120 VAC Wiring Problem: 2004 Sportcoach Elite

[jrock]

Wife was using hair dryer in bedroom on 2004 Sportcoach Elite and lost power. GFI was dead but breaker feeding OK.  Seems to have loose connection some place from bk to gfi.

I am an electrician and the problem I am having is I think there is something ahead of gfi I can't find. I need a wiring layout if there is on available

[dickandlois]

Jrock, Welcome to the FMCA Forum !

Your coach is built by Forest river and this link might get you started in the right direction regarding how they a wired. 

http://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f16/wiring-diagram-sharing-21783.html

http://www.forestriverinc.com/contact.aspx

Might just give them a call and see if they can supply you with some Electrical PDF Files.

Rich.

[obedb]

An electrician needs help!!!  How are the manufacturers helping us to enjoy an expensive past time? We. Need some standards that all techs can deal with and some adventurous owners.?

[wolfe10]

Before wasting too much time tracing that wire, you might consider just running a new wire from breaker to GFI (depends on how accessible it is) and disconnect/tape off the old one).

[rossboyer]

So many manufacturers use the crimp back outlets.  You may find many of these between the GFI and the circuit breaker box.  You may find that one of the crimps has cut the wire or the load has caused the connection to burn the wire, breaking the circuit. The GFI circuit in my coach has a total of 17 outlets.  Different manufacturer, but not what I would call code; but I don't think the code for residential applies to RVs.

[jrock]

1 hour ago, ObedB said:

An electrician needs help!!!  How are the manufacturers helping us to enjoy an expensive past time? We. Need some standards that all techs can deal with and some adventurous owners.?

I tried all the tricks I know I think I have something maybe in the storage bay that is hiding when I  feed the gfi all outlets come back on

It's definitely between the breaker and the gfi. I'll  have to go rooting around and see what I find.

[jrock]

41 minutes ago, wolfe10 said:

Before wasting too much time tracing that wire, you might consider just running a new wire from breaker to GFI (depends on how accessible it is) and disconnect/tape off the old one).

Did that temporarily, but I don't like to leave that wire live I would like to find it let you know what I find.

[wolfe10]

I agree not to leave a wire live, but if you disconnect at the breaker and at the GFI, it will not be live.

[dickandlois]

Jrock, Being an electrician, by chance do you have a circuit tracer test set (Some call them (the fox and hound) lets you put a tone on the wire and a receiver to trace the wire by fallowing the tone?

Ross, mentioned that many of the coach builders use the push to connect feature on many of the outlets and switches. Just saves time but they are not the most reliable!!!

Brett's thought of removing the wire at the breaker feeding the problem circuit and disconnecting the wire feeding the Questionable GFI. Then there is no way the defective wire has power - until you locate the open point of the wire.

Rich.

Note! Being a weekend, sure that you did not have any luck locating wiring files?

[jrock]

I do have one and I haven't gone their yet I would like to find it just to know what happend

[jrock]

3 hours ago, rossboyer said:

So many manufacturers use the crimp back outlets.  You may find many of these between the GFI and the circuit breaker box.  You may find that one of the crimps has cut the wire or the load has caused the connection to burn the wire, breaking the circuit. The GFI circuit in my coach has a total of 17 outlets.  Different manufacturer, but not what I would call code; but I don't think the code for residential applies to RVs.

You would think that for what they get for these coaches new they would use better quality parts.

[dickandlois]

30 minutes ago, Jrock said:

You would think that for what they get for these coaches new they would use better quality parts.

The parts can be good brand name items, its just faster to push and play then to make good old connections by putting a loop in the wire and placing it under the screw and then making a nice tight connection.

Rich.

[jrock]

On April 17, 2016 at 11:05 AM, Jrock said:

Wife was using hair dryer in bedroom on 2004 Sportcoach Elite and lost power. GFI was dead but breaker feeding OK.  Seems to have loose connection some place from bk to gfi.

I am an electrician and the problem I am having is I think there is something ahead of gfi I can't find. I need a wiring layout if there is on available

 

On April 17, 2016 at 7:14 PM, wolfe10 said:

I agree not to leave a wire live, but if you disconnect at the breaker and at the GFI, it will not be live.

I know it won't be live but if I don't find where it runs it will drive me nuts till I find out 

[jrock]

On April 17, 2016 at 7:14 PM, wolfe10 said:

I agree not to leave a wire live, but if you disconnect at the breaker and at the GFI, it will not be live.

 

24 minutes ago, Jrock said:

 

I know it won't be live but if I don't find where it runs it will drive me nuts till I find out 

FOUND IT Wolfe 10 I saw a comment you made on a post back in Feb about checking the inverter that was it circuit goes from panel to inverter then feeds the GFI in the bath 

[wolfe10]

Excellent.  A cheap fix!

[jrock]

30 minutes ago, wolfe10 said:

Excellent.  A cheap fix!

Now I know how the inverter is connected. This is our first pusher have owned a few gasses but this is a new adventure we love it so far. Nice having the noise 40 ft behind instead of under your feet.

Retire from Amtrak June 1.