Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Jayco RV Owners Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-07-2014, 09:18 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
mschuchert's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Perrysburg, Ohio
Posts: 9
2nd microwave broken in 2 year old RV

Last year we bought a 1 year old RV and during the final walk through at the dealership the mechanic turned on the microwave just to find it not working.

He was genuinely surprised, and insisted that it had worked before. He replaced it with a new microwave from a new RV.

We took the RV south for 2 weeks and used the microwave about 30 times or so.

During our last night on this trip the microwave failed. It would not come on. Dead as a door nail.

When I connected our RV to the outlet electricity would not flow. The microwave was always our indicator that we are connected. Instead the surge protector flashed through various error coding. Mostly that the voltage is too high (if I remember correctly). It wasn't that new to me. That surge protector seemed overly protective and sometimes it needed time to let the juices flow.

This occurred at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington. I remember that I had some trouble at this park on the way down south as well. But ultimately it came on.

What happened is not quite clear but I had the feeling it connected first and then broke down. My wife heard a popping sound from the microwave and that was it (my wife was inside). After that nothing would work as long as the surge protector was connected.

After switching outlets and reconnecting again and again, I finally got fed up and removed the surge protector and plugged our RV directly to the 30amp outlet without protection. All came on and was fine, the fridge, the water heater and the lights, except for the microwave.

I always first connect the cable to the outlet via our super-duper and expensive surge protector and then switch on the circuit breaker.

---

I did look around the internet to see if other RVers have similar problems with their microwaves, instead I find that most microwaves seem to outlast the RVs they are installed in.

Back at home, before bringing the RV back to the storage place, I plugged the RV into one of the garage outlets, and used the surge protector again. Everything was working: the surge protector, the lights, the fridge - but not the microwave

Summary:
The microwave doesn't work. Not even over outlets in our home. This is the second unit that broke after light use.
The microwave has always been protected through our surge protector only after it was already dead did I remove the surge protector.

Do we have an electrical problem or just bad luck with the microwaves?

I'm about to buy a new unit within the next weeks, since I couldn't find a circuit breaker on the microwave and I can't imagine an easy fix.

The electrical world is almost magical to me. I have no clue how you can put the sun into a bottle. So better use small words when you reply.

Thank you for your time and help.
Martin

PS 50 AMP 5th Wheel, 2012 Jayco Superlight 31.5 RLTS. Surge protector from Progressive Industries, EMS-PT50C

BTW> Do I have to contact Progressive Industries and sent them the surge protector to do something to it before setting out again? Like having them reset it? It was working fine from the garage on low amps.
__________________


2012 Jayco Eagle Superlite 31.5 RLTS
2012 F350 Diesel
mschuchert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2014, 11:29 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Renton
Posts: 517
Quote:
Originally Posted by mschuchert View Post
Last year we bought a 1 year old RV and during the final walk through at the dealership the mechanic turned on the microwave just to find it not working.

He was genuinely surprised, and insisted that it had worked before. He replaced it with a new microwave from a new RV.

We took the RV south for 2 weeks and used the microwave about 30 times or so.

During our last night on this trip the microwave failed. It would not come on. Dead as a door nail.

When I connected our RV to the outlet electricity would not flow. The microwave was always our indicator that we are connected. Instead the surge protector flashed through various error coding. Mostly that the voltage is too high (if I remember correctly). It wasn't that new to me. That surge protector seemed overly protective and sometimes it needed time to let the juices flow.

This occurred at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington. I remember that I had some trouble at this park on the way down south as well. But ultimately it came on.

What happened is not quite clear but I had the feeling it connected first and then broke down. My wife heard a popping sound from the microwave and that was it (my wife was inside). After that nothing would work as long as the surge protector was connected.

After switching outlets and reconnecting again and again, I finally got fed up and removed the surge protector and plugged our RV directly to the 30amp outlet without protection. All came on and was fine, the fridge, the water heater and the lights, except for the microwave.

I always first connect the cable to the outlet via our super-duper and expensive surge protector and then switch on the circuit breaker.

---

I did look around the internet to see if other RVers have similar problems with their microwaves, instead I find that most microwaves seem to outlast the RVs they are installed in.

Back at home, before bringing the RV back to the storage place, I plugged the RV into one of the garage outlets, and used the surge protector again. Everything was working: the surge protector, the lights, the fridge - but not the microwave

Summary:
The microwave doesn't work. Not even over outlets in our home. This is the second unit that broke after light use.
The microwave has always been protected through our surge protector only after it was already dead did I remove the surge protector.

Do we have an electrical problem or just bad luck with the microwaves?

I'm about to buy a new unit within the next weeks, since I couldn't find a circuit breaker on the microwave and I can't imagine an easy fix.

The electrical world is almost magical to me. I have no clue how you can put the sun into a bottle. So better use small words when you reply.

Thank you for your time and help.
Martin

PS 50 AMP 5th Wheel, 2012 Jayco Superlight 31.5 RLTS. Surge protector from Progressive Industries, EMS-PT50C

BTW> Do I have to contact Progressive Industries and sent them the surge protector to do something to it before setting out again? Like having them reset it? It was working fine from the garage on low amps.
Hi,
AC power isn't that complicated if you understand the basics. Your coach has a two 50 AMP circuits at 125VAC to neutral and 250VAC from each hot leg to the other. Many things can be wrong with park AC power such as:
High voltage on either leg (over 130 VAC)
Open neutral
Low voltage on either leg (less than 100 VAC)
Reversed polarity i.e. neutral and line swapped
Unexpected high voltage surges

Your EMS-PT50C can detect and protect against High voltage, low voltage, reversed polarity and unexpected surges. How it works is by cutting off power to the coach if it detects an unsafe condition.

In some cases when you plug in the coach the inrush current causes a momentary voltage sag depending on what you have on in the coach and what other park users are doing. Resetting the unit will cause it to recheck for safe power and may allow power to flow if safe. What may have happened is you had encountered high voltage which burned out the microwave. Trust the power protection you paid for and don't plug into the pedestal if it is unsafe. Talk with park management if you need to.
__________________
Michael
Old setup:
2004 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 LT with a 2004 Jayco JayFlight 29BHS
2014 Greyhawk 31FS with a 2007 Tahoe toad
New setup:
2014 Thor Palazzo 33.3 with a 2017 Ford Explorer toad
msturtz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2014, 10:42 AM   #3
Junior Member
 
mschuchert's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Perrysburg, Ohio
Posts: 9
Michael,
Thank you for your reply.

What I don't understand is that the microwave burned out WITH the surge protector connected.

But I don't think the surge protector is at fault, because it happened at the dealership as well. (or something happened there -)

I'm about to order a new microwave and my question is, will it last through this year or even a month of camping?

You wrote: "Resetting the unit will cause it to recheck for safe power and may allow power to flow if safe. "
I assume this means, I have to send it to Progressive. It's nothing I can do myself, like a reset bottom at the computer.

Thanks again,
Martin
__________________


2012 Jayco Eagle Superlite 31.5 RLTS
2012 F350 Diesel
mschuchert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2014, 10:52 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
RoyBraddy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: King George
Posts: 2,761
My microwave is plugged into a 120VAC Receptacle up on top of my kitchen cabinet. It is also shared with the refrigator fan...

You problem almost sound like a GFCI problem maybe with the rece[tacle.

Can you find where your microwave unit is plugged into a 120VAC receptacle and make sure that receptacle has 120VAC coming out of the contacts...

Might be as simple as resetting a 120VAC GFCI type receptacle in the kitchen area.

My microwave has the standard 120VAC cord on it and I can plug that into an extension cord comming from a good 120VAC source for a check.

Roy ken
__________________
Roy and Carolyn
I claim Horse Creek Country in Southern Ill - Momabear is from North Texas
We live in King George VA
RETIRED DOD DOAF DON CONTRACTOR Electronics Tech 42YRS

"We're burning daylight" - John Wayne
2008 STARCRAFT 14RT OFF-ROAD POPUP with PD9260C and three 85AH 12VDC batteries
2010 F150 FX4 5.4 GAS with 3.73 gears - Super Cab - Towing Package - 2KW Honda EU2000i Gen
K9PHT (since 1957) 146.52Mhz
"We always have a PLAN B"
RoyBraddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2014, 10:01 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Salsa03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 297
My father had an issue with microwaves in his last TT.... he actually had 3 microwaves burn in the span of 2 years.... they were all replaced under warranty... but no one could explain...one day he started looking at it.... he found out that his enclosed microwave was getting the cabinets really warm.

So he drilled a hole inside the cabinet to the side of the microwave and installed a computer fan which he would plug in the microwave electrical outlet each time he would be using it... he never again had to replace a microwave!
__________________
2014 JayFlight 28BHBE (replacing a 2009 Kodiak 25QS)
Started off with 2011 Sierra SLT CrewCab 4x4
Now pulling with a 2018 F150 XLT Special Edition EB 3.5
1200/12,000 Equal-I-Zer Hitch
Salsa03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2014, 10:20 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Renton
Posts: 517
Quote:
Originally Posted by mschuchert View Post
Michael,
Thank you for your reply.

What I don't understand is that the microwave burned out WITH the surge protector connected.

But I don't think the surge protector is at fault, because it happened at the dealership as well. (or something happened there -)

I'm about to order a new microwave and my question is, will it last through this year or even a month of camping?

You wrote: "Resetting the unit will cause it to recheck for safe power and may allow power to flow if safe. "
I assume this means, I have to send it to Progressive. It's nothing I can do myself, like a reset bottom at the computer.

Thanks again,
Martin
I would reset the surge suppressor by switching off the breaker at the pedestal and then turning it back on. Momentary partial contact of the pins can cause low voltage depending on what you have turned on in the coach. From reading your story above I thought you said that you bypassed the surge suppressor and plugged directly into the pedestal when it did not work.
__________________
Michael
Old setup:
2004 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 LT with a 2004 Jayco JayFlight 29BHS
2014 Greyhawk 31FS with a 2007 Tahoe toad
New setup:
2014 Thor Palazzo 33.3 with a 2017 Ford Explorer toad
msturtz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2014, 11:15 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
rugerguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Rose Hill Ks.
Posts: 123
You can buy a cheap 120 v.a.c. test meter at lowes for around 10 to 15 bucks.
I would test that outlet to see if MW is getting 110 to 120 volts.
Remember that low voltage can burn something up as well as to much voltage.
__________________
David S.
2010 298 RLS Eagle
99 Ford F-250
1 wife
2 spoiled cihuahua's
rugerguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-16-2014, 03:25 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
us71na's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: McKean, PA
Posts: 1,071
Several thoughts

1. I don't own a surge protector, but I do carry a voltmeter and a voltage detector with us wherever we go. Before connecting to any power supply on a trip, I first check polarity of the receptacle with the detector and then the voltage. I would not connect if the polarity was reversed or if the voltage was out of range (115-125). I've never encountered a problem in 2 years, but it pays to be safe.

2. We know of several campers that had "microwave" problems that turned out to be the plug had simply vibrated loose during transit.

3. Microwaves are notorious for tripping GFIC outlets. If your camper has one, on the microwave circuit, that may be the problem. Your microwave probably plugs into an outlet buried in the cabinet, so try connecting the plug to an extension cord to a known good power source.
__________________
2011 Skylark 21FKV
us71na is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-16-2014, 05:00 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Renton
Posts: 517
I have seen low voltage in many parks I have plugged into.
__________________
Michael
Old setup:
2004 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 LT with a 2004 Jayco JayFlight 29BHS
2014 Greyhawk 31FS with a 2007 Tahoe toad
New setup:
2014 Thor Palazzo 33.3 with a 2017 Ford Explorer toad
msturtz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-16-2014, 05:12 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 552
The word "coincidence" doesn't exist in my vocabulary. The surge protector will protect you from voltage problems with power coming into the trailer, but after that does nothing. Something is taking out those microwaves. I would suspect a loose connection at the converter(circuit breaker creating an arc(voltage spike) and taking out the electronic board if the MW has one, a loose connection at the outlet where it plugs into, or a misfired outlet. It is not a bad ground. Electrical equipment will run fine without one.
The MW is not going to be wired to a GFCI. That is only for outlets that are located outside or in close proximity to a water source. Low voltage is a possibility and unless you have been pugged into only one power source for two years, I would look for a trailer related problem. Check the prong end of your shore power cable. if it is burned, that can drop voltage creating a high current condition.
At any rate, I would not install another microwave until the problem is fixed.
__________________
2010 22FB(Ret)
2013 F250 XLT
I now have a Keystone Outback, but I try to help when I can.
---------------------
Bitter Gun Owner
Bitter Clinger
Armed Infidel
Bob Landry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2014, 08:19 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
yddad45's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Meridian,ms
Posts: 256
May be to late to help, but I had a short occure by a lightning strike and my rv microwave was a casulty. But after taking the cover off I found a fuse located inside the microwave and was able to bring it back to life by replcing the fuse.
__________________
2010 F250 6.4 L
2011 Jayco 330 RTLS
yddad45 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
electrical problem, microwave defect, progressive industries, surge protector

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jayco, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:57 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2002-2016 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.