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Topic ClosedHooking up to house Electrical System
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2587 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Hooking up to house Electrical System
    Posted: 08 Feb 2020 at 2:53pm
Be careful of using contact cleaner.  Though it works well, some are flammable.  When you reenergize the circuit, it can be a little exciting if it catches fire when contacts make up.  If you are in a hurry, it might be a good idea to blow out the area very well to evaporate it all.  
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Posts: 2 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2020 at 2:47pm
Thank you so much StephenH!
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6288 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2020 at 2:45pm
Electrical contact cleaner such as CRC QD Electronic Cleaner. Then use some dielectric grease (you should be able to find both at your local auto-parts store or perhaps even Walmart). That should help. Clean the terminals in the cord you are using also.
StephenH
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Minute Rice View Drop Down
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Posts: 2 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2020 at 11:18am
Hi all! I'm new to this forum and it's my first post. I also know next to nothing about electrical issues, but thought this would be a good thread to join to run a problem by y'all. 

My R-pod currently serves as my home office, parked right outside the garage apartment I rent. It's plugged in to a regular garage outlet. I don't run the AC or microwave or anything else heavy-duty when it's hooked up like this. I do keep the trailer plugged in to keep the batteries charging.

Recently, the connection where the cord plugs into the trailer has gotten fussy. I tried a different cord, but that isn't it. It seems to be the contacts, or prongs (is that what they are called?) that the cord plugs into. In other words, the part that's attached permanently to the outside of the trailer.

I have to wiggle the end of the cord a bit to get it to connect. Then every now and then, it inexplicably disconnects and I have to wiggle it again to get the contact again.

Someone suggested I clean the prongs/contacts/whatever they are called with something but he didn't know what it's called. I did some research and found DeOxIt ... is that appropriate for cleaning these? I don't want to mess anything up! Help! Has anyone else had this issue with their R-pod's electrical system? Sure hope I explained this well enough Confused

Thanks in advance for your input!
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 2019 at 2:23pm
Originally posted by Jeepinator

We picked up a surge protector that checks for open circuit and correct polarity.

Progressive Industries 313.1168 SSP30X Smart Surge Protector - 120V/30A https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015G2YYN0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_uZz5Cb685J5Z4

Just for clarity, and apologies if this is obvious, but there are two completely different things here. The voltmeter looks at the 12Vdc system and the surge protector looks at the 120Vac system. 
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Posts: 72 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 2019 at 2:05pm
We picked up a surge protector that checks for open circuit and correct polarity.

Progressive Industries 313.1168 SSP30X Smart Surge Protector - 120V/30A https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015G2YYN0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_uZz5Cb685J5Z4
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6288 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 2019 at 10:17am
One thing that I did that was helpful is to put a volt meter next to the idiot light panel. I put it in with a momentary switch so that when I press the button, I get a voltage reading. It seemed to make more sense than having it run constantly. I used one like this: Waterwich 12/24V LED Display DC Voltmeter. along with a Round Cap Waterproof Momentary Push Button Switch like the one in the link. I made a thin panel to mount both on since I wanted to reinforce the thin paneling and to be able to run the wires from the power panel to the switch and display. I'm not sure if I have a picture in my mods. It has been quite a while since I installed them.
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john in idaho View Drop Down
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Posts: 611 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 2019 at 9:54am
You will do yourself a big favor by getting a digital voltmeter.  
they are under $10.  You don't want to let the batteries rundown to more than 50%, or  12.2 v.  A good book to read is "12 volt Bible for Boats ." Owning an RV is like owning a boat - you have to like to "fiddle" with things or you won't have a good experience.
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Posts: 2629 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 May 2019 at 3:56pm
Originally posted by offgrid

Electrical stuff is an acquired taste. its not that hard or scary really. 
+1. Electricity is just like plumbing, except the water is invisible, and leaks cause a different kind of problem. Star
bp
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Posts: 1407 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 May 2019 at 2:42pm
Originally posted by offgrid


Electrical stuff is an acquired taste. its not that hard or scary really. 
If you have access to your house circuit you can just leave the charger on all the time, its not a problem. If you are charging intermittently, then you should disconnect the battery when not being charged as there are some small parasitic loads in the trailer that you can't easily get rid of.  Then, reconnect the battery and turn on the charger overnight every few weeks or so. However you charge them, you should check the battery water level every few weeks as well. 



+1. We leave our 179 connected to a 15A circuit at storage to trickle charge the batteries (two 6V in series). The suggestion to check the water levels is a good one: at one point, our batteries had run almost dry. Fortunately, they don't seem to be significantly degraded based on a 100A load test I did on them after refilling the cells and letting them charge up. Make sure you use only distilled water.
Alan
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