Zihuatanejo, January 2017

Having a bit of an electrical problem with very high and very low AC at the RV Park connection. The Xantrex of course protects the rig and equipment by stopping incoming  power that is out of spec. If it is set to "Invert" then it does and supplies a nice 118 volts from the batteries. Which is fine unless we forget to disable the high current devices such as the air conditioner!






Another problem is high current heating to the 50A shore power cord where it connects to the 50A-30A adapter. Probably due to poor connections inside the fitting and/or low voltage.

You can see where the rubber has partially melted on the 50A plug. (Right)






Of the two adapters I have (the black one is new and is the spare) the yellow one at first glance seems OK but on closer inspection may show some sign of heating in the middle. There seems to be a small shallow depression in the plastic.

The cord runs about 75-77 degrees F, the plug right beside the terminals was running about 100F. Runs cooler (92) with the new adapter. 


UPDATE February sometime. The plugs and cords were running cool enough, just slightly over ambient. Noticed though that the breaker box was warm as was the supply 30A outlet, though slightly less so. Advised Mundi, (the park owner) who came and had a look: the buss on the box was burnt!  The electrician arrives soon; a new box, new breaker and new wire spliced in. I wish I had had the nerve to photograph the job but I thought the electrician would take offense! I foot long piece of #8 red wire spliced in to replace the scorched original wire, and a piece of what looked like # 10 or 12 green wire spliced into the white neutral! However, it works. All nice and cool now.  The electrician said that these should be replaced almost every year because of the humid salt ridden air.




Last year (and in previous years) we have also had problem with high voltage overnight and sometimes, during the afternoon when the demand is high, with low voltage. We looked into various voltage regulation devices and last year on the way home, in Mazatlan we purchased a high tech electronic one. At home Art wired in the required cables and plugs and tried it out when we got here in November. It worked great! The inverter did not have to interfere once, the EW50/1 holding the voltage at 118V even when the incoming voltage rose to above 130.

Until one day a month or so later the lights flickered a few times and the inverter came on. Investigation showed that though there was acceptable voltage at the post there was no output voltage. The indicator lamp was flashing a code which the manual stated showed short circuit in the device. Disconnecting the output, so there was no out connection, the same code showed.

Art unplugged the unit and plugged the shore power cord into the campground supply. So we're back to depending on the inverter. No one here can service it, we'll try in Mazatlan.



Meanwhile, friends in the park across the street last year purchased and installed a SOLA BASIC 4000 which they report as working flawlessly. Their friends and neighbours bought one this year and we get the same reports from them. Art ordered on Wednesday from Electronic Mitron, delivery a week to ten days. Waiting now with fingers crossed.