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Generator circuit breaker question...

R

reba

Member
We have a small 23 foot used motor home. The generator works but does not supply power to to the unit...
I know in a house when 'flipping' the circuit breakers they should soundly flip... not be 'soft' or spungy
I would guess the same should be true for a RV generator..
any thoughts?
 
reba said:
We have a small 23 foot used motor home. The generator works but does not supply power to to the unit...
I know in a house when 'flipping' the circuit breakers they should soundly flip... not be 'soft' or spungy
I would guess the same should be true for a RV generator..
any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Yes,replace
 
Trouble shooting to a breaker is sorta easy ... Trouble shooting the electric system is another whole ballgame.. getting to old for this stuff :)
fuseable link wire is easy to spot that is my ending spot..
 
reba said:
Trouble shooting to a breaker is sorta easy ... Trouble shooting the electric system is another whole ballgame.. getting to old for this stuff :)
fuseable link wire is easy to spot that is my ending spot..
Click to expand...

Do you have a multi-meter, for testing voltages and such?
 
I was just getting ready to look up some info on testing a breaker..
Exposing the underside is removal of 4 screws.simple .. .. there is a 20 amp and 30 amp... i figured if they show continuity in the on position they are OK ?

My question is do i need to disconnect the wires
 
reba said:
I was just getting ready to look up some info on testing a breaker..
Exposing the underside is removal of 4 screws.simple .. .. there is a 20 amp and 30 amp... i figured if they show continuity in the on position they are OK ?

My question is do i need to disconnect the wires
Click to expand...

Not necessarily good if they have continuity because it wont show you if the spring is weak, only if it is connected.
Remember no power on to check for continuity. You can check for continuity just as well by checking the voltage through the breaker, from pole to pole (with power on). If the meter reads 0 then you have power/continuity (test both poles seperately). A 230 volt reading means open circuit in the breaker.
Set the meter to the range one above how much power you will expect to read.

To check continuity alone, yes disconnect both supply output terminal wires and shut off the power to it. (meaning unsnap the breaker from the panel.) check both sides.
 
reba, my question is if the older trailer/motor home you're connecting to is something being connected for the first time. You might just turn the breaker off, disconnect the leads to the trailer, and then try to reset the breaker and see if it works correctly. I have no idea if your trailer has GFIs (Ground fault interrupter) they should keep the problem from affecting the pathway back to the breaker, but if not there is something possibly shorted to ground or neutral in the trailer; even a bad appliance left on.

Do you realize that some breakers must be taken to the fully off position after tripping before it can be turned to on? And to make you feel even better about it, Brother JohnDB is an electrician. :wave2
 
Does the circuit have another identical breaker that does seem to be working? You could then rewire through that breaker and see if it too trips. Then you would know it's a short or overload, and not a breaker (unless it's easier to simply replace the first breaker with a new one).
 
I'm not up to speed on motor home wiring, but in a building without wheels(lol) there is a transfer switch that disables the possibility of having the generator feed the panel at the same time 'normal' power is. Keeps the linemen safe during storms. :)

I would think a motor home would have some sort of setup like this, if it also has a cord to plug into power aside from the generator?
 
Eugene all systems were working then it blew.. Yes i understand turning breakers fully off and on... been done
KevinK there are 2 breakers a 20 amp and a 30 amp both are spongy or soft...
Nathan Yup it has a transfer... but busted/wornout breakers are a cheaper fix .. If they are the problem...
Edward Trusting the Lord for my salvation is easy trusting my testing abilities not so much.. but what harm can i do if it is already broken
 
Well, if you have power to one side of the breaker, then you know it's bad. :).

If there is no power on one side, then you go back to the next device in line.

If you do have power, then just swap the breaker. You can't fix them things. :)
 
Take a picture of the electric box. Post it or send it to me in a text.

You'll need a digital multimeter.

More simple than what you may think. People actually pay me to do stuff like this so it has to be. :)
 
reba said:
Trusting the Lord for my salvation is easy trusting my testing abilities not so much..
Click to expand...

That's ok though, if you'll post a pic or two so we can see what we're dealing with, we can tell you what to test, where and how, and work you through this. Post a pic of the face of your digital multi-meter too, so we can tell you what setting to put it on...
 
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