Electrical wiring FAQs for manufactured & mobile home, set #7:

This article series contains questions & answers that assist in electrical diagnosis & repair for mobile homes, manufactured homes, doublewides, trailers and RVs.

Mobile Home Electrical System Repair FAQs #7 - track down cause of dead circuits

These questions & answers about mobile home electrical systems were posted originally at MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS - please remember to take a look at the guidance given there.

Watch out: while some simple electrical system diagnostic steps are perfectly within the ability of most homeowners, do not try removing the electrical panel cover nor opening other electrical boxes or components and don't fool with wiring if you are not trained to do so safely.

Making a mistake can burn down the house or shock or kill someone.

On 2021-12-19 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - turn things off one by one at electrical panel to find cause

@Brian,

First for safety, let's start by turning things off, at the electrical panel, one by one, until that we know just what equipment is causing the vibration.

Where there may also be a fire or shock hazard, you should certainly leave that circuit off.

Then if indeed we think it's an electrical problem call a licensed electrician for help.

Let me know what you find.

On 2021-12-19 by Brian - i feel a constant vibration that goes through my entire body. Almost if it were electricity pulsing through me.

Please help me in need of advice. I currentlt reside in a mobile home that i grew up in as a child. I purchased from my mother. Anyways, the home itself is from 1970's and needs alot of remodeling done.

My one room in my hall way when i am sitting in the lounge chair, i feel a constant vibration that goes through my entire body. Almost if it were electricity pulsing through me.

My father before he passed away redid the hot water tank but instead of putting it inside the home he placed it outside. (I know this is a fire hazard itself) but he ran the wires that connect the hot water tank to the breaker box outside and they are on the ground underneath the trailor.

Would this be whats causing the issue? Idk what to do or who to ask. Im no electrician and im 25 years old and a father of 2.

On 2021-08-21 by Anonymous

@inspectapedia.com.moderator, Thank you very much!

On 2021-08-21 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - wiring diagram for a 1983 fleetwood double wide

ElGato420

Above you'll find several of our articles on mobile home and doublewide electrical systems and wiring, but I don' t think we have a wiring diagram at hand for a 1983 Fleetwood doublewide. I've looked without success.

But all is not lost.

Contact Fleetwood, the manufacturer of your 1983 doublewide;

Fleetwood Homes
Tel: 1-877-413-9849
Web: https://www.fleetwoodhomes.com/

If you can find the data labels for your home, take a look at the state where it was built, then contact the appropriate Fleetwood service center or factory at one of those listed below:

#210 Woodburn, OR 800-458-6488 503-981-3136 503-981-4802
#220 Riverside, CA 800-718-6179 888-568-2017 800-718-6183
#230 Nampa, ID 800-334-8958 800-334-8958 208-466-4698
#240 Waco, TX 888-592-7187 254-799-6206 888-592-7193
#250 Lafayette, TN 866-610-9993 615-666-0027 615-666-8171
#260 Douglas, GA 800-997-0007 912-384-1818 866-692-5631
#270 Rocky Mount, VA 800-888-6811 540-483-5171 540-483-1806

Fleetwood also says that if you can't find the state where your Fleetwood home was manufactured, you can contact the company's service department

using the form the company provides at https://www.fleetwoodhomes.com/contactus/homeowner-service/

BUT

You will at the very least need to identify your specific Fleetwood home by its serial number, so before digging further, find the data labels on your home and take a photo of it - and make a note of its serial number.

Use the "Add Image" button to post a photo of that label here and I can look further to help you out.

On 2021-08-21 by ElGato420

Where do i find a wiring diagram for a 1983 fleetwood double wide? How come nobody on the Internet knows this answer or will even address it?

On 2021-05-24 by (mod) - lost power in half of mobile home

@Benjamin,

Usually when we lose power and half of a mobile home or factory-built home there is a crossover connection between two sections that has come loose or is damaged.

see MANUFACTURED HOME CROSSOVER CONNECTORS

On 2021-05-24 by Benjamin

Half lights in the mobile home

On 2021-05-15 - by (mod) - What happens when the wiring gets wet

@Chiva,

When electrical wiring gets wet in a mobile home or any home the risk used corrosion at connections and devices which in turn could lead to an electrical failure. The failure might be that something no longer works or it could be that electrical short trips a breaker or blows a fuse or in the case of aluminum wiring there could be a fire risk.

There are additional risks if electrical equipment such as a motor on a oil burner or fan or similar device gets wet. It may be damaged and stopped working.

Just how serious the risk is depends on what exactly got wet. For example if a length of plastic insulated wire was wet nowhere near any connection the damage is probably beneath the limits of detection.

On 2021-05-15 by Chiva

What happens when the wiring gets wet in a mobile home

 

 

On 2021-03-10 - by (mod) - Electrical power to Half of our single wide is out

@Cathy, take a look at MANUFACTURED HOME CROSSOVER CONNECTORS inspectapedia.com/Manufactured_Homes/Mobile-Home-Electrical-Crossover-Connectors.php

as often when we lose power in a large area of a doublewide the problem lies there.

On 2021-03-10 by Cathy

Half of our single wide is out the back two bedrooms and bathroom. We reaced breakers no result. The one wall in the 2nd bedroom plug works its on the opposite side of the living room.

On 2021-03-10 2 - by (mod) -

@Anonymous, take a look at MANUFACTURED HOME CROSSOVER CONNECTORS https://inspectapedia.com/Manufactured_Homes/Mobile-Home-Electrical-Crossover-Connectors.php

as often when we lose power in a large area of a doublewide the problem lies there.

On 2021-03-10 by Anonymous

I have a 1974 doublewide and just a few hours ago there was loss of power to the guest bedroom and the master bathroom. After checking the breaker box none of the breakers were tripped but the lights and the outlets are not working but everything else in the home is.

On 2021-03-03 - by (mod) -

MANUFACTURED HOME CROSSOVER CONNECTORS

https://inspectapedia.com/Manufactured_Homes/Mobile-Home-Electrical-Crossover-Connectors.php

May help you find the problem

On 2021-03-03 by Joe

I live in a double wide trailer the back of the trailer has no power but the front where kitchen is works and the furnace works also what could be the problem

On 2021-01-24 by (mod) - find the crossovers in a 1994 Giles Double Wide

William

Yes I have suggestions at MANUFACTURED HOME CROSSOVER CONNECTORS

Please take a look at that article and don't hesitate to post follow-up questions or comments as needed.

On 2021-01-24 by William t Shelton

I have a1994 giles double wide and cant find the electrical crossover connections any ideas ?

 

On 2021-01-06 - by (mod) - no water after electricity came back on

Diedra

Often when we lose water after having lost electrical power we have disclosed the problem that existed previously which was a leaky foot valve in the well. As long as we have power when water is leaking back into the well the pump simply turns on periodically and keeps water in the system.

But when we lose power water drains back into the well and the pump loses prime. You may be able to restore water by priming the pump but you're going to need to replace the bad check valve or foot valve or the problem will simply recur.

Of course the problem could be something else in which case you might want to check out the diagnostics found at

WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE

On 2021-01-06 by Deidra

My daughter's live in a moble home and power went off after snow storm power is now on but no water what should they do is there a reset button for water?

 

On 2020-12-11 - by (mod) - : Some outlets went out in our living room they won’t work at al

Samantha:

Most likely a fuse is blown, breaker is tripped - in the electrical panel

or

an electrical connection has burned or come loose in a receptacle in your home, thus dropping electrical power to all of the receptacles (outlets) that were wired "downstream" from that one.

If multiple circuits are out and if your home is a doublewide or modular then the problem could be a failed crossover connector that joins wiring between house sections.
If that's your case

see MANUFACTURED HOME CROSSOVER CONNECTORS https://inspectapedia.com/Manufactured_Homes/Mobile-Home-Electrical-Crossover-Connectors.php

You'll need help from a licensed electrician to trace the circuit and find the open wire or connector.

On 2020-12-11 - by (mod) -

RE-posting:

AUTHOR:Samantha (no email)

COMMENT: Some outlets went out in our living room they won’t work at all when we plug something into them what could be the reason for this

 

On 2020-11-24 - by (mod) - for unknown reasons, the main circuit breaker flips.

Courtney

Forgive me for being very cautious here but given that I am limited by a brief text and no actual detailed knowledge of your home I have to be careful to try to keep you safe.

To that end, the sort of electrical problem you describe is potentially quite dangerous.

In particular when the main breaker is tripping in the panel and we think that there are one or more circuits that are actually being overloaded we have to ask why the individual breakers are not tripped. The main breaker is the last line of defense and very important one.

So it's possible that there are defective circuit breakers in your panel. Please look at the panel front and at the labels and tell me the brand involved is there are some known-problem brands.

If your panel is one of those, regrettably, it needs to be replaced.

If your panel is not one of those it still needs to be looked at by an electrician and repaired.

Immediate and inexpensive but very important step you can take it to be sure that your home has working, tested, properly located smoke detectors.

On 2020-11-24 by Courtney

Hello, I have lived in my double wide home for just over a year. About a month ago, for unknown reasons, the main circuit breaker flips.

Using the heater, stove or the washer and dryer together can cause it to trip, but sometimes all I have going are the lights. And, when I go back to flip the switch, the top of the panel is warm to the touch. Prior to this, I had no issues. Any ideas?

On 2020-10-03 by Anonymous

Mac:

That popping sound is a warning of potentially very dangerous fire or shock hazards - if, as it appears from your note, electrical wiring, connections, or a heater got wet.

Leave that electrical circuit OFF at the electrical panel and get help from an electrician.

On 2020-09-29 - by (mod) -

Chris you are welcome to post a question on this page - if we can help with information we will.

But

Watch out: don't try fooling with electrical wiring if you're not trained to do so, as you could be shocked or killed.

So what's going on?

On 2020-09-28 by Chris

I need help

On 2020-08-11 - by (mod) - wet wires, high electric bill, unsafe wiring

Pam

Let me State the most important things first.

There is a serious danger of a house fire or of someone being shocked or even killed by these electrical problems that you described. I don't think this is something you can sort out yourself, you need a licensed electrician.

The immediate priority is to be sure that you have working tested smoke detectors throughout your home and that your exit doors and stairs are all in safe and easily accessed condition.

Safest would be to turn off the electrical power entirely until this is sorted out.

It sounds to me as if you suspect as do I that there are one or more serious electrical wiring errors including the grounding system and the circuit wiring in your home. It sounds as if work has been done by someone who is not a licensed electrician and is not properly trained.

There are more problems here than simply an electrical short or leak to ground and high electric bill.

On 2020-08-10 by Pam

Hi, we have a mobile home that was purchased in 1999 and I believe it was 5-6 years old at the time. We have had issues with it from the get. We had it moved to our land and have 2 grounds outside. Our electric bill has always been high 200-400 monthly. We have issues with outlets melting, lights dimming, appliances not lasting.

We have had the electric company come twice and said that everything is normal on their end. I'm at a loss as to where to start, what to do. Also we've been told to check water/ well pump, water heater and furnace without power?

How in the world is this done?

Also, almost half of the trailer is ran off 1 breaker?

On 2020-07-23 by (mod) - no elecrical ground at my uncle's trailer and we get shocked when touchibng anything emtal

Watch out: you are describing a very dangerous electrical problem that can kill someone or start a fatal fire.

Leave power to the traielr turned OFF and get help from a licensed electrician.

It sounds as if there is an improper cross-connection of a "hot" or "live" electrical wire to the trailer's electrical ground wire or to its metal chassis, siding, plumbing ,etc .

On 2020-07-23 by Charlie - no elecrical ground at my uncle's trailer

My uncles trailir seems like its nit grounded. Bc if you touch the siding (metal) or any metal you get shocked what coukd it be?

On 2020-07-01 by Anonymous - I have 120V on the neutral wire

Joe

If ou are finding live voltage on the neutral wire on a receptacle when nothing is plugged-in, hat sounds like a dead short, hot to neutral.

Watch out: if you are not familiar with safe electrical wiring you can be shocked or killed.

On 2020-06-30 by Joebobb

I shorted out an outlet in my extra bedroom after I did I had no power in room so I replaced breaker and outlets on circuit well the light switch and outlet by the main door work and their on the same circuit as the bedroom so I tested the wires on the bad outlets and I have 120 on the neutral wire is there a junction box by the front door some where or is there another problem

On 2020-06-24 - by (mod) - in a manufactured home the grounds and neutrals have to be separated.

408.41 Grounded Conductor Terminations.

Each grounded conductor shall terminate within the panelboard in an individual terminal that is not also used for another conductor.

Exception: Grounded conductors of circuits with parallel conductors shall be permitted to terminate in a single terminal if the terminal is identified for connection of more than one conductor.

On 2020-06-24 by r1gotz595

i wasnt real clear on my first post.. in a manufactured home the grounds and neutrals have to be separated. lately i have come across new panel boxes that were installed with the grounds and neutral on the same bars in the panel box.

The wiring is still running to the main disconnect under the meter located on the exterior of the home. There is also a main disconnect inside the home as in the past.

On 2020-06-23 - by (mod) -

We often see this in the main panel of an older building where there is no dedicated ground bar; follow the wires; is there a grounding conductor to the building ground (electrode(s) for example) connected to the bus?

On 2020-06-23 by Richard

i have come across a few nfg homes that have up graded panel boxes the grounds and neutral wires are on the same bar is this considered correct?

On 2020-04-28 - by (mod) - name of the wiring that comes from the outside electrical box to under my mobile home

Susie

I'll be glad to help but I need to know a bit more. What is that wire running under your home going TO? I can't tell from your question if it is simply feeding an individual circuit or if it is feeding an electrical panel.

If by "what it's called" you are asking about the type of wire, electrical wire that is exposed to the weather and/or runs underground will be stamped UF (for "Underground feeder" to indicate it's rated for outdoor use

On 2020-04-28 by Susie

I need to know the name of the wireing that comes from the outside elecrical box and it goes under my mobilehome

On 2019-11-16 - by (mod) - can I move the mobile h ome and hook up power to it by an extension cord?

Alex

Certainly an electrician can hook up the necessary power cord to connect your home to the Box up a new location.

you do want to compare the ampacity rating of the panel in your home with the ampacity rating that's being provided at the new hookup.

Ask your electrician to make sure that the amperage rating of the supply panel is safe for your home.

On 2019-11-16 by alex

Have a 1979 14x70 single wide that is hardwired right now.am about to move it and the property has a 50 amp box with black power cord would i be able to wire the power cord to my mobile home

On 2019-07-02 by (mod) - big surge when the refrigerator kicks on

Ron

While there could be a bad connection or bad ground somewhere in the system, there could also be a bad connection right at the service entry cables. Or there could be insufficient power delivered to the home.

Or too many things running on too few circuits. There are more subtle problems in the breaker box (is it really fuses?) such as a corroded or burned connector that's not easily visible.

Watch out: if you're not trained on safe working procedures on electrical wiring, panels, services, etc. you could be shocked or killed or - slightly less horrible - start a fire. Take care.

On 2019-07-01 by Ron

I have been working on an older mobile home that was delivered to a mobile home park a friend had bought it, and I have replaced all the wires and plugs and switches also replaced breakers and am

still getting a big surge when the refrigerator kicks on and when the brand new ac kicks on even if the AC is off still getting a good power surge to the fridge.

We ran an extension cord to his son's mobile home next door no surge? Could the fuse box be bad? The park put brand new breakers in outside already.

On 2019-06-13 by (mod) - Problems with back-wired electrical receptacles and switches

Thanks for those details. Back wiring is notoriously and unreliable electrical connection. If you look at my article on this website on that topic you'll see you that the connector surface between the spring clip and the wire is just a very small edge of a piece of bent copper. So it's not a reliable connection. It also sounds like a lot of poorly made electrical devices in that house. You probably going to need to replace all of them.

On 2019-06-08 by Anonymous - can't find the wiring i my mobile home

I’m adding the heat pump new ...took out electric furnace ..new air handler coils line set to new heat pump outside..
I’m wondering where they ran the 240 wire..?

It goes up to the ceiling..I’m trying to find the other end it must
be in the top of the house somewhere?? Possibly comes out ? Top of outside wall by the eve? Thanks for any help

On 2019-06-08 by (mod) - find the end of heat pump wire

If I understand the question you would simply flip off the appropriate circuit breaker and confirm that that's turning off the power to your heat pump. Then you know which circuit it is. Typically that'll be a double pole 240-volt circuit.

On 2019-06-07 by J Rico

Trying to find the end of the heat pump wiring out of the breaker box ...it’s ready and there goes into the ceiling to?
POSs the eve of the house by the roof where a heat pump might go?? Please help.. easier to use existing wiring than adding new down thru
The floor...thanks

On 2019-05-27 by (mod) - accidentally pulled all the wires apart and can't seem to get them back together

I'm really sorry for this problem, particularly because it sounds as if a small issue is going to generate the need for paying a licensed electrician to straighten out your wiring.

But I'm worried that if you're not familiar with safe electrical wiring practices and if you don't know how to use a voltmeter to test and identify circuit wires and hot and neutral wires then unfortunately the truth is making a mistake could burn down your house or kill you.

On 2019-05-26 by Angie

I have a 8 wire junction box in my mobile home bedroom, I accidentally pulled all the wires apart and can't seem to get them back together, so that everything works correctly

On 2019-05-04 by (mod) - My mobile home metal frame is carrying 110 Volts - Electrical SHORT to GROUND is UNSAFE

You have the right sort of idea but need electrician on site to test and follow wiring to find the error.

Watch out: the condition you describe risks death by electrocution or a fire. Turn off circuits involved immediately and get help from an electrician
flag like reply

On 2019-05-03 by Ben Black

My mobile home metal frame is carrying 110 Volts. If you grab the front door knob and the hand rail on the metal stairs at the same time; it shocks you really good. Been happening for over a year now

The Dish guy said he was getting shocked when he was under my mobile home crawling around too. He hasn't been back and he said he thinks its a bad ground. It will shock you if you touch the metal frame under the mobile home.

How can I trouble shoot this with a multimeter? I am familiar with a multimeter. I have the 20$ one from Wal Mart. The frame even shocks my puppy when she touches it. 2015 Clayton mobile home, 110 Volts AC between metallic objects outside of mobile home and ground.

Maybe a neutral wire or hot wire touching from air condition unit & metal frame under mobile home, maybe bad wiring on Dish satalite guy? Grounding system at meter loop failing?

And the transformer that ties into my meter loop makes a popping sound and it sparks sometimes at night always making an arcing sound

On 2019-04-11 by (mod) - homeowner has to buy pole for overhead service entry wires

Justin

Depending on the distance from the electric utility lines a homeowner can be required to also buy a pole - so that the company can bring overhead wires to the home.

The main disconnect for a mobile home is often an outdoor (weatherproof) box and switch mounted on the pole or if the service entry wires run underground, mounted on a shorter post or standard along with the electric meter.

So no just a short pole 4 ft above ground - suitable for mounting a disconnect and meter) won't do if the lines have to come to your property overhead - we need a safe clearance underneath those overhead wires.

See details and some explanatory sketches found at ELECTRICAL SERVICE DROP

On 2019-04-11 by Justin

I am fixing toMove a single wide mobile home to property I own out in the country.

Was told I have to buy a meter pole from electric company at the price of 800.00 that is to be outside of the home

I believe they mean a disconnect box that is to be between the meter the electric company puts in and the interior breaker panel is this correct? And can’t I just use a disconnect box and a 8 ft pole with four feet under ground four above?

On 2019-03-24 by (mod) -

PS other photos didn't appear; Van Oyen's Comment Box feature that we use here permits one photo per comment. So you can post multiple pictures but one at a time. Keep us posted.

D

On 2019-03-22 by psmith369

Thanks for the feedback. Submitted my question more than once, not sure if you got the other picture that I sent, showing both the inside and outside boxes. Your suggestion of checking with the AZ Dept of Housing makes sense, once I clean out the rust and spray paint the inside of the rusty box.
-Pete

On 2019-03-22 by (mod) - tangle of wires in old electrical panel now used as junction box

Aside from The Rat's Nest in what looks like the old electrical box I see a lot of rust and corrosion which would make me worry that the spices in the outdoor box are not adequately protected from the weather. The risk would be a short circuit, loss of electrical power, shock, or five.

I think you will find as I have that if you ask the building department for help and convey that you are not trying to get away with something they're inclined to actually help you identify safety or other concerns that need to be fixed in order to meet local building inspector code approval.

That's the course that I would recommend.

On 2019-03-21 by Pete Smith

We had a licensed/bonded Mobile Home mover move a mobile home from one park to another park in the same city in Arizona.

When it came time to have the mobile home inspected the mover told us that he wasn't sure whether the electrical wiring would pass inspection.

Originally the breaker box was on the outside (it may have been a fuse box originally) to the inside, it's a breaker box now. They used wire nuts to extend all the wires to reach the inside breaker box. The wiring in the old box looks like a rats nest, but all the connections/extensions seem to be fine.

The internal breaker box looks fine, although as I'm about to upload pictures of both I saw that the inside box, doesn't show the 100 AMP breaker that we installed so that both hot lines coming in can be shut off from a single switch in the breaker box. Mobile Homes Inspections in Arizona fall under the Arizona

Department of Housing and their web site states that their adopted electrical code is:

National Electric Code (NEC) 2008 Edition Take a look at the pix. Appreciate feedback.

...

Continue reading at MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL WIRING FAQs - more recently posted questions and answers about electrical wiring in mobile homes and manufactured homes

Or see these

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