Lightning strike maybe?

Fancy57

New Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2022
Messages
8
Last night we were at a full hook up park. Big storm passed through, hail, rain, huge thunder and lightning. Power went out, we were going to just wait till daylight to see if the park was out. We started to smell melted electrical wiring. Looked at our fuse box and the switch had been thrown. Went outside, the shore power was off, so my husband turned it on, came inside flipped our switches, the fuses started smoking. So we shut everything down. The other campsites had power. We could hear their air conditioners running. This morning, our neighbor said some of their fuses blew.

The other curious thing, is the oven. The knobs on the oven will light up blue if you want, and will be red when you turn on the oven or burners. Three of the knobs are now red and will not turn off. Well they will, when we shut off the battery.

We have a 22 Transcend 231RK.
 
Last night we were at a full hook up park. Big storm passed through, hail, rain, huge thunder and lightning. Power went out, we were going to just wait till daylight to see if the park was out. We started to smell melted electrical wiring. Looked at our fuse box and the switch had been thrown. Went outside, the shore power was off, so my husband turned it on, came inside flipped our switches, the fuses started smoking. So we shut everything down. The other campsites had power. We could hear their air conditioners running. This morning, our neighbor said some of their fuses blew.

The other curious thing, is the oven. The knobs on the oven will light up blue if you want, and will be red when you turn on the oven or burners. Three of the knobs are now red and will not turn off. Well they will, when we shut off the battery.

We have a 22 Transcend 231RK.

Your theory sounds right to me. Your symptoms suggest several of your circuits were overloaded and burned out.

BTW: It looks like this is your first post, welcome aboard.
 
Thank you. We just got home this afternoon and unloaded. Will start troubleshooting tomorrow.
 
Thank you. We just got home this afternoon and unloaded. Will start troubleshooting tomorrow.
[MENTION=53262]Fancy57[/MENTION] -

So sorry to hear about your troubles! I take it you weren't using an EMS (electrical management system which includes surge protection). When you get your rig fixed, I highly recommend a good one. They come either hardwired or in-line that you plug in between the pedestal and your power cord.

Now, when you have time, here are a few forum tips:

1) If you use "Reply With Quote" (to the right of "Reply") as I have here, folks will know to whom you are responding and that person will get a notification.

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Rob
 
Being able to completely unhook from shore power before the thunderstorm hits has been one of my goals for a long time. We're finally there. That said, in the 10 years we were in the Foretravel we never once actually needed it. Yes, the money we spent on our electrical upgrade would more than cover the deductible, but a fire would destroy more than just replaceable stuff.

BTW, unplugging and stowing the shore power cord prior to a threatened thunderstorm makes the storm go elsewhere.
 
[MENTION=53262]Fancy57[/MENTION] -

So sorry to hear about your troubles! I take it you weren't using an EMS (electrical management system which includes surge protection). When you get your rig fixed, I highly recommend a good one. They come either hardwired or in-line that you plug in between the pedestal and your power cord.

Now, when you have time, here are a few forum tips:

1) If you use "Reply With Quote" (to the right of "Reply") as I have here, folks will know to whom you are responding and that person will get a notification.

2) You can also tag folks using the "@" symbol and their user name (as I have done yours) - they'll also get a notification that way.

3) You can create a signature block with your RV and tow vehicle information (see mine below). That way you won't have to repeat that information whenever you post or ask a question - and others won't have to ask. You can create a signature by going to:

Forum Actions (on menu bar) -> Edit Profile -> Edit Signature (under My Settings on the left)

Note: you'll need to have a paid subscription to add an image to your signature.

Rob

We did have a surge protector on the shore power.

Thanks for the tips!
 
Being able to completely unhook from shore power before the thunderstorm hits has been one of my goals for a long time. We're finally there. That said, in the 10 years we were in the Foretravel we never once actually needed it. Yes, the money we spent on our electrical upgrade would more than cover the deductible, but a fire would destroy more than just replaceable stuff.

BTW, unplugging and stowing the shore power cord prior to a threatened thunderstorm makes the storm go elsewhere.


We were in a park with no cell power and no tv through antenna. We were totally unaware there was a storm of this magnitude coming. A tornado touched down 40 miles from where we were.

I think our new purchase will be a weather radio.
 
Being able to completely unhook from shore power before the thunderstorm hits has been one of my goals for a long time. We're finally there. That said, in the 10 years we were in the Foretravel we never once actually needed it. Yes, the money we spent on our electrical upgrade would more than cover the deductible, but a fire would destroy more than just replaceable stuff.

BTW, unplugging and stowing the shore power cord prior to a threatened thunderstorm makes the storm go elsewhere.

We go into dry camping mode when a big storm is coming through.
 
I have a Progressive Industries hard wired EMS but I've never been under the opinion that it would suppress a lighting strike. It does say that they are effective in electrical surges but I'm betting we are talking about over voltages surges in the commercial power, not of the magnitude of a lightning strike.

Years ago after several strikes and lost appliances I looked into lightning suppression for my house. I found anything that was commercially rated to be somewhat effective was very expensive.
 
Update.

Last night we were at a full hook up park. Big storm passed through, hail, rain, huge thunder and lightning. Power went out, we were going to just wait till daylight to see if the park was out. We started to smell melted electrical wiring. Looked at our fuse box and the switch had been thrown. Went outside, the shore power was off, so my husband turned it on, came inside flipped our switches, the fuses started smoking. So we shut everything down. The other campsites had power. We could hear their air conditioners running. This morning, our neighbor said some of their fuses blew.

The other curious thing, is the oven. The knobs on the oven will light up blue if you want, and will be red when you turn on the oven or burners. Three of the knobs are now red and will not turn off. Well they will, when we shut off the battery.

We have a 22 Transcend 231RK.



We had our neighbor, who is very well trained in electrical matters of this nature, take a look see. It turns out our converter took the hit. All other fuses and breakers were in working order. So off to buy a new converter. And after talking to Lippert about the oven panel, we will order a new panel also. Thank you all for your words of wisdom.
 
We had our neighbor, who is very well trained in electrical matters of this nature, take a look see. It turns out our converter took the hit. All other fuses and breakers were in working order. So off to buy a new converter. And after talking to Lippert about the oven panel, we will order a new panel also. Thank you all for your words of wisdom.

Glad to hear that it wasn't worse. And if you think LiFePo4 batteries might ever be in your future, be sure to purchase a charger/converter with lithium capability.
 

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