You have questions and we have answers!
Stellhorn RV & Camping Center and our Customer Service team members are ready and willing to assist you. However, many of your most commonly asked questions can be found and answered below.
ELECTRICAL FAQ |
Q: What is the difference between 12VDC and 120VAC electricity?
A: 12VDC (12-volt direct current) is the type of electricity you would find in an automobile. Your battery is the foundation for the 12VDC system in your RV. A fully charged battery will operate the 12-volt equipment (furnace, water heater, most lighting, range hood, monitor panel, roof vent fans, etc.) in your unit until the battery becomes discharged.
120VAC (120-volt alternating current) is the same type of electricity you typically find in a home. Plugging your shoreline cord into a campground power source (or an optional generator) is the foundation for the 120VAC in your RV. Certain equipment (Roof Air Conditioner, microwave, most televisions, DVD players, etc.) in your RV can only operate from 120VAC electricity and require the unit to be plugged in to a power source or a running generator.
Q: My circuit breaker keeps tripping when I turn on my appliance. What might be causing that?
A: The receptacles in the RV are protected by a circuit breaker and/or the GFCI system. Small, typical household appliances such as a hair dryer, curling iron, toaster, coffee maker, etc. use a very high amount of electricity. Since each circuit in your RV is rated at 15 amps, any combination of two of these types of accessories will draw more than 15 amps which will cause the breaker to trip. It may be necessary to operate these types of accessories one at a time.
Q: I lost power to some appliances and receptacles but the breaker is not tripped in the Power Center. What happened?
A: Certain receptacles in every unit are protected by a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) system. Try pushing the reset button on the receptacle itself. The GFCI receptacles are typically located in the kitchen and/or bathroom. If the problem persists, try a different component in the receptacle. If the problem goes away, it could be a problem with the component, if the problem still persists, there could be an electrical issue in the trailer. To be safe, have your local Forest River dealer check it out.
Q: What causes the GFCI to trip?
A: The GFCI is a personal protection device that constantly monitors the flow of current through a protected circuit and senses any loss of current to an outside path. If the current flowing into an electrical appliance or fixture differs by a very small amount from what flows back out, the GFCI instantly interrupts the current flow.
Q: How does my on-board battery charge?
A: Your RV is equipped with a Power Converter. When the shoreline cord is plugged into a power source this device “Converts” 120VAC electricity into 12VDC electricity. The Power Converter provides a “trickle charge” (slow, low amperage charging) to your battery as long as the shoreline is plugged in to a power source. Your on-board battery is also charged when connected to your tow vehicle through your 7-way plug (towable) or when your motorhome is started. If equipped, your batteries will be charged when the generator is utilized.
Q: What is the difference between an automotive and deep cycle battery?
A: An “automotive” type battery is designed to provide a “heavy load” (like during starting) for a short period of time and to be recharged continuously. A “deep-cycle” battery is designed to be slowly discharged (like during camping) and recharged over and over. While an “automotive” battery will work in an RV, the life expectancy is very short compared to the “deep-cycle” battery which was designed for this type of use.
Q: Why won’t the generator on my Motorhome start?
A: While there are a variety of issues that might prevent your generator from starting, a common issue on motorized products is that the fuel level of the motorhome is insufficient to start and power the generator. A motorhome must have a minimum of ¼ of a tank of fuel to operate the generator. See the Owner’s Manual for other generator Troubleshooting Tips.
