electrical problems

[Kurt Horvath]

John,

Your so right, "The thing can crush you, electrocute you, you can
fall off, and then there is the road risk. I guess we can say it can
get you coming and going as well as a couple ways in between."

Speaking of road risk here's a vivid reminder of what can happen.

Bus Crash Tes.tEver wonder what a bus crash looks like, check this
out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrZr-Qzbfxo

Kurt Horvath
95 PT-42
10AC



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
wrote:
>
> The 30 amp cord is pretty much a standard 110 with a funny plug on
it
> then? I knew that 220 was essentially two 110 hot wires but did
not
> know that the 50 was similar. Having been in a RV store not long
ago
> I noticed they had a featured item up near the check out a 50 amp
> plug with a distinct pull handle on it. I think they also had 30amp
> plugs similar. Didn't impress me at the time nearly as much as it
> does now. I don't have 50 amps into my coach but I learned
> something. I also did not realize the risk involved in the battery
> campartments. I was informed last year at the Maxton rally about
> that. I guess the low voltage stuff can be rather nasty as well.
> Perhaps some one will review and explain what the risk with the low
> voltage. Does make a rather nasty spark if you short the positive
> against the metal I know that. All kinds of ways a fellow can get
> hurt. I was up on the roof of my bird this morning and I was VERY
> careful. I remember seeing Don's X rays. I don't much like it up
> there but once a year I go up to check it over and see that all is
> well. Lets see. The thing can crush you, electrocute you, you can
> fall off, and then there is the road risk. I guess we can say it
can
> get you coming and going as well as a couple ways in between.
>
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>
>
>
> >
> > I may not have been clear: It was the coach end of the shore
cord,
> not the connector that is part of the coach. The pole end is a
molded
> connector, but the coach end is not; don't know if that is original?
> >
> > There is a plastic ring cinched down to the cord, just behind the
> connector. I never gave it much thought, but now I wonder why that
is
> there. It lends itself to be the point that is grabbed to pull the
> connector out, but that puts strain on the wires in the connector.
> Clearly I should grab the connector body to pull it out, not the
> wires.
> >
> > On 8/28/2008 at 8:31 PM Curt Sprenger wrote:
> >
> > >Don,
> > >
> > >Great Post...Everyone...All of us with our older coaches need to
> do what
> > >Don
> > >just did, check our coach connectors. I'll add that we should
also
> check
> > >our
> > >shore cord coach ends.
> > >
> > >.On Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 5:34 PM, Don Bradner
> > >wrote:
> > >
> > >> I've experienced two serious electrical problems on our
> current trip.
> > >> I'm hoping the second problem (solved) was the cause of the
> first, but I
> > >> can't get my head around exactly how it would be, so I'm
hoping
> someone
> > >with
> > >> more RV electrical experience than I have will have a clue. I
> will rest
> > >> easier if I know what caused the first problem.
> > >>
> > >> The first problem I talked about here earlier, but will run
> through for
> > >> clarity:
> > >>
> > >> With a lot of draw going on, I had the 50-amp breaker on the
> park pole
> > >> blow, plus the main inside breakers, plus the breaker for the
> inverter.
> > >> Power was lost on the inverter circuit, and did not return
when
> breakers
> > >> were turned back on with reduced draw. The inverter, a ProSine
> 2.0, is
> > >toast
> > >> - burnt components obvious when opening the case. I removed
the
> inverter
> > >and
> > >> wired input/output together for power on the inverted circuit
> when on
> > >park
> > >> power, and bought a small charger to keep the batteries up
while
> parked.
> > >>
> > >> Xantrex sent out a new ProSine 2.0 (half-price, well out-of-
> warranty)
> > >and I
> > >> will get it tomorrow. I've been worrying about hooking it up
> without
> > >knowing
> > >> what caused the failure.
> > >>
> > >> Problem number 2: Yesterday I moved, and on arrival at a park
in
> Ogallala
> > >> the 50-amp park breaker blew as soon as turned on. After
turning
> off the
> > >> internal main breakers I was able to get the park breaker to
> hold after
> > >one
> > >> more failure. The breaker was "spongy" so I wasn't sure if it
> was just
> > >weak.
> > >> Turning on the main breakers inside worked fine.
> > >>
> > >> Moved again today, and the problem repeated except that
nothing
> would
> > >make
> > >> it work. In trying various things I found that my 30/50 cord
> worked fine.
> > >>
> > >> So, I took the coach connector apart and found:
> > >>
> > >> Screw for black wire fell out, and was quite black on the end.
> White and
> > >> Red attached, but screw not tight. Green was not attached at
> all - screw
> > >all
> > >> the way in, and wire laid across the top. Contacting case, but
> who knows
> > >how
> > >> well.
> > >>
> > >> It is amazing I had power at all. I cut the end off and
rebuilt
> the
> > >> connector, and had no problem turning on the power.
> > >>
> > >> It would seem to be an odd coincidence if problem one was not
> caused by
> > >> problem two, but since the ProSine 2.0 should in theory work
> regardless
> > >of
> > >> what occurs on the input side I'm not sure what the connection
> is.
> > >Anybody
> > >> have thoughts on this?
> > >>
> > >> Don Bradner
> > >> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
> > >> Posting today by satellite from Grand Island, Nebraska
> > >> My location: http://www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >--
> > >Curt Sprenger
> > >1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
> > >Anaheim Hills, CA
> >
>