How to Troubleshoot RV Power Cord Reel Not Working

Recreational vehicles come with various components to make them more comfortable to owners. However, this doesn’t mean that you won’t encounter issues. There are complications like the RV power cord reel not working that is likely to ruin your comfort. You may even think of repairing it yourself, but accessing the motor becomes a problem.

There are various causes that could give rise to this issue; this is based on the feedback of RV owners. Therefore some of these culprits include; locked spool, the reel fails to move in any direction, audible clicking sound under load, and reel stops repeatedly or retracts slowly. These defects will leave your RV power cord reel not working.

However, they are fixable with the help of simple steps and actions. This article is here to make everything simple as well as solving the RV power cord reel not working complication. Some of the contents to expect in this report include; reasons for RV power cord reel not working, How to Replace an Extension Cord Plug, among others.

Quick table

Troubleshooting RV power cord reel not working problem

There are different ways that the power cord reel is likely to misbehave in your RV. Below are various ways and causes of a malfunctioning RV Power cord reel;

1. The reel fails to move in any direction

You will know you are experiencing this problem when you press the RETRACT Switch and the reel retract slowly. Sometimes it may even stop intermittently, but when you press the switch again, the reel continues to retract. There are a few suspects that may lead to such a problem. They include; excess voltage drop or low voltage to your motor, cord/hose binding posing strain on the motor, overburdened motor tripping the internal thermal switch.

Well, if you are among those fellows experiencing this symptom with your RV power cord reel, have a look at the following actions;

Fix;

Step 1: Check Voltage

The first action should be checking the volt at the switch; voltage ranging from 11.5 to 14 VDC is just ok. However, less than 11.5 VDC will affect the rotation of the reel. Such a voltage may stall the reel frequently; try to eradicate excessive volt drop when the reel is powered. Use a digital multimeter to determine the voltage.

Step 2: Inspect the routing

The second step involves checking the whole cord/hose routing to make sure it doesn’t stick or pinched. The reel drive will be overburdened if the routing is being caught.

Step 3: Cool the motor

This step becomes essential when the motor constantly stall out. There is no need to continue pressing the ON SWITCH. Just give it something like 13 minutes before it resumes operation.

Step 4: Suckle the cord/hose manually

The last action under this category is to try feeding the cord manually on the reel. While feeding, press the RETRACT switch; this is necessary to minimize motor drag.

2. Locked spool

The power cord reel doesn’t stretch or you can’t pull it out? This complication can be fixed, but first you should understand its various causes. The culprits include; the locked coupler hindering the spool from spinning smoothly.

Fix:

Step 1: Observe the reel

You are advised to visually check the reel to ensure there is nothing leading to a locked spool issue.

Step 2: Change the switch direction

This action involves pressing the Switch to the Release location. Doing so is necessary since it unlocks the coupler. If the reel still doesn’t come out, move to the next step.

Step 3: Grasp the spool physically

If there is a way you can access the spool, grab it with your bare hand and then rock it up and down gently. The rocking should range from 15 to 30 degrees. Doing so is necessary to release the coupler. Up to this point, your RV power cord reel should be moving properly, but if your efforts are in vain, advance to the next action

Step 4: Remove the motor casing

Removing the motor casing or cover is advisable to help you scrutinize the root cause of locked spool. It is recommendable because sometimes the coupler might be broken or other components are problematic.

3. Loud clicking sound under load

While the cord/hose is being retracted by the reel, it makes a sudden stop and makes a loud clicking sound. The chain drive might be overburdened leading to chain skip.

However, I thought you should know that skipping isn’t a defect because the chain skips might be due to high loads on the driveline. Follow these steps to fix the complication;

Fix

Step 1: Cool the motor

This step becomes essential when the motor constantly stalls out. There is no need to continue pressing the ON SWITCH. Just give it something like 13 minutes before it resumes operation.

Step 2: Suckle the cord/hose manually

The last action under this category is to try feeding the cord manually on the reel. While feeding, press the RETRACT switch; this is necessary to minimize motor drag.

NOTE: Skipping is likely experienced when or before motor stalling situations are met i.e. 30-35 lbs.

4. Reel stops repeatedly or retracts slowly

Even after pressing the switch, the reel won’t adjust in any direction. Possible causes of this complication are; chain dislodged from sprocket, no or insufficient power supply to the switch, and faulty solenoid/motor. Use the following guide to have the problem fixed;

Step 1: Check volts to the switch

Confirm whether the switch is receiving the correct voltage or not. If you can hear the motor when you press the switch, yet there’s no spool rotation, then you are having a slipped chain. Repairing the reel is possible, but this is based on its location; the installer should give you more information.

Step 2: Replace a problematic motor

If you have corrected the voltage issue and you can still hear sounds from the unit’s motor housing, replacing the solenoid/motor is the best action. Look for a suitable reel motor to restore its performance.

How to replace an extension cord plug

If you have planned to throw away an old or faulty extension cord, then you should try these steps first. You can repair it even if it has a broken prong.

Step 1: Cut the faulty or old plug before slicing the jacket

Start by chopping off the broken plug with the help of a utility knife. Slice the jacket to about ¾-inch from the tip. However, you should be more careful, not to touch the three wires in the jacket. Remove a small insulation from the end of all wires with the help of a wire stripper from amazon.

Step 2: Connect the wires

Locate the terminal screws in your replacement plug. Connect white wire to the silver screw, green to the green screw (grounding), and black to brass screw (hot). Wrap the wires into the terminals before tightening the screws.

Step 3: Congregate plug replacement

This step involves reassembling the replacement plug before tightening the screws to firmly hold it in the cord.

• Step 4: Test your cord

The last thing is to determine whether the repaired cord works properly or not. You can achieve this by putting the cord into a 3-prong receptacle.

Put the plug-in circuit tester on the other end of the cord. If the tester lights, this is an indication that the wires have been properly hooked up and your wire is grounder.

FAQ’s:

• How long can a 50-amp RV power cord be?

Most RV cords are 25-ft long. It is not easy to exceed the 50-amp rating if you stick with the cord that came with your RV.

• Can regular cord straightening affect the cord?

Yes, straightening will snap off the metal, but this doesn’t mean that you should buy another cord.

Final words

Let not the RV power cord reel be the source of boredom in your recreational vehicle. The RV power cord reel is hectic and sometimes you may think of throwing it. Luckily, we have put everything clear in this article