No power in motorhome

[jaque1]

We have a 95 Winebago Vectra 34'.Last Fall everything was working when we winterized it.Opened it today,and no lights,no electric step,or anything.Had a trickle charger on batteries.Had shorepower to motorhome and trickle charger was plugged in to outlet in motorhome.Checked and serviced batteries.Plug in shore power,and it blows reset in garage.Checked fuses and breakers and all are OK.Motorhome starts fine.Any help on this problem would be GREATLY appreciated.Bought 2 years ago,with only 9500 miles.Thanks AGAIN ! JACK

[OneRVer]

When you open up the home was the trickle charger still working? The first thing that comes to mind would be your converter. Disconnect the input to your converter, tape the leads for safety sake, plug back in to shore power and see it the shower power breaker continues to trip.

Please come back and let us know what you find.

[bsimonds]

Time to get out the multimeter and start tracing. Without shore power plugged in and without motor running what is the voltage on each battery? Assuming chassis battery will be around 12v (you said the engine starts) and house battery will be run down less than 10v (you said no lights). Start the engine. Measure batteries again. Both should be 13 - 14 volts if alternator is charging and lights etc. should come on due to alternator charging house batteries. Anything else, look for a disconnect switch that got turned off and forgotten. Once alternator has charged batteries, plug in shore power. If circuit breaker still blows, look for convertor problem. After all that testing come back if you still haven't found the problem.

[jaque1]

Problem solved!Checked inside the automatic transfer switch box,and found one of the diodes fried,with a ladybug or Asian beetle stuck to it.Solder in a new one and tried it and had my power restored.Have to check out the steps today.Think it might be a fuse underneath .Happy Camping! Jaque1

[targaboat]

Step joints get get dry and need lube. Otherwise they try to move and then shut off like they are supposed to to prevent burn out if they against the curb or something.

[OneRVer]

Originally Posted by jaque1

Problem solved!Checked inside the automatic transfer switch box,and found one of the diodes fried,with a ladybug or Asian beetle stuck to it.Solder in a new one and tried it and had my power restored.Have to check out the steps today.Think it might be a fuse underneath .Happy Camping! Jaque1

I always appreciate it when someone tells us what the problem was and what needed to be done to fix it. Thank you.

[JohnRR]

I'd like to add my Thank you for the update as well