110v electric problem

[TboneMan]

I'm stumped! I have been battling a problem in the a 110v circuit in my travel trailer for the past several weeks.



Here's the situation:



One circuit will function for a period of time (lights and outlets work) then it will just stop working (lights go out, no power in outlets). After it sits for a while with not power, the circuit will work again for a period of time and then flake out again.



THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IS NOT BEING TRIPPED.



I first thought that there was a short in one of the switches or outlets. I have replaces all of the outlets and switch on the questionable circuit. I've check every connection and every fixture but I still have the problem.



My next move it to replace the breaker, but I'm not sure how a breaker could not appear tripped but yet have the hole curcuit go dead and then come back with no intervension.



Has anyone experienced anything like this?



p. s. the camper have three other circuits (A/C, microwave, additional outlets) that do not have any problems.

 

[BGott]

You have either a loose wire connected to the breaker or a loose neutral wire on the bar in the breaker box. Tighten all the connections in the 120 breaker box and your problem should go away. There is also a chance that a wirenut on a splice came loose, I would tighten the screws in the box before I worried about that.

 

[TowPro]

What BGott said. Pull the breaker and make sure the lug screw is tight (turn power off first). Does this branch that is giving you problem also cover the slide? There is a box under the camper where the AC wires splice (wire nuts) into a flex cable that moves every time the slide is put in and out. Check the wire nuts in this box.

 

[TboneMan]

We'll unfortunetly, I've already thought of the steps suggested. Although I'll double check the torque on the ground side of the "breaker" box.



I've checked the connection in every junction box on that circuit, including those related to the flex cable on the slideout.



The only thing I haven't done is remove the undercarriage insulation to see if there are any other boxes hidden from view by the insulation.



I'm realy trying to avoid that.

 

[RustyJC]

By any chance, are the affected outlets protected by a GFI outlet or GFI breaker? I know, it shouldn't reset itself, but I've had them act pretty flakey when they're about to fail.



Just a long shot before you start tearing stuff apart.



Rusty

 

[Todd T]

is the going out associated with using the circuit for a period of time or just sitting idle it will drop out. if being used this sounds like a high open associated with heat causing an open. before buying a breaker, try swaping that breaker with another of the same size (or close just for testing) and see if the problem follows the breaker or if it stays with the circuit.



Next I would try to take the outlets apart and see if you can weed out some of the branches and track the problem down to a certain wire or branch. for example if an outlet has the circuit come in and back out to another place, open it there and see if the trouble persists.



how old is the trailer? is there a chance a wire is chaffed or mice have chewed through the insulation?

 

[Prairie Dog]

Does the power first go from a breaker to a GFCI outlet someplace? Sometimes they go bad and behave in the manor you describe.



Scotty

 

[Matt42]

I'm not an electrician, nor do I play one on TV--or on Broadway. That said, I've seen oddball problems with breakers. When they fail, they do so conservatively, and that's a good thing.



I'd try this: Swap breakers between circuits, assuming that there is another circuit using the same size breaker. If the problem moves to the other circuit, it was the breaker. If the problem remains in the original circuit, there's probably a loose connection in one of the boxes. Keep in mind that many (most?) RV outlets use push-in connectors. Those connections depend on spring pressure to maintain contact. An iffy connection can heat up and open until it cools. Don't let this go.



FWIW YMMV

 

[BGott]

They didn't use the push- in connectors on the back of the outlets, did they? If they did you need to go through every outlet in the trailer and move the conductors to the screw connectors. Those push- in connectors that are used in my rent mobile homes drive me nuts. I just about have them all changed out.

 

[TboneMan]

I have already replaced all the push-in outlets/switches on this line with standard residential types. This circuit was not protected by a GFI outlet. I fixed that issue by installing one (new) as part of this whole investigation. It does not trip when the failure occurs.



Given the time and money I already have into it, a new breaker is not a big deal.