Living off-grid offers freedom and sustainability, but it also comes with its share of challenges—especially when it comes to maintaining power. Over the past month, we’ve been dealing with a frustrating issue—our **solar power system hasn’t been lasting through the night**.
We initially checked everything—**solar panels, batteries, charge controller, and inverter**—and even made sure nothing extra was running or plugged in. Despite our efforts, we couldn’t find the source of the problem.
### **Was It Increased Power Usage?**
Since Anne has been working late nights, we thought maybe our extended use of lights, TV, and other electronics while waiting to pick her up was the culprit. Running more power after dark could have been enough to drain the system faster than usual.
### **The Real Problem Revealed**
Yesterday, we may have finally uncovered the real issue. After returning home from dropping Anne off, we sat down for dinner only to realize the **power had shut down**. Oddly enough, the **sun was still out**, but the **solar system was completely drained**. It even displayed a **low battery warning** indicating it had **pulled more power than it was generating**.
Upon further inspection, we found the **power cord going into the RV was burnt**, melting part of the cord and **burning the shore plug** on the RV. What’s strange is that this cord was plugged into a **30-amp outlet with its own breaker**, yet the breaker didn’t trip.
### **Expert Advice and Safety Precautions**
We reached out to an electrician friend for advice through a video call. He suggested the issue was likely caused by a **slow but steady power draw**, which wasn’t enough to trip the breaker but was still strong enough to **drain the solar system**.
Thankfully, a **major catastrophe was avoided**. However, the damage left us needing replacements. While we thought we had spare parts to fix the issue immediately, it turned out we had the **wrong connectors**. As a result, the RV is currently **unplugged** until the **new parts arrive**.
### **Next Steps: Repairs and Improvements**
We’re now in the process of replacing both the **power cord** and the **shore power plug** on the RV to ensure everything is safe and functional. We’re also considering additional **system upgrades** to prevent similar issues in the future.
This experience has been a reminder that **off-grid living requires constant monitoring and maintenance**. It’s not always easy, but staying proactive can help avoid bigger problems down the road.
We’ll know in the coming days if the replacements solve the issue—and we’ll be sure to share an update soon!
**If you’re living off-grid or thinking about it, let us know about your experiences and tips for troubleshooting solar power problems.**
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Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center 