RV Power Keeps Shutting Off: Why and How to Reset RV Power
It shouldn’t be your batteries. That is if you are plugged into shore power. You need to look at your 120 AC system to find the problem. There are a lot of parts that can go bad so take your time and check them one by one.
The problem may be loose wires, burnt wires or the transfer switch. If these go bad then you will lose power to your RV. The reset action comes at the pole. You just turn the breaker off and turn it on again. Depending on your RV, you may have other steps to take as well.
To learn more about this issue just continue to read our article. It has the information you need to know to be able to fix the problem. Take a few minutes to get up to speed on this important topic. The information should solve several problems for you.
RV Power Keeps Shutting Off
The first step in solving this problem is finding the source. If you are in a campground, you need to see if the problem lies with the shore power supply. You have to disconnect your batteries and connect to shore power.
If the converter and inverter respond properly, then the issue is with the shore power source and not your RV. If that is okay, the next possible source to try would be the transfer switch.
After that, you should check for burned-out circuits, loose wires and bad connections. Also do not forget to check your internal fan. It or the bearing can burn out without notice. When that happens the converter may overheat and shut down the power.
If you hear a click-click type noise, then that indicates the transfer switch is having problems and may be the source of your troubles. Don’t forget to check any breakers and fuses, (if you have any), They may blow on you at any given time if too many appliances are running at the same time.
Why Does My RV Power Keep Going Out?
One thing is for sure, you know that it is going to be a wiring or electrical system problem. When you have power failures continuously, you may have a short in the system or something small but important stopped working.
By that, we are referring to parts like fans that may have burnt out on you. Or other parts have gone bad, become loose and so on. There are many parts that can break down in an RV electrical set-up.
It can be time-consuming to track down the right problem but it must be done if you want to restore your power. Or you are tripping the breaker for the simple reason you are running too many electrical devices at the same time.
You can check your batteries but usually, this problem resides in the 120 AC side of the electrical system. Make sure to check all power-related components to make sure wires haven’t come loose.
Loose connections have a way of turning the power on and off frequently.
Why Does My RV Keep Tripping The House Breaker?
There are several sources for this problem. This problem can happen at your home or a campground when you plug into shore power. The main reason would be that you are overloading the system.
You are just plugging in too many electrical devices at one time and the external or internal circuit breaker cannot handle the overload. You would have to shut some devices down to solve this problem.
Or you may have issues with the extension cord. It could be frayed, broken or have something wrong with the plug or the outlet side of the cord. Do a thorough check to see if there is a broken wire, loose connection or a burned wire.
You also may find that your circuit breaker has gone bad. It happens and there are plenty of retail outlets where you can find a replacement. If those are not the source, then it is possibly a short circuit that is causing you the trouble.
These can be just about anywhere and it will take some time to test the different wires to find the short. Once you do find it, you have to take the right steps to correct the situation. Sometimes that just means taping up any bare wires or separating two wires that got crossed accidentally.
How do I Reset The Power on My RV?
Generally, all you have to do is reset the breakers and you should be fine. Resetting the breakers merely means turning them all the way off and then turning them back on again.
You may have to do this step at the power pole outside your RV or at your internal breakers. Either way, it is a simple task that takes about 5 seconds to do. Make sure to check all the breakers to see if they tripped or not.
This is the standard reset procedure unless your RV’s electrical system is different. If it is, check with your manual to see what process you need to follow to reset your RV’s power.
Then if your GFCI outlet has a reset button, you merely push that and the plug and the power should be reset. This does not take a lot of time to do. Resetting your RV’s power should not take more than 5 to 10 minutes depending on the system you have in your RV.
Or if you do not like working around electrical systems, call in an experienced RV electrician to help you out. They may spot something you missed and fix it quickly so you do not have to worry about the power shutting off again
How To Turn Off RV Power
There are going to be different methods to do this. The most obvious one would be to unplug your RV from shore power and not turn on the battery power. All you do here is either pull the extension cord out of the power pole or disconnect it at your trailer.
Or you can turn the breaker off at the pole or in your RV. There is the possibility of simply pulling the right fuse. Once that is taken out, your RV should not have any power.
To turn off your battery power, your RV should be equipped with a battery disconnect switch. Engage that and the power remains in your battery and does not travel to your lights, etc. Just remember to dis-engage that switch when you want to return to battery power.
The same method applies to your AC power. Just put the fuse back in, turn on the switches at your inverter or converter or turn the breaker back on. Then plug your extension cord back in. It is not going to be rocket science when you have to do this task.
The key is to make sure you turn the right switches on or off.
RV Power Cut Off Switch
Not every RV has one of these but they can come in handy when you want to isolate the battery and not have it generate any power. It is usually a red-colored switch and it should be located inside your RV on one of the panels.
If your RV does not have one of these, it is not hard to find one at Amazon or any of the big box outlets that sell RV accessories. You should have one installed as they will come in handy when you have battery-related maintenance to do.
It also comes in handy when you are storing your RV or trailer. There are different devices in your RV that keep working even if you do not use your RV. These devices will drain your battery of power.
The cut-off switch will stop those devices from doing that. It saves you a lot of headaches when you want to use your RV after a week or a couple of months of being idle.
The drawback to these switches is that they will also prevent your battery from being charged. You need to turn it off before you start driving, so your batteries can charge up and be ready for when you stop.
A good electrician can install the switch easily and quickly. It is also an easy DIY project for those men who like being a handyman.
Some Final Words
When your RV loses its power or keeps shutting off, it is almost always an electrical system failure. You just have to check the different electrical components until you find the source.
Once you do that, then you need to make the appropriate repair. Once you get that part fixed see if you have a battery disconnect switch. If not, it is a good idea to get one for added safety.
