Electrical Dummy

[Wardinbb]

I thank all that took the time to comment and provide not only direction but answers as well on my venture into the wonderful world of installing 30amp service to an old trailer.

Until again,
Ed

[Ken J]

John

I always heard that grounding the outlets to the skin was a no no - is that true or does isolating the neutral take care of any problems...

Ken

[john hd]

ken

they are that way by default in an airstream. at least in my trailer. the ears on the outlet are connected to the green ground screw.

when they are screwed directly onto the inner skin as they are in my trailer they are grounded.

isolating the neutral prevents any chance of energizing the skin if the polarity of the service is reversed.

john

[Ken J]

So then even the newer trailers have two wires running to each outlet, then ground to skin?

I figured that the newer trailers would have three wires running to each outlet - hot/neutral/ground.....

I think this is great, because I didn't think I would be able to ground the 58 without a compete rewire....learn something new every day....

Ken

[john hd]

Originally Posted by Ken J

So then even the newer trailers have two wires running to each outlet, then ground to skin?

I figured that the newer trailers would have three wires running to each outlet - hot/neutral/ground.....

I think this is great, because I didn't think I would be able to ground the 58 without a compete rewire....learn something new every day....

Ken

nope ken i think you misunderstood. or i didn't get what you were asking.

my trailer has 3 wires hot neutral and GROUND!

for safetys sake i would not rely on the skin for a ground in a 2 wire system. bet your trailer has ungrounded outlets.

looks like you are in for a rewire job.

john

[Ken J]

Hmmm that would require more surgery than I want to take on....my original plan was to continue with what was there. Is grounding the outlets to the skin better than not grounding? I figured there are many of these old Airstreams running around with two prong outlets.....

Whats the best way to be safe as possible without rewiring...?

Ken

[TomW]

Originally Posted by Ken J

I always heard that grounding the outlets to the skin was a no no - is that true or does isolating the neutral take care of any problems...

I guess I would like to hear who said that.

There is no problem with the ground connecion of the outlet making contact with the skin, but the big picture is that the skin should be connected to the shore power ground.

This connection starts at the breaker box, and is reinforced at each outlet, and in modern wiring, the switch.

Tom

[Ken J]

If I remember correctly, there was an article in the Vintage where someone had connected the ground to the skin and was throwing the GFI breaker in the campground

Ken J.

[TomW]

My '67 Overlander came from the factory with the ground wired to the skin. I have never had a problem with GFCI outlets at a campground.

As I recall, DavdZ71 had a problem such as you desribe. He ultimately traced it back to some un-code friendly wiring in his Airstream done by a previous owner.

Tom

[john hd]

hey ken

you can just use what you have. after all, it is not like you are going to be using a table saw or a lathe in the trailer.

other than a lamp or two, a toaster and a tv set what were you planning on pluggin in the '58? the only item that definately would need a ground would be your power converter. you could make a special run for just that. or place it next to the electrical entrance.

what you have should work...you may want to just upgrade the cord and fuse box to something modern.

john

[Ken J]

Thanks!

Yea - only lamps, TV radio etc - I am running a separate/new circuit for A/C, heater and microwave - that will have two wires and ground....even plan to use low watt fluorescent bulbs in the light fixtures.

No power converter - just a plain ol 12v battery that won't get used very often.

Thanks alot again Tom and John

Ken