Built in vacuum mystery - solved

[bertschb]

I tried to use the built in vacuum in our Solitude today and it didn't work. What the heck???? After 15 minutes of troubleshooting, this is what I learned...

The power for the vacuum system is plugged into the same outlet as the inverter. We have a residential fridge and the breaker for the fridge is turned off while the RV is in storage. This breaker kills power to the inverter outlet which in turn kills power to the vacuum.

Now I'm no electrician but it doesn't make much sense to me to plug the vacuum into the same outlet as the inverter. There is another outlet right next to the inverter outlet but it only has one connection which is used by the converter. I think they should have wired the second plug for the converter outlet and plugged the vacuum into that. Oh well, at least I now know the vacuum won't work when the fridge breaker is turned off. Hope this helps somebody who has a similar setup.

[Calbar]

This makes sense to me. If you are boondocking you can still use the vacuum because the investor will run it. Why Not just leave the breaker on all the time. If you have 120 won't run and if you don't keeps the fridge running.

Rob

[bertschb]

This makes sense to me. If you are boondocking you can still use the vacuum because the investor will run it. Why Not just leave the breaker on all the time. If you have 120 won't run and if you don't keeps the fridge running.

Hi Rob

The vacuum won't run from the inverter because it's not plugged into it. It's just plugged into the same power outlet as the inverter. The breaker labeled "Refrigerator" controls power to this shared outlet. IMO, the breaker should be labeled "Inverter/Refrigerator/Vacuum". I think Grand Design should have added a second outlet to the box the converter is plugged into and used that for the vacuum.

As for leaving the refrigerator breaker on all the time-
I don't always want the fridge running while plugged into shore power. For example, I have the RV in storage right now. I've done some work on it recently (added a Bluetooth thermostat) and needed shore power to make sure the air conditioner still worked. I also occasionally plug the RV into shore power to charge up the batteries. I don't want the fridge running during this time. I only want the fridge running when we're staying in the RV and actually using it.

[traveldawg]

I think you can change out that single outlet to a double outlet without much trouble. Just swap the receptacle box to a double.