Help! Our Electric won’t Work!

[NewCampers2022]

Hello, we’re new to the travel trailer life and we’re having issues with the electric. For some reason everything is working but the power to the trailer. Accidentally had a space heater plugged in forgot and tried to use the microwave the power tripped and now no matter what we do it won’t come back on. There is power to the 30 Amp Outlet and power to the extension cord but no power to the trailer. When we used a line voltage meter it goes haywire. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Aiki]

Did you check your fuse box? It might have tripped

 

[NewCampers2022]

Did you check your fuse box? It might have tripped

That was the first step I took

 

[Voyageurs]

So none of the 120 volt items work? Is there a light on the microwave? Normally I would look at GFCI’s but they wouldn’t affect the whole trailer.

 

[Gronk]

Since you said "When we used a line voltage meter it goes haywire" then I would be looking at the wiring starting at the plug on the trailer. Look for a burnt connection at that plug. If that's the case, it is a relatively easy fix. Replace both plugs. If those plugs look good, then look at the wiring from the plug on the trailer (you may need to pull the plug out to check those connections). After that is the breaker panel. Check the wiring there and repair as needed. Not a difficult job, but time consuming........

 

[NewCampers2022]

So none of the 120 volt items work? Is there a light on the microwave? Normally I would look at GFCI’s but they wouldn’t affect the whole trailer.

None. No light. We checked the GFCI’s as well

 

[NewCampers2022]

Since you said "When we used a line voltage meter it goes haywire" then I would be looking at the wiring starting at the plug on the trailer. Look for a burnt connection at that plug. If that's the case, it is a relatively easy fix. Replace both plugs. If those plugs look good, then look at the wiring from the plug on the trailer (you may need to pull the plug out to check those connections). After that is the breaker panel. Check the wiring there and repair as needed. Not a difficult job, but time consuming........

Tried all of that as well, we also tried hooking a battery up nothing still.

 

[Voyageurs]

Tried all of that as well, we also tried hooking a battery up nothing still.

The battery is just for the 12 volt side. Half split the system and start with a meter at the back of the 30 amp breaker.

 

[Gronk]

What is the condition of the plug in the pedestal? Are the prongs on your plug discolored? You are describing a poor connection........ Something to keep in mind is that little "tic" you hear when you plug in is an arc in the plug. Over time that creates a poor connection and symptoms like you are experiencing. One should always turn the breaker at the pedestal off before plugging in.

 

[TheLooks]

Go to the breaker panel IN the trailer and test for AC there. IF it is there, then the problem is from that point on into the trailer. Check each breaker, but particularly the main breaker.