How Come The Electrical Outlets On One Side Of My RV Don't Work?

by Cathy Smith
(Barbourville, KY)

I have just recently bought a 1994 Swinger Custom by Georgie Boy so I am a new to the RV world, problem is the outlets have stopped working on one side of the RV but they did work until I was using a small vacuum cleaner and I heard a snap noise and now all the electric plugs on the driver’s side does not work but all the lights do work.

I went outside and checked all the breakers and turned them off and back on thinking it was just a breaker but this didn't help. Oh and my electric plugs are the old ones and are not the CFCI plugs. I would appreciate any help.

Thanks

ANSWER: Greetings Cathy thanks for submitting your question on our Ask An RV Question Page.

Let me start off by letting you know why the lights on that side of the RV are still working. The lights are powered by your RV's 12 volt DC electrical system and were not affected by your 120 volt electrical system problem.

I am going to take you on your word that your RV does not have any GFCI outlets. Because of what you described that would have been the first thing I would have had you check. Since you say that you heard a snap noise when the power went out, it does sound like a circuit breaker.

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You said that you checked in your electrical compartment and did not find any tripped breakers. You may have a hidden breaker in your RV. You need to start looking inside all of your cabinets in the RV. Some RV manufacturers have been known to put circuit breakers in the cabinets. I also wouldn't be surprised if you even find a hidden GFCI outlet in one of those cabinets.

If you do not find any hidden breakers or GFCI Outlets then you may have to take your RV in and have a Certified RV Technician take a look at it.

I hope this information has been helpful to you.

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RVing Al

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