A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

Our new home is here!

And boy oh boy are we learning how much we don't know! We spent hours this morning looking for the circuit box inside and out! Found it on my side of the bed. Oh brother!

It seems we have an electrical issue - the refrigerator is giving an error, the microwave display is whacked out and the GFI outlet in the bathroom trips when we plug an electric heater into it. We suspect it's because we aren't drawing enough power from the house.... any other thoughts?

We've got manuals spread out all over the dinette and sofa so we can track down what we need at any given point.

There are switches that we can't figure out what they go too. Can't find the sewer drain hose.

Did find a good spare tire underneath.

Clean sheets and bedding on. Ready to sleep in!

Oh, the windows all have those two-ways horizontal shades- light/dark. But haven't figured out yet how to raise both shades so I can see out the windows directly. They appear to be screwed to the wall.

Oh, I'm sure I'll find so much more to talk about! This is just the beginning.

You don't say if your rig is 30 or 50 amp but either way you won't draw enough on just house currant to run anything but minimal stuff and you might even do some damage trying to run too many things. You could damage your AC compressor by not having enoughpower to run it. When you don't have 30 or 50 amp service run your frig on propane.

You need to go to the hardware store and get a voltage meter that plugs into an electric outlet inside your rig. You need to have minimum of 110 coming into the rig; anything less will do some damage.

We are 30amp.

I'm wondering if the guy we bought it from goofed. He had it parked and used it for an extra room at his house. He had it connected to his house power. Perhaps he caused some damage?

We are out of propane, so can't run the frig on propane for now. Don't really need it yet, as we are parked at house for now. Do want to get everything working. And if we are going to sleep out there, as it seems we will be, we'll need heat. We may just run an extension cord in directly to the portable electric heater.

Let the fun begin!

Okay, figured out the blinds. So easy, I'm embarrassed!

You don't know what kind of outlet he was using at his house, or how much he tried to run on from that outlet. I have been able to use the ac when plugged into one friends house - but only because I was on a dedicated circuit with nothing else. And when not plugging into a 30 amp circuit, don't try to overuse things - a little electric heater can pull quite a bit. Remember, a hair dryer is one of the worst culprits - don't use it with the microwave or ac - unless you know it's on a different circuit within the rv. My guess - nothing is wrong - you are plugged into an outlet that can't handle how much you are asking it to.

Running the fridge on the electric from the house shouldn't be a problem at all. Same with lights. And most likely lots of other things - just don't try to run everything at once. And I wouldn't try the ac and maybe not the little heater - unless you know you aren't sharing the house circuit.

Just a thought on your refrigerator. If it is a Norcold brand you might check their web site for recalls. I have had 3 Norcolds and they all had recalls on the circuit boards. The people you bought from might not have taken care of a recall.

Martha

Oh Thanks Martha! It IS a Norcold.

Slept in our new home last night. LOVED it! Felt comfortable and warm and like home. Bed was just right for me. Randy says it is doable for him, but I suspect we'll be lengthening it sometime this spring. The loss of a few inches seems to have affected Stan's (the dog) ability to sleep with us. Made Randy feel cramped. I was oblivious and warm and happy.

I am a happy camper!

Today Randy is reading up on the manuals and trying to figure out what else we should check before we hit the road. We'll be going straight to Denver when we do go and spending about a week there. Figure we'll need SOMETHING at one of the RV service centers there and Denver will offer better shopping for most accessories, etc.

We discovered our outdoor entertainment center yesterday - with a cassette deck! Now I have to rescue some of the cassette tapes from the yard sale pile. lol

Glad you're "figuring it out" and having fun doing it!

It is exciting, isn't it? An adventure! You will become pros in no time. Don't be afraid to ask the folks around you - in rest areas, in campgrounds, in camping stores, etc.

As for the electrical: Usually, you will need an adaptor to plug your 30 or 50 amp rig into household current. It will step down the amps so you won't burn out your appliances with too much current. And too little current is just as bad and can ruin appliances, too. You might even find the lower amperage in old campgrounds, or when attending rallies at fairgrounds, etc. So, I'm assuming you have an adaptor since you are able to plug in now. Keep it handy - you'll need it! And definitely get a meter that will plug into an outlet and tell you exactly what power you are getting.

I can turn my refrigerator on electric when I'm plugged in at my house. I have less than desirable wiring since my little mobile is a 1969, but I don't trip any breakers or ground faults if I only use the refrigerator and lights. You may not be able to use an electric heater, microwave, air conditioner, toaster, or any other hefty power user. Sometimes you might be able to use just one, like the micro, heater or toaster if you turn everything else off, but I find the A/C in mine draws too much. You may have to check out those things when you get to an RV park with better power.

Happy camping!

Pooker

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I keep one of these plugged in all the time...



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I keep a meter like Mitch posted plugged in all the time too. I have been in a few campgrounds that the voltage would drop into the red zone at certain times of the day. Turn off your air conditioner for sure if the power is low. You will learn to do the power dance, turn off the air conditioner, turn the microwave on, turn off the air conditioner, blow dry your hair. lol Even when I have 30 amp power I will trip a breaker if I try to run the air conditioner and the microwave.

Martha