Breezin'Millers Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 While on our first camping trip this weekend in our 1986 Toyota SeaBreeze and were hooked up to site power, we tripped the breaker (we think) by trying to run too many things at once (4 outlets in use with small heater, hot water electric kettle, tv and dvd player). My husband reset the breaker out at the power source at site but still no power inside? Lights worked off battery however. Are we missing something? Is there a breaker box in the motorhome we also needed to reset? He couldn't find it. We are complete newbies to all of this and have no owners manual!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WME Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 Yes the RV has its own circuit breakers. On toy there usually a couple of them You need to find your power panel. The 110v C/B and the 12v fuses are there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjrbus Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 (edited) Far more frequent than it should be is defective circuit breaker at camp ground hookup. Can you reach another hookup to test. Had to edit, I forgot the most overlooked one, a tripped GFI in the Toy will also ruin your day and an 86 likely has one. Edited September 25, 2017 by jjrbus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breezin'Millers Posted September 25, 2017 Author Share Posted September 25, 2017 1 hour ago, jjrbus said: Far more frequent than it should be is defective circuit breaker at camp ground hookup. Can you reach another hookup to test. Had to edit, I forgot the most overlooked one, a tripped GFI in the Toy will also ruin your day and an 86 likely has one. Here's my next dumb question....whats a tripped GFI and how will it ruin my day? Are we talking about more than just a simple re-flip of the switch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjrbus Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 We have lots of dumb answers so you are in good company! A GFI or a GFCI is a ground fault interrupter same as what is found in a house. Many people have not thought to look for one or it was hidden in the RV and it ruined there day. I am assuming you have one or that it has not been removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breezin'Millers Posted September 25, 2017 Author Share Posted September 25, 2017 16 minutes ago, jjrbus said: We have lots of dumb answers so you are in good company! A GFI or a GFCI is a ground fault interrupter same as what is found in a house. Many people have not thought to look for one or it was hidden in the RV and it ruined there day. I am assuming you have one or that it has not been removed. Haha! Ok now I see! Yeah, any idea where ours may be located?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjrbus Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 40 minutes ago, Breezin'Millers said: Haha! Ok now I see! Yeah, any idea where ours may be located?! It is similar to a regular electrical outlet so should be find able usually near kitchen sink or in bathroom. Slight possibility it is where the refrigerator plugs in which is accessible from the out side. If your AC works turn it on and see if it is getting power. One tool I always carry is a multi meter, makes trouble shooting much eaiser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maineah Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 A GFI will be some where near water most often in the bath all outlets are downstream of the GFI. Another very useful tool is a simple 3 light plug in device it tests for ground faults and improper wiring, most hardware stores will have them usually a round 5 bucks I leave one plugged into my GFI so I know what's going on as soon as I plug in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1988dolphin Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 (edited) I have found the 3 light plug a great troubleshooting tool. With that and your multimeter you can figure out just about any electrical issue on your vehicle. A related issue in my 1988 Toyota Dolphin I replaced the original converter distribution box with a Progressive Dynamics 4045. In the process I made sure that the main breaker in the converter distribution box applies power to the 115 VAC side of the house only. A second breaker supplies the power to the converter distribution box. This allows me to take on 115 VAC power for heat in situations where if the DC converter portion of the converter distribution box was energized it would pop the most 15 amp GFI outlets that I come across. When on the road I spend a lot of time camped in the yards of friends and in the process have discovered soon to die 15 amp GFI outlets. Keeping your amperage draw below 15 amps does make life simpler and warmer at night. Since I am driving daily the battery bank, (2 Costco GC2 6 volt golf cart batteries wired in series), is always topped off. Edited September 26, 2017 by 1988dolphin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwilliam1 Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Interesting. My 86 Granville has no GFI outlets just 3 regular 110. I also have no 110 outlet in the bath (don't need a hair dryer lol.) I attempted to replace one of my outlets with a heavy duty Levinton while restoring the coach but a No Go! Informed by WME that our RV outlets are wired differently than @ home! The wires are crimped somehow to the rear of the RV outlet making changing them out nearly impossible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maineah Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Yes RV outlets are a different animal the walls are not deep enough for an outlet box. As far as wiring they are the same configuration with colors but they make contact by cutting through the wire insulation when they are assembled. I think some where you'll have a GFI have a look inside your outside outlet box if you have one. If it's inside a GFI won't fit in the walls so they have a box extension that sticks out from the wall a good bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwilliam1 Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 No GFI outlets anywhere in my rig Maineah. No outside outlets either. I have no idea on how to change them. No worries leaving them alone as they work fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 I have no GFI circuit on my 86 Sunrader so they might not have one. Maybe they just shorted out somewhere. He didn't mention if he found the power center ad checked the circuit breakers there yet. That is the first place to look. Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maineah Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 3 hours ago, markwilliam1 said: No GFI outlets anywhere in my rig Maineah. No outside outlets either. I have no idea on how to change them. No worries leaving them alone as they work fine. GFI breaker? I do not know motorhome code requirements by year so maybe if the bath has no outlets it's OK generally if water is involved there has to be one. Trying to retrofit outlets in a old MH is a fool's errand there is just not enough depth to get them in a wall and there is no slack in the wiring once the RV ones are installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwilliam1 Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 Ain't that the truth Maineah! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek up North Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 Would this RV GFCI outlet not do the trick? https://www.amazon.com/RV-Designer-Collection-S801-Outlet/dp/B008OJ6WG0 or this:- http://www.leviton.com/en/products/X7899-W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maineah Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 4 minutes ago, Derek up North said: Would this RV GFCI outlet not do the trick? https://www.amazon.com/RV-Designer-Collection-S801-Outlet/dp/B008OJ6WG0 Same Problem Derek it is just too deep if it's a replacement yes but to retro fit it would be a great endeavor it would be far easier to change out the breaker for a GFI type if one is needed because of the lack of excess wiring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WME Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 This is the typical 110v rv wall outlet. Often referred to as a speed mount. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wirecon-Self-Contained-Receptacle-Outlet-Brown-15A-125V-RV-Camper-/162636650704?hash=item25dde658d0:g:4I0AAOSw2J1ZlvoW&vxp=mtr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunkaman Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 my 92 warrior has the GFI at the bathroom, above sink on wall that defines closet area. joe from dover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwilliam1 Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 Like Maineah and WME stated very hard to do! I attempted to replace one in Grannie and couldn't even remove it from the wall. It is clamped somehow to the wiring inside the wall. You would have to cut out the wall to gain access to the outlets rear wire connections! Not for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WME Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 Here is the guilty party to non excess power line runs. One of the few things that the mfgs did right. It prevents rattles. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Allstar-Performance-3-8-in-ID-Nylon-Adel-Line-Clamp-50-pc-P-N-18312-50-/232420783579?epid=1337062827&hash=item361d5bb5db:g:XfcAAOSwqjJZdBSU&vxp=mtr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maineah Posted September 28, 2017 Share Posted September 28, 2017 RV manufactures discovered air power staplers many years ago and things went downhill from there! You are likely to find anything in a RV to make your life a great deal more difficult and easy for them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WME Posted September 28, 2017 Share Posted September 28, 2017 Hey Millers got power yet?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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