converter question

[marandjwr]

can a bad converter cause intermittent power surges? We are plugged into 50 amp and have a volt meter plugged into 110 outlet and beginning about a month ago we noticed the microwave light was different and then the volt meter went from 73 to as high as 205 rapidly then back down and back up. Unplugged from 50 amp and plugged into 30 amp... no problems. waited some time.. like an hour to hours, plugged back into 50 amp and everything was back to normal. This has happened 4 times over the past month. Any ideas?

[Blenhardt]

Have you been at the same RV park for all of the 4 occurrences? If so I would suspect the power supply of the RV park is fluctuating. Don't think the converter would cause the AC voltage to change that much. Not sure but also don't think main AC for the coach goes through the converter. AC does go to the converter for conversion to 12 Volt DC.

[Tall-Pines]

That is why I use the hard-wired surge protector. From the Progressive web-site:
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" id="table45" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma;"><t><tr><td ="http://www.progressiveindustries.net/title2_back.gif" width="100%" style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 15px;">High/Low Voltage Protection:</td><td ="blank" valign="top" style="font-size: 1pt; line-height: 1px;"></td></tr></t></table>Whenever AC power falls below 104 volts, or rises above 132 volts, the EMS automatically shuts down power to the RV. The EMS will monitor the power and once the AC power rises above 104 volts, or below the 132 volt level, the time delay indicator flashes for the preset time and then automatically restores power to the RV.

[marandjwr]

yes we have been at the same campground during all episodes. we have since removed the converter from the equation but unhooking it and plugging back into 50 amp service. so far all is normal but this is usually the case, it corrects on it's own over time so we don't know if it has corrected on it's own or the converter was the problem. Just in case you ask, the batteries are on a trickle charger to keep them up for 12v needs. </span>

[mhs4771]

For the voltage to shoot up that high, sounds like there is a poor connection on the Neutral. If you loose the neutral you can end up with 200 plus volts on some circuits (a member on the Montana Forum had that happen) which can fry electronic equipment. I would be having someone from the park check the connections on the post.

[subdoc4]

Originally Posted by Tall-Pines

That is why I use the hard-wired surge protector. Â*From the Progressive web-site:
Â*&lt;table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" id="table45" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma;"&gt;&lt;t&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td ="http://www.progressiveindustries.net/title2_back.gif" width="100%" style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 15px;"&gt;High/Low Voltage Protection:&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td ="blank" valign="top" style="font-size: 1pt; line-height: 1px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 8pt;"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/t&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;p ="Msonormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 7px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"&gt;Whenever AC power falls below 104 volts, or rises above 132 volts, the EMS automatically shuts down power to the RV.Â* The EMS will monitor the power and once the AC power rises above 104 volts, or below the 132 volt level, the time delay indicator flashes for the preset time and then automatically restores power to the RV.

X2!!

[marandjwr]

we have suspected a neutral connection problem... just getting him to believe what is happening is a problem. He went out and bought himself a new volt meter saying that it was the volt meter... then yesterday he says that it is a problem with our converter. I called an RV service dept and asked them the same question I had asked this forum and he confirmed what Blenhardt has said... no way a bad converter could cause the voltage to surge like it has.

Thanks for your thoughts

[lwg]

Do you currently use a surge protector? As other have mentioned this is precisely the reason for them.

[marandjwr]

ROUND 2: we do have a surge protector with digital read out. Just an hour ago, I entered our "home" to find the electricity was out... no 110. I went to the surge protector at the pole and it was reading L-1 111, 0amps... L-2 113 and 0amps but the volt meter inside the coach had no reading and showed an open neutral light. I flipped all of the breakers and when I came to the front AC put into off position, 110 appliances would flicker... flipped it back to on and everything quit. did this a couple of times and when I left it on eventually 110 power was restored to the coach but digital readout on inside voltage meter reads 196 and outside surge protector read out says 111 and 113. I have shut off the main breakers inside and am sitting here in NE PA sweating buckets... what's wrong here? It is so random I can't put my finger on a cause. the converter has been tested and is/was ok

[atom ant]

All you really know from the surge suppressor is your line voltage is fine, but you are consuming nothing downstream of the suppressor (0 amps). If it were me, I would unplug and start checking the transfer switch and main breaker panel in the camper for loose terminals. Not unusual for the terminals on the main panels to have loose connections on other rigs I have had.

[rcflame]

If I read your post right, the voltmeter inside showed an open neutral. I would start checking all the neutral/ground terminals in the fuse box to make sure there are good tight connections, since the ground seems to cause more problems then the hot.

[marandjwr]

we have checked the neutral/ground connections in the fuse box for tightness... what is and where is the transfer switch?

[atom ant]

assuming you got the generator prep option, it's above the batteries in a big black box "Iota"

[marandjwr]

atom ant, yes we do have the gen prep but no generator... thanks... will check those connections, too