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Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Need help on 110 volt on 1977 Kingsley.
Need help on 110 volt on 1977 Kingsley. [message #370917] Mon, 26 December 2022 10:37 Go to next message
Bruce Hart is currently offline  Bruce Hart   United States
Messages: 1500
Registered: October 2011
Location: La Grange, Wyoming
Karma: 5
Senior Member
P.O. has installed three idiot lights for when the air bag compressor comes on, another for when 110v power is used, and another when the hot water heater switch has been turned on. The air compressor light is installed on the wall that is perpendicular to the back galley wall and visible in front area. The two other lights were placed between the closet door and door hiding the breaker box compartment. These lights are only visible if standing in the hallway. Two conductor light cord wire was used to power the two hallway lights. I am attempting to move both hallway lights just below the compressor light and in doing so replace the light cord with 16 ga wire.

My problem now is when I turn on the breaker for the hot water heater my breaker in the shop trips. Shop breaker has a GFI built into it.

https://www.gordonelectricsupply.com/p/Square-D-Qo120Cafi-Miniature-Circuit-Breaker-120V-20A/5594987?msclkid=15cbec8b0d7a19aaadef8f22c9146

I have been plug into this 20 amp outlet for the past four months, and not until I removed the light cord and installed 16ga wire that I have had an issues. I have the 16ga wire hooked up to the outlet and switch box on the side of the electrical panel in motorhome but the other ends are not connected. I am waiting for 110v LED bulbs that I ordered. Previous bulbs broke as I attempted to remove them.

Bruce Hart 1976 Palm Beach 1977 28' Kingsley La Grange, Wyoming

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Re: Need help on 110 volt on 1977 Kingsley. [message #370919 is a reply to message #370917] Mon, 26 December 2022 13:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bruce Hart is currently offline  Bruce Hart   United States
Messages: 1500
Registered: October 2011
Location: La Grange, Wyoming
Karma: 5
Senior Member
I had an aha moment. Didn't occur to me that the water heater switch was left on. Hopefully no damage as the breaker would trip in approximately 10 seconds.

Bruce Hart 1976 Palm Beach 1977 28' Kingsley La Grange, Wyoming

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Re: Need help on 110 volt on 1977 Kingsley. [message #370920 is a reply to message #370917] Mon, 26 December 2022 16:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RF_Burns is currently offline  RF_Burns   Canada
Messages: 2276
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada
Karma: 3
Senior Member
If there was no water in the water heater, then the element might now have a short circuit, or at least enough leakage current to ground to trip your GFI breaker. It does take long to burn out the element if there is no water in the heater. Even if your water heater switch is now OFF, there is a connection between the neutral and ground through the faulty water heater element which puts the Neutral out of balance with the Hot.

Remove both the Hot and Neutral from the water heater element (cap them for safety) and try it again. If the GFI breaker holds, you need a new element.

Also replace your water heater switch with a wind-up 1hr Timer so that you won't forget to shut the water heater switch OFF in the future.

JWID

Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that

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[GMCnet] Re: Need help on 110 volt on 1977 Kingsley. [message #370922 is a reply to message #370917] Mon, 26 December 2022 16:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RF_Burns is currently offline  RF_Burns   United States
Messages: 2276
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada
Karma: 3
Senior Member
If there was no water in the water heater, then the element might now have a short circuit, or at least enough leakage current to ground to trip your
GFI breaker. It does take long to burn out the element if there is no water in the heater. Even if your water heater switch is now OFF, there is a
connection between the neutral and ground through the faulty water heater element which puts the Neutral out of balance with the Hot.

Remove both the Hot and Neutral from the water heater element (cap them for safety) and try it again. If the GFI breaker holds, you need a new
element.

Also replace your water heater switch with a wind-up 1hr Timer so that you won't forget to shut the water heater switch OFF in the future.

JWID

--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
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Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that

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Re: [GMCnet] Re: Need help on 110 volt on 1977 Kingsley. [message #370923 is a reply to message #370922] Mon, 26 December 2022 16:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tphipps is currently offline  tphipps   United States
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Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
Senior Member
When you replace the element, use one designed for 220 volts. You will not notice any difference in how hot the water will get, but a 220 element will last much longer.
And, have a safe and sane New Year.

2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552 KA4CSG

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[GMCnet] Re: Need help on 110 volt on 1977 Kingsley. [message #370924 is a reply to message #370917] Mon, 26 December 2022 16:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tphipps is currently offline  tphipps   United States
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Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
Senior Member
When you replace the element, use one designed for 220 volts. You will not notice any difference in how hot the water will get, but a 220 element
will last much longer.
And, have a safe and sane New Year.
--
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552 KA4CSG

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[GMCnet] Re: Need help on 110 volt on 1977 Kingsley. [message #370925 is a reply to message #370924] Mon, 26 December 2022 17:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Dolph Santorine is currently offline  Dolph Santorine   United States
Messages: 1236
Registered: April 2011
Location: Wheeling, WV
Karma: -41
Senior Member
Most 240 volt elements are rated at 3,500 watts with about 16.5 ohms of resistance.

At 120 volts, it’s 875 watts.

Either way it makes heat!

Dolph Santorine

DE AD0LF

Wheeling, West Virginia

1977 ex-Palm Beach TZE167V100820
Howell EFI/EBL , Reaction Arms, Manny Transmission


> On Dec 26, 2022, at 5:52 PM, Thomas Phipps Errors-To:Thomas Phipps Return-Path:Thomas Phipps X-Mailer:FUDforum v3.1.1 MIME-Version:1.0 Content-Type: text/plain@host.harmonylists.io; wrote:
>
> When you replace the element, use one designed for 220 volts. You will not notice any difference in how hot the water will get, but a 220 element
> will last much longer.
> And, have a safe and sane New Year.
> --
> 2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
> KA4CSG
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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Re: Need help on 110 volt on 1977 Kingsley. [message #370926 is a reply to message #370917] Mon, 26 December 2022 18:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RF_Burns is currently offline  RF_Burns   Canada
Messages: 2276
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada
Karma: 3
Senior Member
I used a 4Kw @ 220/240V (whatever) which works out to 1Kw at 120V. We turn the water heater timer to about 45 minutes when we get up. Then make coffee and breakfast... the water is up to temperature within 20 minutes or so for washing dishes and taking quick showers.

The element was toast when we got the Murray, that was 14 years ago. The OEM water heater broke trying to get the old element out. Installed a stainless steel WH. Still have the same element now.

Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that

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Re: Need help on 110 volt on 1977 Kingsley. [message #370936 is a reply to message #370917] Wed, 28 December 2022 09:04 Go to previous message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
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Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
Senior Member
If you have a GM upfit take the male 14-50P shore cord in hand and meter from the U ground to the flat blade directly across from it (the Neutral). You should show no reading . As others have mentioned the heater element is a good place to start looking if you see any resistance from G to N

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II

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