AC dead short?

[John Ely]

I have just developed a dead short in two circuits of my AC system.
The front receptacles and the vacuum cleaner circuits appear to be
dead shorted. If they are on, the park circuit breaker (30 amps)
trips. If they are off, I get normal service from the park. The
thing these two circuits have in common is the AC meters on the
dinette control panel. The front receptacles circuit provides power
to one of the dinette AC meters while the vacuum cleaner circuit
provides power to the other. I have removed all loads from both of
these circuits with no change. I've pulled the cover from the breaker
box and these breakers have only one 12ga. wire going to them, so the
meters must be wired in downstream somewhere, but I have no idea where
or even where to look. As a possibly related matter, about two weeks
ago, after a lightning storm near Montreal, I noted that the polarity
indicators in my service box (the place where shore power is
connected) are no longer working. As there are also polarity
indicators on the dinette panel, there is a possible likage here.
However, there was a two + week span of normality between the loss of
polarity lights in the service box and the short circuits in the AC
panel. No incident occurred prior to the AC loss; it worked fine in
one park, we took a long (15 hour ferry ride) with the DC systems shut
down, and had the shorts as soon as I plugged in at the next park.
If anyone has any ideas as to what this might be, I'd be glad to hear
them.
John Ely, 86PT40, Rapid City, SD On the road in Clarke's Beach,
Newfoundland

[sfedeli3]

Hi John,

Is there any chance that you have driven a screw into the wire runs
somewhere? If you are handy with a multi-meter, you should check for
continuity in each conductor from the electric panel to the outlet.
(with ALL power off, of course) It is also possible that after 20
years, one of the extra-long screws that bluebird uses finally wore
through some wire insulation somewhere. It is also possible that one
of the wires in an outlet box came loose and is shorting against the
side of the outlet box.

If you are returning to SD later this month and don't mind a stop in
Hershey, I'd be happy to help you trace out the circuit and find the
short. Probably wouldn't take more than a few hours.

Shane Fedeli
85PT40
Hershey, PA

. --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "John Ely"
wrote:
>
> I have just developed a dead short in two circuits of my AC
system.
> The front receptacles and the vacuum cleaner circuits appear to be
> dead shorted. If they are on, the park circuit breaker (30 amps)
> trips. If they are off, I get normal service from the park. The
> thing these two circuits have in common is the AC meters on the
> dinette control panel. The front receptacles circuit provides
power
> to one of the dinette AC meters while the vacuum cleaner circuit
> provides power to the other. I have removed all loads from both of
> these circuits with no change. I've pulled the cover from the
breaker
> box and these breakers have only one 12ga. wire going to them, so
the
> meters must be wired in downstream somewhere, but I have no idea
where
> or even where to look. As a possibly related matter, about two
weeks
> ago, after a lightning storm near Montreal, I noted that the
polarity
> indicators in my service box (the place where shore power is
> connected) are no longer working. As there are also polarity
> indicators on the dinette panel, there is a possible likage here.
> However, there was a two + week span of normality between the loss
of
> polarity lights in the service box and the short circuits in the AC
> panel. No incident occurred prior to the AC loss; it worked fine
in
> one park, we took a long (15 hour ferry ride) with the DC systems
shut
> down, and had the shorts as soon as I plugged in at the next park.
> If anyone has any ideas as to what this might be, I'd be glad to
hear
> them.
> John Ely, 86PT40, Rapid City, SD On the road in Clarke's Beach,
> Newfoundland
>

[pattypape]

Is this a GFI protected pedestal outlet???
Usually they are on the 15/20 amp park hook- up circuits.
An old Bird will trip GFI if the polarity tester lights
have not been modified.

Bill 88 FC

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "John Ely"
wrote:
>
> I have just developed a dead short in two circuits of my AC
system.
> The front receptacles and the vacuum cleaner circuits appear to be
> dead shorted. If they are on, the park circuit breaker (30 amps)
> trips. If they are off, I get normal service from the park. The
> thing these two circuits have in common is the AC meters on the
> dinette control panel. The front receptacles circuit provides
power
> to one of the dinette AC meters while the vacuum cleaner circuit
> provides power to the other. I have removed all loads from both
of
> these circuits with no change. I've pulled the cover from the
breaker
> box and these breakers have only one 12ga. wire going to them, so
the
> meters must be wired in downstream somewhere, but I have no idea
where
> or even where to look. As a possibly related matter, about two
weeks
> ago, after a lightning storm near Montreal, I noted that the
polarity
> indicators in my service box (the place where shore power is
> connected) are no longer working. As there are also polarity
> indicators on the dinette panel, there is a possible likage here.
> However, there was a two + week span of normality between the loss
of
> polarity lights in the service box and the short circuits in the
AC
> panel. No incident occurred prior to the AC loss; it worked fine
in
> one park, we took a long (15 hour ferry ride) with the DC systems
shut
> down, and had the shorts as soon as I plugged in at the next park.
> If anyone has any ideas as to what this might be, I'd be glad to
hear
> them.
> John Ely, 86PT40, Rapid City, SD On the road in Clarke's Beach,
> Newfoundland
>

[Curt Sprenger]

Bill,
Is this the modification where we send the dinette control panel to PMMI
for mods? How about the polarity tester lights in the shore power
connection panel, or does this get resolved by the modification to the
dinette control panel?

Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.



pattypape wrote:

>
>
> Is this a GFI protected pedestal outlet???
> Usually they are on the 15/20 amp park hook- up circuits.
> An old Bird will trip GFI if the polarity tester lights
> have not been modified.
>
> Bill 88 FC
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> , "John Ely"
> wrote:
> >
> > I have just developed a dead short in two circuits of my AC
> system.
> > The front receptacles and the vacuum cleaner circuits appear to be
> > dead shorted. If they are on, the park circuit breaker (30 amps)
> > trips. If they are off, I get normal service from the park. The
> > thing these two circuits have in common is the AC meters on the
> > dinette control panel. The front receptacles circuit provides
> power
> > to one of the dinette AC meters while the vacuum cleaner circuit
> > provides power to the other. I have removed all loads from both
> of
> > these circuits with no change. I've pulled the cover from the
> breaker
> > box and these breakers have only one 12ga. wire going to them, so
> the
> > meters must be wired in downstream somewhere, but I have no idea
> where
> > or even where to look. As a possibly related matter, about two
> weeks
> > ago, after a lightning storm near Montreal, I noted that the
> polarity
> > indicators in my service box (the place where shore power is
> > connected) are no longer working. As there are also polarity
> > indicators on the dinette panel, there is a possible likage here.
> > However, there was a two + week span of normality between the loss
> of
> > polarity lights in the service box and the short circuits in the
> AC
> > panel. No incident occurred prior to the AC loss; it worked fine
> in
> > one park, we took a long (15 hour ferry ride) with the DC systems
> shut
> > down, and had the shorts as soon as I plugged in at the next park.
> > If anyone has any ideas as to what this might be, I'd be glad to
> hear
> > them.
> > John Ely, 86PT40, Rapid City, SD On the road in Clarke's Beach,
> > Newfoundland
> >
>
>

[Tom Warner]

Get a cheap $5 polarity tester that you can insert in each wall
receptacle and check for bad grounds etc. YOu should find the problem
quickly using it.

tom warner
1985 PT 40....just like shanes



At 01:01 PM 8/22/2006, you wrote:
>Bill,
>Is this the modification where we send the dinette control panel to PMMI
>for mods? How about the polarity tester lights in the shore power
>connection panel, or does this get resolved by the modification to the
>dinette control panel?
>
>Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
>
>
>
>pattypape wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Is this a GFI protected pedestal outlet???
> > Usually they are on the 15/20 amp park hook- up circuits.
> > An old Bird will trip GFI if the polarity tester lights
> > have not been modified.
> >
> > Bill 88 FC
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > , "John Ely"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > I have just developed a dead short in two circuits of my AC
> > system.
> > > The front receptacles and the vacuum cleaner circuits appear to be
> > > dead shorted. If they are on, the park circuit breaker (30 amps)
> > > trips. If they are off, I get normal service from the park. The
> > > thing these two circuits have in common is the AC meters on the
> > > dinette control panel. The front receptacles circuit provides
> > power
> > > to one of the dinette AC meters while the vacuum cleaner circuit
> > > provides power to the other. I have removed all loads from both
> > of
> > > these circuits with no change. I've pulled the cover from the
> > breaker
> > > box and these breakers have only one 12ga. wire going to them, so
> > the
> > > meters must be wired in downstream somewhere, but I have no idea
> > where
> > > or even where to look. As a possibly related matter, about two
> > weeks
> > > ago, after a lightning storm near Montreal, I noted that the
> > polarity
> > > indicators in my service box (the place where shore power is
> > > connected) are no longer working. As there are also polarity
> > > indicators on the dinette panel, there is a possible likage here.
> > > However, there was a two + week span of normality between the loss
> > of
> > > polarity lights in the service box and the short circuits in the
> > AC
> > > panel. No incident occurred prior to the AC loss; it worked fine
> > in
> > > one park, we took a long (15 hour ferry ride) with the DC systems
> > shut
> > > down, and had the shorts as soon as I plugged in at the next park.
> > > If anyone has any ideas as to what this might be, I'd be glad to
> > hear
> > > them.
> > > John Ely, 86PT40, Rapid City, SD On the road in Clarke's Beach,
> > > Newfoundland
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

[pattypape]

Hi Curt, Welcome back,

This is a PMMI modification to the polarity lights in the outside
power connection panel. These old Birds were designed before the GFI
was popular. Behind this small panel is a few resisters and light
emitting diodes. The resistors and lights must be changed as not
to trip the 110v 15/20 amp GFI circuit breaker, which we rarely use.
Therefore this issue does not arise very often. The 30amp and 50 amp
pedestal plugs do not have GFI so there is no problem here.

We do not have a dinette with a polarity light panel, so I am not
familiar. We do have one polarity light in the top overhead dash far
to the right near the AC volt meters.
PMMI will repair the unit or they will send the parts for you to
solder and replace. I did my own replacements, but if one is not
familiar with solder in a tight place you may choose to send it to
PMMI for a more professional job.

Doug Hampton http://www.pmmi-inc.com/

This panel can be removed and the AC connections can still be used.
Careful 110/220 volts can be present.

Bill 88 FC Michigan


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Curt Sprenger
wrote:
>
> Bill,
> Is this the modification where we send the dinette control panel
to PMMI
> for mods? How about the polarity tester lights in the shore power
> connection panel, or does this get resolved by the modification to
the
> dinette control panel?
>
> Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
>
>
>
> pattypape wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Is this a GFI protected pedestal outlet???
> > Usually they are on the 15/20 amp park hook- up circuits.
> > An old Bird will trip GFI if the polarity tester lights
> > have not been modified.
> >
> > Bill 88 FC
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > , "John Ely"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > I have just developed a dead short in two circuits of my AC
> > system.
> > > The front receptacles and the vacuum cleaner circuits appear
to be
> > > dead shorted. If they are on, the park circuit breaker (30
amps)
> > > trips. If they are off, I get normal service from the park. The
> > > thing these two circuits have in common is the AC meters on the
> > > dinette control panel. The front receptacles circuit provides
> > power
> > > to one of the dinette AC meters while the vacuum cleaner
circuit
> > > provides power to the other. I have removed all loads from both
> > of
> > > these circuits with no change. I've pulled the cover from the
> > breaker
> > > box and these breakers have only one 12ga. wire going to them,
so
> > the
> > > meters must be wired in downstream somewhere, but I have no
idea
> > where
> > > or even where to look. As a possibly related matter, about two
> > weeks
> > > ago, after a lightning storm near Montreal, I noted that the
> > polarity
> > > indicators in my service box (the place where shore power is
> > > connected) are no longer working. As there are also polarity
> > > indicators on the dinette panel, there is a possible likage
here.
> > > However, there was a two + week span of normality between the
loss
> > of
> > > polarity lights in the service box and the short circuits in
the
> > AC
> > > panel. No incident occurred prior to the AC loss; it worked
fine
> > in
> > > one park, we took a long (15 hour ferry ride) with the DC
systems
> > shut
> > > down, and had the shorts as soon as I plugged in at the next
park.
> > > If anyone has any ideas as to what this might be, I'd be glad
to
> > hear
> > > them.
> > > John Ely, 86PT40, Rapid City, SD On the road in Clarke's Beach,
> > > Newfoundland
> > >
> >
> >
>

[one_dusty_hoot]

Tom, A polarity tester operates when voltage is
present. A dead short trips the breakers before
a reading could be made. Good for polarity testing,
not good for dead shorts.

A dead short is a ground on the line(s). The only way
I know how to find one is to isolate by disconnecting
sections of the system.

You say 2 circuits, vaccum cleaner and front receptacles
Are these tired together or seperate breakers? If
seperate breakers, try one then the other. Power off,
with a a multimeter on ohms position. Dead short is 0 ohms.
If not, Isolate and check everything. Sometimes the
load side of a breaker has more than one wire, to find
out, remove the front.

Bob Janes '87FC35 Greenville, SC



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Tom Warner
wrote:
>
> Get a cheap $5 polarity tester that you can insert in each wall
> receptacle and check for bad grounds etc. YOu should find the
problem
> quickly using it.
>
> tom warner
> 1985 PT 40....just like shanes
>
>
>
> At 01:01 PM 8/22/2006, you wrote:
> >Bill,
> >Is this the modification where we send the dinette control panel
to PMMI
> >for mods? How about the polarity tester lights in the shore power
> >connection panel, or does this get resolved by the modification to
the
> >dinette control panel?
> >
> >Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
> >
> >
> >
> >pattypape wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Is this a GFI protected pedestal outlet???
> > > Usually they are on the 15/20 amp park hook- up circuits.
> > > An old Bird will trip GFI if the polarity tester lights
> > > have not been modified.
> > >
> > > Bill 88 FC
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > > , "John Ely"
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I have just developed a dead short in two circuits of my AC
> > > system.
> > > > The front receptacles and the vacuum cleaner circuits appear
to be
> > > > dead shorted. If they are on, the park circuit breaker (30
amps)
> > > > trips. If they are off, I get normal service from the park.
The
> > > > thing these two circuits have in common is the AC meters on
the
> > > > dinette control panel. The front receptacles circuit provides
> > > power
> > > > to one of the dinette AC meters while the vacuum cleaner
circuit
> > > > provides power to the other. I have removed all loads from
both
> > > of
> > > > these circuits with no change. I've pulled the cover from the
> > > breaker
> > > > box and these breakers have only one 12ga. wire going to
them, so
> > > the
> > > > meters must be wired in downstream somewhere, but I have no
idea
> > > where
> > > > or even where to look. As a possibly related matter, about two
> > > weeks
> > > > ago, after a lightning storm near Montreal, I noted that the
> > > polarity
> > > > indicators in my service box (the place where shore power is
> > > > connected) are no longer working. As there are also polarity
> > > > indicators on the dinette panel, there is a possible likage
here.
> > > > However, there was a two + week span of normality between the
loss
> > > of
> > > > polarity lights in the service box and the short circuits in
the
> > > AC
> > > > panel. No incident occurred prior to the AC loss; it worked
fine
> > > in
> > > > one park, we took a long (15 hour ferry ride) with the DC
systems
> > > shut
> > > > down, and had the shorts as soon as I plugged in at the next
park.
> > > > If anyone has any ideas as to what this might be, I'd be glad
to
> > > hear
> > > > them.
> > > > John Ely, 86PT40, Rapid City, SD On the road in Clarke's
Beach,
> > > > Newfoundland
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

[Gardner Yeaw]

One way I was taught a loooong time ago to chase shorts in automobile wiring
harnesses was to connect it to a 12 volt source with a turn signal blinker
and a light bulb in series. Then follow the wire with an old boy scout
compass. When the wire is energized it forces the needle to move. You can
also use this method to locate wires. When the needle stops moving, you have
passed the short. I know there are more sophisticated tools today, but none
as cheap.

Gardner
78FC33

-----Original Message-----
From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of one_dusty_hoot
Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 6:25 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: AC dead short?

Tom, A polarity tester operates when voltage is
present. A dead short trips the breakers before
a reading could be made. Good for polarity testing,
not good for dead shorts.

A dead short is a ground on the line(s). The only way
I know how to find one is to isolate by disconnecting
sections of the system.

You say 2 circuits, vaccum cleaner and front receptacles
Are these tired together or seperate breakers? If
seperate breakers, try one then the other. Power off,
with a a multimeter on ohms position. Dead short is 0 ohms.
If not, Isolate and check everything. Sometimes the
load side of a breaker has more than one wire, to find
out, remove the front.

Bob Janes '87FC35 Greenville, SC

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
, Tom Warner
wrote:
>
> Get a cheap $5 polarity tester that you can insert in each wall
> receptacle and check for bad grounds etc. YOu should find the
problem
> quickly using it.
>
> tom warner
> 1985 PT 40....just like shanes
>
>
>
> At 01:01 PM 8/22/2006, you wrote:
> >Bill,
> >Is this the modification where we send the dinette control panel
to PMMI
> >for mods? How about the polarity tester lights in the shore power
> >connection panel, or does this get resolved by the modification to
the
> >dinette control panel?
> >
> >Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
> >
> >
> >
> >pattypape wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Is this a GFI protected pedestal outlet???
> > > Usually they are on the 15/20 amp park hook- up circuits.
> > > An old Bird will trip GFI if the polarity tester lights
> > > have not been modified.
> > >
> > > Bill 88 FC
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com

> > > , "John Ely"
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I have just developed a dead short in two circuits of my AC
> > > system.
> > > > The front receptacles and the vacuum cleaner circuits appear
to be
> > > > dead shorted. If they are on, the park circuit breaker (30
amps)
> > > > trips. If they are off, I get normal service from the park.
The
> > > > thing these two circuits have in common is the AC meters on
the
> > > > dinette control panel. The front receptacles circuit provides
> > > power
> > > > to one of the dinette AC meters while the vacuum cleaner
circuit
> > > > provides power to the other. I have removed all loads from
both
> > > of
> > > > these circuits with no change. I've pulled the cover from the
> > > breaker
> > > > box and these breakers have only one 12ga. wire going to
them, so
> > > the
> > > > meters must be wired in downstream somewhere, but I have no
idea
> > > where
> > > > or even where to look. As a possibly related matter, about two
> > > weeks
> > > > ago, after a lightning storm near Montreal, I noted that the
> > > polarity
> > > > indicators in my service box (the place where shore power is
> > > > connected) are no longer working. As there are also polarity
> > > > indicators on the dinette panel, there is a possible likage
here.
> > > > However, there was a two + week span of normality between the
loss
> > > of
> > > > polarity lights in the service box and the short circuits in
the
> > > AC
> > > > panel. No incident occurred prior to the AC loss; it worked
fine
> > > in
> > > > one park, we took a long (15 hour ferry ride) with the DC
systems
> > > shut
> > > > down, and had the shorts as soon as I plugged in at the next
park.
> > > > If anyone has any ideas as to what this might be, I'd be glad
to
> > > hear
> > > > them.
> > > > John Ely, 86PT40, Rapid City, SD On the road in Clarke's
Beach,
> > > > Newfoundland
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[freewill2008]

Hi John -

Say, just open up the breaker panel and splice a 50 amp service
directly to the bad circuit. Now just follow your nose to the smoke
and you've found the short )

But seriously, its hard to find a problem like this even when I'm in
your bus. Are you anywhere near the left coast these days?

Hows things?

BobG '84 FC31 WLII Olympia WA

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "John Ely"
wrote:
>
> I have just developed a dead short in two circuits of my AC
system.
> The front receptacles and the vacuum cleaner circuits appear to be
> dead shorted. If they are on, the park circuit breaker (30 amps)
> trips. If they are off, I get normal service from the park. The
> thing these two circuits have in common is the AC meters on the
> dinette control panel. The front receptacles circuit provides
power
> to one of the dinette AC meters while the vacuum cleaner circuit
> provides power to the other. I have removed all loads from both of
> these circuits with no change. I've pulled the cover from the
breaker
> box and these breakers have only one 12ga. wire going to them, so
the
> meters must be wired in downstream somewhere, but I have no idea
where
> or even where to look. As a possibly related matter, about two
weeks
> ago, after a lightning storm near Montreal, I noted that the
polarity
> indicators in my service box (the place where shore power is
> connected) are no longer working. As there are also polarity
> indicators on the dinette panel, there is a possible likage here.
> However, there was a two + week span of normality between the loss
of
> polarity lights in the service box and the short circuits in the AC
> panel. No incident occurred prior to the AC loss; it worked fine
in
> one park, we took a long (15 hour ferry ride) with the DC systems
shut
> down, and had the shorts as soon as I plugged in at the next park.
> If anyone has any ideas as to what this might be, I'd be glad to
hear
> them.
> John Ely, 86PT40, Rapid City, SD On the road in Clarke's Beach,
> Newfoundland
>

[Curt Sprenger]

Bill,
Thanks. I have a call to PMMI. Hope to hear from them today.

Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.



pattypape wrote:

> Hi Curt, Welcome back,
>
> This is a PMMI modification to the polarity lights in the outside
> power connection panel. These old Birds were designed before the GFI
> was popular. Behind this small panel is a few resisters and light
> emitting diodes. The resistors and lights must be changed as not
> to trip the 110v 15/20 amp GFI circuit breaker, which we rarely use.
> Therefore this issue does not arise very often. The 30amp and 50 amp
> pedestal plugs do not have GFI so there is no problem here.
>
> We do not have a dinette with a polarity light panel, so I am not
> familiar. We do have one polarity light in the top overhead dash far
> to the right near the AC volt meters.
> PMMI will repair the unit or they will send the parts for you to
> solder and replace. I did my own replacements, but if one is not
> familiar with solder in a tight place you may choose to send it to
> PMMI for a more professional job.
>
> Doug Hampton http://www.pmmi-inc.com/ <http://www.pmmi-inc.com/>
>
> This panel can be removed and the AC connections can still be used.
> Careful 110/220 volts can be present.
>
> Bill 88 FC Michigan
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> , Curt Sprenger
> wrote:
> >
> > Bill,
> > Is this the modification where we send the dinette control panel
> to PMMI
> > for mods? How about the polarity tester lights in the shore power
> > connection panel, or does this get resolved by the modification to
> the
> > dinette control panel?
> >
> > Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
> >
> >
> >
> > pattypape wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Is this a GFI protected pedestal outlet???
> > > Usually they are on the 15/20 amp park hook- up circuits.
> > > An old Bird will trip GFI if the polarity tester lights
> > > have not been modified.
> > >
> > > Bill 88 FC
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>
> > > , "John Ely"
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I have just developed a dead short in two circuits of my AC
> > > system.
> > > > The front receptacles and the vacuum cleaner circuits appear
> to be
> > > > dead shorted. If they are on, the park circuit breaker (30
> amps)
> > > > trips. If they are off, I get normal service from the park. The
> > > > thing these two circuits have in common is the AC meters on the
> > > > dinette control panel. The front receptacles circuit provides
> > > power
> > > > to one of the dinette AC meters while the vacuum cleaner
> circuit
> > > > provides power to the other. I have removed all loads from both
> > > of
> > > > these circuits with no change. I've pulled the cover from the
> > > breaker
> > > > box and these breakers have only one 12ga. wire going to them,
> so
> > > the
> > > > meters must be wired in downstream somewhere, but I have no
> idea
> > > where
> > > > or even where to look. As a possibly related matter, about two
> > > weeks
> > > > ago, after a lightning storm near Montreal, I noted that the
> > > polarity
> > > > indicators in my service box (the place where shore power is
> > > > connected) are no longer working. As there are also polarity
> > > > indicators on the dinette panel, there is a possible likage
> here.
> > > > However, there was a two + week span of normality between the
> loss
> > > of
> > > > polarity lights in the service box and the short circuits in
> the
> > > AC
> > > > panel. No incident occurred prior to the AC loss; it worked
> fine
> > > in
> > > > one park, we took a long (15 hour ferry ride) with the DC
> systems
> > > shut
> > > > down, and had the shorts as soon as I plugged in at the next
> park.
> > > > If anyone has any ideas as to what this might be, I'd be glad
> to
> > > hear
> > > > them.
> > > > John Ely, 86PT40, Rapid City, SD On the road in Clarke's Beach,
> > > > Newfoundland
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>