Help with bedroom outlets on inverter

[BV80016]

Hello,

We have a 2022 Avenue 30RLS and ever since we bought it, the bedroom outlets do not power when running on inverter. The bedroom tv outlet works but not the other 2 next to the bed. If we are correct, it should run the tv outlet, the island outlet, 2 bedside and bedroom tv? Does anyone know how to troubleshoot this? We have the solar pkg and upgraded to a good size lithium battery.

Thanks!

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Can you attach image of your distribution panel? I think the exact circuits are labled there.

 

[Exxonv]

Hey Jim, I'm "the husband" - my wife asked the question above = we've never done any significant electrical work on the 30RLS. Where is the distribution panel (generally)? Are you referring to where the fuses are located or elsewhere?

Our system came with an inverter, solar, and regular RV batteries. We found that the solar was never connected from the factory, fixed that, and get inverter power to the GFI circuit in the kitchen, and in a TV outlet as she mentioned above (plus fridge, etc.). Also had to repair the solar controller as the installer torqued down on the wire screws (to hold them in-place) and broke them, allowing the wires to slide in and out.

As my wife mentioned, we'd like to have the bedroom outlets working on the inverter, and we were told that was how they'd be setup from the factory, but much like the solar, they are not setup that way.

Thanks!
Dave

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Dave and wife (don't know her name )

What you're looking for is where all the breakers are located...as well as the 12v fuse. You will see in the image below that I grabbed on internet search, the distribution panel. The 120v breakers are normally on the left and the 12v fuses are on the right. I think Alliance uses the lower breakers (in the red circle) for the Inverter circuits, which are limited. The red arrow is pointing to where the label will/should give you some info on which breaker is supporting which circuit.

 

[Oregon_Camper]

BTW....Alliance moved to 12v frig's in mid 2023 (our 340RL was one of the first) and with that, they stopped putting in Inverters as standard equipment. You have to order the "Super Solar" package to get an Inverter from Alliance. I say this as the primary function of the Inverter on your year Alliance is to run the refrigerator not to support many other circuits.

If you want to add the nightstand outlets to work via the Inverter, you can most likley swap a single 15 amp pole breaker for a 15 amp double pole breaker. If you're not comfortable doing this...any electrican could do it in about 10-15 mins.

 

[Exxonv]

Excellent, thanks Jim! Brenda (my wife ) and I purchased a 2022 Alliance Ave 30RLS new, it came with this package:



The salesman told us the bedroom would have dedicated power from the inverter, and that would be from the bedside outlets. However, the only place we can get power from (when on battery) is the TV plug in the bedroom.

We do get power from the CGI outlet in the kitchen, the fridge runs, and I believe the TV plugin (need to double check) - we've tested those for sure.

Here's a pic of what the solar was setup as from factory (not connected) - so solar didn't work until we figured that out last year ;(.



From what I've read, others have had those actually arching, so glad we found that... Now solar will charge the battery.

Here is an older picture from the panel:

Bottom right side of the panel - these seem to be what you're referring to above as dedicated for the inverter?

This is above the lower right picture - took these when I was working out the solar issue I mentioned above - will get a complete picture later today.



Last - here's the inverter next to our battery (we upgraded from the traditional batteries - we had two running, as our 12v fridge would only run about 12 hours off dual marine battery). We've run this w/the 12-volt fridge for 2-days last season and it kept up with the fridge.

The inverter works, we can get power to the outlets I told you about, just not the two plugs bedside when on inverter.



Going to check the unit this afternoon and will see what I see on the panel and get a picture of the entire panel.

So, is this perspective accurate? The wiring from every plug-in, appliance, etc. runs to this distribution panel, as does shore power and battery power. The solar package charges the battery. So, if we need to switch the inverter run outlets, is that done at this spot? No need to run more electrical wiring, etc.? If so, I was over complicating this in my head.

Thanks!
Dave

 

[Chaseweston]

That PD1618A has a built in transfer switch. Meaning the breaker in your main 120V panel that is labeled inverter should feed the AC IN circuit running into the inverter and the AC OUT circuit coming from the inverter likely runs directly to the devices it powers. The Inverter prep identified in the spec sheet is typically a breaker that is labeled inverter in the main panel that feeds a circuit that runs to the front compartment and hits a junction box where it is wire nutted to the circuit that feeds the outlets. This is done so that if no inverter is installed, those outlets work on shore power as normal. Or an inverter is installed (in your case) that behaves as follows: When on shore power, the PD1618A passes 120V AC directly through to the outlets from shore power source. When 120V AC is not present on the AC IN circuit, the inverter switches to inverter mode to use 12V DC to feed the 120V AC outlets on the AC OUT circuit. If the subject outlets work on shore power but not on inverter, then they are not wired in the circuit supported by the inverter. To correct this, you can either run 14/2 Romex from the TV outlet that you know works on inverter to a bedside outlet and then from that bedside outlet to the other one. Or, if there is a junction box accessible along the AC OUT circuit, splice in a 14/2 Romex from there to the bedside outlet and then daisy over to the other one.

best of luck!

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Answering question from your post above...

No...the image you provided (shown below) is the 12v fuse panel. You need to find the 120v (A/C power) breakers...which is most like to the left of the 12v fuses shown below.

 

[Midnight Rider]

I had a gfi out in the bathroom when my plugs by the bed failed to work? I put in new gfi and the outlets next to bed came back on?

 

[Oregon_Camper]

I had a gfi out in the bathroom when my plugs by the bed failed to work? I put in new gfi and the outlets next to bed came back on?

When on inverter power or shore power?

 

[Exxonv]

Thanks for all the responses! So, first off, we went to the trailer last night and saw this


Keeping our trailer safe from mice...




Thought that was pretty cool...

Here is what I have for circuits:

Pulled the outlets for the bedroom TV and the right side of bed plug:



Went into the basement to look (been in that mess before) - didn't see an obvious junction box:




This is up front by the battery and inverter, but I am assuming it is really only for the landing gear:



Confirmed the following plugs work with the inverter:

TV in main cabin
GFI on kitchen island
TV in bedroom

No other plugs worked (neither bedroom plug).

So, I am making assumptions here that either the bedroom plugs are not wired for the inverter (not sure how to confirm), or there is wiring not connected to either a junction box, or the panel.

Thoughts on this?

Thank you!
Dave

P.S. our bathroom GFI does not work on the inverter, never did, and from the factory didn't work at all, but we had that repaired in the warranty period.

 

[Oregon_Camper]

P.S. our bathroom GFI does not work on the inverter, never did, and from the factory didn't work at all, but we had that repaired in the warranty period.

That is probably the reason. I am guessing the dealer simply swapped the circuit that was suppose to power the bedside outlets with the one that powers the GFCI in the bathroom.

I also find it interesting you have a 20 amp breaker, but it isn't labled on the panel?

How comfortable/knowledgable are you with AC and circuits? A qualified electrician could fix this in under 30 mins, with the right tools. Knowing how to use a "toner" would quickly help find which wire is from bedside outlets. From there, adding those to the invertered circuit would be easy.

 

[Midnight Rider]

That looked like a Rattle Snake? Was it?

 

[Exxonv]

Interesting, so if I pull the breaker panel, would that help me confirm? Thanks!!

 

[Exxonv]

That looked like a Rattle Snake? Was it?

We think it was!

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Interesting, so if I pull the breaker panel, would that help me confirm? Thanks!!

If you had a toner (like this one), it would pinpoint which circuit your bedside outlets are routed to. Then you could move them (via double breaker) to the inverter circuit.

 

[Exxonv]

Copy, and if I pull the panel, I might see where there's only 3 vs 5 wires (just curious). I don't have a toner, but I'm sure I could borrow one.

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Copy, and if I pull the panel, I might see where there's only 3 vs 5 wires (just curious). I don't have a toner, but I'm sure I could borrow one.

No..each breaker will (should) only have 1 wire attached. This make the "run" to a handful of outlets. Typically it will run to a GFCI first and then 4-5 more (could be more or less) using the same single connection to the breaker. BTW...this is the same in your home.

 

[Exxonv]

We are camping, I pulled the panel and see this:


Okay, so like you said, single wire, and one of them is completely unused (and unmarked).

Bottom line for me, will probably need an electrician to look, I'm not sure I'm comfortable enough to take the next step. If I did, I'd need to kill all power to the RV, battery too (I'm assuming), pull the panel, and use the toner at the wall to back of panel until I found the wires to bedroom plugs, then see where those are connected (breaker), and move to the inverter circuit?

 

[Oregon_Camper]

yes...kill power to RV and inverter. 12v power is ok still.

I see an open 20 amp breaker (4th down from top) and it looks like the last breaker on the bottom has nothing in it...and it is not the same make/model as all the others...wierd.

To use the toner (with power and breakers off) you simply atttach the transmitter side of the toner kit to the wire on bedroom outlet and then use prob end of kit to touch each wire. You do not need to remove the panel or any breakers. it will BEEP when it detects the tone from other end. Do this on the outlets you know IS working off inverter and bedside one. Then you'll know which is which.