Tips
Electrical Medium 2-3 hours 73 👍

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
Can You Use a 240V EV Charger Outlet for RV 30 Amp Shore Power?
Electrical Medium 1 hour to verify/install 69 👍

Can You Use a 240V EV Charger Outlet for RV 30 Amp Shore Power?

Got a 240V outlet in my garage for the EV charger and wondering if I can wire up an adapter to plug my 30 amp RV into it instead of running an extension cord from the dryer outlet. Seems like the voltage and amperage should work but don't want to fry my converter. …more
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