120V supply problem

Madocian

New Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2016
Messages
9
I'm testing the systems on my new to me 22ft Hilo. I started my big generator, and stuck my ground cable in the ground, as I was to far away from my grounding rod. When I plugged the trailer in I heard the Generator load up, and measured a voltage increase to battery. I was happy to prove the charging system worked. Next I went into the trailer and plugged in the AC cable by the rear sink. Either just before or after plugging it in I heard the generator shed its load.
After some thought I figured my generator ground was bad, so I tried grounding to a point on the trailer. That didn't give me any 120V power.
Next I tried plugging it into the house on my only 20 Amp breaker in the Kitchen. It tripped as soon as I plugged it in. I next went out and shut off all breakers in the trailer except the 30Amp supply. It's still tripping the breaker?
So now I have the wife out buying a new 15Amp to 30Amp adapter just in case that's the problem. I'm also wondering if there's something else in the 30Amp supply line that can be causing me issues? I inspected the Cable and there's no cracks or rodent damage.
 
I just tried the new 120V 15Amp adapter. It tripped my 20Amp kitchen breaker right away. Then I shut off the 30Amp supply line breaker in the trailer. SO now all breakers in the trailer are off. When I plugged the cord into the kitchen receptacle and it tripped immediately again?
Did I short something in the Main 30Amp Cable, when I ran the Generator without a good ground?
 
Do you have a multi meter? If not I would have the wife pick one up in her travels. That's one tool I could not trouble shoot without. With the power OFF, take an Ohm reading from hot to neutral, then hot to ground. You should not get any reading on either. If you do, isolate it by turning off breakers to see where in the circuitry the short is. That should narrow it down for you.

Mike
 
You must have a short in the cable or in the panel where the cable connects. Unhook the wires where they terminate in the panel, tape them off so they cannot conduct then try to plug it in again. Or use Ohm meter if you have one. That will tell you if the cord has a short or not. Not having a good ground should not cause a short. Check the cord really good for signs of heat and wear.

Mike
 
Im not an electrical wiz but if you have the a/c plugged in and your tripping a 20 amp circuit in the house try unplugging the a/c and plug the camper in and see if you get power if you do you have an issue with the cord to the a/c or the a/c unit itself.
 

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