blown fuse/breakers?

[CricketSail]

I am so cold. So, I added a heater. And blew something. I checked the electric to the house, it's fine. I used fuse checker and it looks to be my bathroom RV "house" socket.

I've looked in my fuse box, but must admit I've never done anything with it before.

1. How would I know if it's a fuse (if it is)?

2. I do know what a tripped breaker looks like, and it looks as if it's the "house" one. However, I can't switch it back as I've done in main house circuit breakers. It just stays put to the left and won't switch back on (with nothing on that circuit to trip it again.)

What do do? Thanks!
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- Sharon

[sharon]

Push it hard to the left and then to the right...see if that works. Bathroom outlet should be a GFI...try resetting that.

[CricketSail]

BE STILL MY HEART! Thank you, Sharon! I pushed it Hard to the left, and it snapped back right! When I'm new at it, I hesitate to push at things, but you just need to know your system. That saved me calling an electrician who would push it hard to the lefthttp://www.womenrv.com/forum/postin ... 7&t=13514#

[CricketSail]

Sharon, what its GFI?

[MandysMom]

GFI=ground fault interrupt ,a switch now required in bathrooms which in a split Second will flip off, cutting electric to all circuits connected to it if a fault is detected which could cause you to be shocked. Example, a hair dryer drops into sink or tub of water- instantly all power to that circuit ( which may be several outlets) cut off. Other things such as overload or spike in electric can cause them to trip or a problem with an appliances wiring. Usually you can see if you look closely at the special outlet the usually red button at the outlet will pop out if a fault is detected and you can reset it by pushing. And you can test it by pushing button. If it is tripped and you reset it and it pops again immediately or when you turn on anything connected to it, then there is a problem with that item. Sometimes it's a random thing and you don't see the problem again but if it repeats you need to get the item you plugged in checked or the circuit itself if it was not anything you can tell, such as you plug small heater in and then gfi pops off but without the heater on the gfi is ok. Hope I have made sense here. The GFI is basically a safety system.
Velda

[Acadianmom]

I have a ground fault electric outlet in the kitchen and bathroom in my motorhome. Most of the time when something electrical won't work it's because one of them has tripped. I did have to replace the one in the kitchen because it was bad.

Martha

[avalen]

Possibly the heater drawing too many amps

[CricketSail]

Thanks all about that GFI=ground fault interrupt. I have one near the kitchen sink (not the bathroom), and it seems to control the outlet in my bedroom. I didn't know what it was called, but I did get that one figured out. I really appreciate getting the feedback on the fuse box, I was paranoid about it, now I've got the "feel" of it. The cold is forcing me to work out a lot of things, which is good before I'm off on my winter trip. I don't want to push the amps, but I don't want to freeze either, so I'm getting the feel for how much my circuitry will take.

[gingerK]

You might have had too many things plugged into the same circuit at the same time. When you run the heater, make sure it's the only thing running.

[Bethers]

In my new rig, I can plug my fav electric heater into the outlets on one breaker, but trips every time if I use the other breaker. Have nothing else going on that other one except, at that time, my tv and my computer. But it's easy now that I know.

[Birdie]

On my rig, I can run 2 of 3 things successfully. The heater at full 1800 watts, plus the hot water heater or the microwave or the coffee maker. If I push and try to run 3 it will flip the internal breaker. However, if I push it and and try all four, I can flip the external breaker....not fun! That means a trip outside to flip the switch, but be sure you have reduced inside usage first. Don't ask how I know that!

[JudyJB]

If your electric heater has two settings, try using the smaller one. That might not set off fuse.

Also see what else might be on line you can turn off.

[CricketSail]

I was pushing it with the heaters, but I wanted to see how much I could run to keep it warm enough in here. It's been cold! and got down below 50 degrees in the night and flipped on the propane. I have to stay here until December, and then it will still be cold as I head south. I was only running the heaters, though, first time I have run two. The good news is I have figured how how much I can run, max, to keep it warm enough, And I can now also manage the fuse box, which is a must.

[retiredhappy]

do you have a voltage meter that you can plug into an outlet to see how much power you have coming into the rig? If you start out at say 120 volts and you turn on a heater and it drops to 117 and then you plug in say your coffeepot and it then drops to 112, you're still okay. If it drops below 110 you must turn something off. You can damage stuff in your rig by running below 110. Things like your AC will run BUT you can brown out - meaning not enough power and your AC compressor is running so hard you could burn it out. Go to Amazon.com and check for "Prime Products AC line monitor". I also have a 110/30am adapter I use to check the electric box when I pull in and before I plug my rig in. It will show "reverse polarity" and if the power at the box is below 110. When parked I leave it plugged in and monitor my usage. If my coffee pot is on, the AC and I try to use the microwave I may have to turn something off but at least I know I have a problem.

[linann]

First time I tripped the circuit breaker in the rig was when using a hairdryer at the same time as the microwave. It was nice to be able to flip a switch and restore power.

I'm sure you have tricks for staying warm. Using a portable heater certainly heats up our rig fast and saves on propane costs. I just bought an electric blanket "throw size" at Costco for $24. Put it over my blankets and slept warmly all night without heat on in mid 30's during the coldest part of the night. It is also nice for when reading, watching TV, or using pc. Not sure why I did not buy one of these sooner. Sometimes a heating pad behind my back or over my feet really helps.