Essentials for Electrical Kit on the road

[Ganado]

DISCLAIMER: im have no mechanical aptitude. and I am wondering what to are some essential tools for the electrical kit that other people carry when they travel

Mutltimeter
fuses

What else?

Thanks for your help

[eubank]

Add in a pocket knife and a small roll of electrical tape.

Lynn

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Ganado

DISCLAIMER: im have no mechanical aptitude. and I am wondering what to are some essential tools for the electrical kit that other people carry when they travel

Mutltimeter
fuses

What else?

Thanks for your help

If you have no mechanical aptitude, the most essential tool is a print or e-book version of a good manual on RV electrical systems. The key to repairing electrical problems is twofold: (1) knowing how it's not working; (2) knowing why it's not working. If you can answer those two questions, you will know what materials, tools, and skills you'll need to fix the problem. The manual can help with answering those questions.

As a bonus, most good manuals on RV electrical systems will have a list somewhere (usually an appendix) of the most commonly needed electrical tools.

[SSquared]

Electrical tester for 120 volt outlets (the kind that has a few lights on it and is the size of the plug on the end of an extension cord)
needle nose pliers
screwdrivers for tightening wire terminals and removing/replacing 110 volt outlets
wire cutter
wire stripper (or pocket knife)
Small spool of 12 gauge stranded insulated wire from an auto parts store
Diagram of the connections on your trailer's umbilical cord (ignore that if you have a moho)
A few wire nuts of different sizes

[A W Warn]

in addition to the above:
replacement light bulbs of each kind
30 amp drop cord in case pedestal is to far away

[J. Morgan]

Test light, test light, test light.

Invaluable for troubleshooting twelve volt circuits.


1/2 Ton 4WD Truck, 72 Sovereign Hensley Arrow

[NevadaGeo]

Small soldering Iron and a few sizes of solder and some solder paste. Once in a great while it comes useful, or if you get fancy with some decoration EL wire lighting. You'll probably have a pretty good idea how to use it safely by the time you want to use one.

[Ganado]

ty appreciate all the contribution

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi,

Test light.

Wire cutters.

Crimp connectors.

Crimping tool.

Roll of electrical tape.

[NavyCorpsman]

My kit has:
Volt meter
12v test light (heavy duty with long sharp probe and coiled ground lead with strong alligator clip)
Electrical tape (always 3 wraps around repair)
Crimper/Stripper with plier tip
An assortment of various size and types of connectors
A good utility knife
Fuses
An Electrical schematic of my AS
Heat shrink tubing if you prefer that to tape
book of matches or a butane lighter

[paulwhite]

I always had a continuity tester in my tool kit;

[GCinSC2]

One spare part that I carry is a 30 amp repair plug for the shore power cord to the pedestal. If you're not comfortable making the repair on a burned up plug, at least you'll have the part and finding a helper in camp is very likely. Just check the polarity.

I also carry a collection of electrical doohickeys and a recent addition is a smart crimping tool. Uses standard insulated crimp terminals but it crimps to a stop and then releases. Makes nice crimps.

As a part of learning my AS I picked up a 120 VAC meter that plugs in to an outlet and a 12 VDC meter that plugs into a 12 VDC cigarette outlet. Both just help monitor actual electrical system voltage.

Yes, I do have a surge protector, much debate, I made my choice.

[Wayward]

An AC voltage detector like this one is essential. It detects AC voltage by simply holding it near the wire, receptacle or switch. NO need to mess with meter leads.

I always verify it is working before using it by holding to a known live receptacle.

Very safe tester.

[rmkrum]

One of these has saved my butt multiple times. Check twice on a known hot line to verify its working, then test the circuit you thought you turned off. All the other wires in the box as well. Homes have multiple circuits in one box sometimes. Don't ask me how I know this...


Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

One of these has saved my butt multiple times. Check twice on a known hot line to verify its working, then test the circuit you thought you turned off. All the other wires in the box as well. Homes have multiple circuits in one box sometimes. Don't ask me how I know this...

Lock-out/tag-out is a basic electrical safety principle. You check to make sure the circuits are turned off before you work on them. Then you also make sure no one else can turn them back on while you're working on them.

Since RVs aren't really set up for lock-out, you have to rely on tag-out. A big red tag that says something like "Under Repair - Do NOT turn on!" at the switch or breaker or both. The tag stays in place until you personally remove it.

[mandolindave]

#1 Get a volt meter…BUT DONT do what I did.

I got a really good Fluke (brand ) it's a pro tool, love it. But it's for ELECTRICIANS….and it registers in one volt increments, because electricians don't care about tenths of a volt. I need to know my Batt range from 12.0 to 12.8 volts resting, AND 13.8 charging

#2 Get yourself a small plug in AC polarity checker 3 or 4 bucks ? They tell at a glance, which AC wire is broken, which wires are touching, and if the wires are switched. I have had switched polarity at campgrounds, or switched polarity of extension cables. When you touched my camper while barefooted, you got a shock. Luckily, I have an old trailer with a warning light on the outside of the trailer

#3 A cigarette style plug in DC volt meter. You can tell at a glance if charger is on and what your batt voltage is. ( you still need a portable volt meter for checking stuff)

#4 tools- philips and flat head screwdrivers, wire stripper/cutter, knife, electrical tape