hooked 240v 30 amp to my winne now lights dont work.

Started by outdoorsguy36, October 16, 2011, 10:31 AM

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outdoorsguy36

So I took my 72 winne chieftain to my friends house and told him I needed a 30 amp plug to power it. He had an electrician come over and hook up a 30 amp plug but it was 240v instead of 120v. It had the proper plug and I didn't think to check because he told the guy it was for a RV. After I plugged it up it killed my microwave, interior lights and mini fridge, but the outlets still work. I quickly unplugged it and found out what the problem was, the breaker was changed to a 120v and the roof AC, and outlets still work but none of the interior lights will work, and I checked the bulbs and none seem to be blown. Does anyone know what I might need to do?

DaveVA78Chieftain

I take it you mean the 12VDC lights do not work.  The 12VDC converter was not intended to be run from 240VAC.  I suspect it might be toast but find it and see if it is just by chance a blown fuse.  Not unusual for a AC breaker to be feeding.  Might be tripped.   Alternate source for lights is the house battery.  Not sure what style converter you have but early models like these http://dave78chieftain.zxq.net/ConverterInfo.html#Phillips had a switch to select between battery and converter.

Dave
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jkilbert

like dave said you may have a breaker that tripped. but you said that your microwave and minifridge both dont work i suspect that they're toast as well from the over voltage. it that's the case then your converter probably is also. sounds like he wired it like a dryer/range plug, 3 prong, 2-110v and 1 ground instead of 1-110v, 1 neutral and 1 ground
Greetings from the steel buckle of the rust belt

outdoorsguy36

Yeah something like that, and I'm guessing the converter is near the RV pull out plug. Do you know if they can be repaired or do you have to replace them and is there a general type of RV converter or a specific type for the older winnebagos? I checked the breakers and none of them are tripped, and I always use power outlets at campgrounds never had a battery in the RV for the lights.

jkilbert

on my 77 brave it's on the streetside of the coach under my one dinette bench. it's near my gennie compt. mine has a small flip open door inside of the coach. on   all of the converters i've seen your 12v fuses ans 120v breakers are all accessable from that door. since you know where your breakers are you converter should be there. as far as specific for our winnies...ours are way obsolete compared to whats out there. you can find them on ebay, camping world, arizona rv salvage. compare what's available and what you future needs are...number of 12v and 110 circuits, high draw appliances like ac units, ability to charge coach batteries then float to maintain...your possibilities are only as deep as your pockets,
Greetings from the steel buckle of the rust belt

DaveVA78Chieftain

For the record, here is what I did in my 78 Chieftain: http://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/index.php?topic=5326.0

However, I think your 72 may not even have the modern (  :laugh: ) unit mine did originally that I replaced in that thread.  Still, you have choices but you first have to determine what you have and grow from there.  The information on my web site above may help with that.

Dave
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