Proud new bus owners

[Billysurf]

My wife and I have purchased our first bus, a 1988 MCI 102A2.  We have no idea what we're doing, but nothing has exploded yet...  I'm sure it will, given a little more time.  We do know that we love her already!!! 

Question-- we are not getting power from our 15 amp house outlet to the bus (50 amp to 30 amp dogbone to 15) and we've killed the house batteries.  I'm wondering if this box just doesn't "turn on" with 15 amps.

We REALLY appreciate your time.  We are looking forward to getting to know each of you!!!



Jen and Billy

[eagle19952]

you have a 2 pole main breaker...that means u need a 220v FOUR wire feed...

[PP]

Congratulations! (I think). Put away the champagne and break out the rum, you're going to need it. Just kidding. Welcome aboard. I can't answer this question for you as I have no idea how your coach is wired, but maybe next time. Good luck.

[bobofthenorth]

If all your adapters are working there's no reason why you can't run some limited subset of your power.  Time to learn how to use a VOM.  Start with what you know - make sure there's power at the house outlet or pedestal or wherever your power is supposed to originate.  Then keep checking down the line until you don't have power anymore.  That's a converter which is really just a glorified battery charger - it may be dead which would explain why your batteries are dead but use the VOM and figure it out.

[Geoff]

I have tried running a 50 to 30 to 15 amp like you are doing and it didn't work..  You have only showed us part of the setup.  Do you have a regular 120v battery charger?  If you do, just hook it up to the battery bank to get your batteries up while you figure it out.

--Geoff

PS. I remember why it didn't work-- it would blow the outdoor GFI receptical.  So I used my battery charger.

[TomC]

Since my bus is wired straight 120vac, I have no problem running 50 to 30 to 15 amp-although 15amp isn't much. But-you should be able to run one appliance at a time-including one roof air. Good Luck, TomC

[sixtyseven]

Like Donald said,  you have a 240 volt main.   Depending on how your "dog bone" is wired, you may only have power to half your coach.   You need to go around and check to see what's working and what's not.  If only 1/2 the stuff works then you need to find 50 amp to plug into or rewire your dog bone to work.

[B_K]

If it were me and I had spent the $ to buy a bus, I'd go ahead and spend the $ to have a dedicated 50 amp outlet installed near the buses parking spot so that you have adequate power at all times when at "home base."

But that is just "my way" and I do things different than the average bear!
  BK 

[daddysgirl]

you have a 2 pole main breaker...that means u need a 220v FOUR wire feed...

It's not enough juice to keep the batts charged, is it?

[thomasinnv]

It's not enough juice to keep the batts charged, is it?

It should be plenty fine to keep the batteries charged.

Contrary to popular belief, just because a rig has a 50 amp cord (which, yes, is actually a 240 volt service) does not mean that the vehicle REQUIRES a 240 volt service to operate properly. Probably 99% of rv's that are 50 amp actually have ZERO items/appliances that are 240 volt, all rv electrical appliances are typically 120 vac. Even factory installed basement ac which have dual fans and compressors are still 120 vac, they are just wired to both phases in order to balance the load.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

[ccbmster]

yeah.....I just had reason to open up my 50 amp plug and found that only three of the wires were being used.  The second hot was not connected (never had been).  So it was a 50 amp plug but only delivering 30 amp service. 

Just as an aside, the second hot was just cut off flat and left in there....no cap or electrical tape over it or anything.

[dtcerrato]

Sounds like you have just dove into the pool of bus ownership. Welcome & have a blast...

[Billysurf]

Thanks!!!!!!

[eagle19952]

It's not enough juice to keep the batts charged, is it?

the 110v loads are divided onto each leg...in the OP's scenario, IF his cords are proper, the most reasonable assumption is that the converter/charger and/or outlets he wishes to use in the coach are on the "other" leg...

because, breaking it down to the smallest adapter...one leg should/could be hot... remember, I said if his cords are code...

so, yes a 20 amp and possibly a 15 amp would run a small converter/charger.
but he's better off doing Geoff's deal...run a cord to a charger then solve/wire a source properly.

[Hi yo silver]

If all or most of the breakers on the bus panel are on, you might be tripping the breaker in your house panel immediately due to the overload. Try turning off all the breakers in the bus panel, then resetting the panel in the house. Then turn on one breaker on the bus panel. See if that circuit stays hot.
Dennis