Shell Shock

[Rollinstone]

Whatever the cause, this kinda of thing is not to be messed with. Hot skin conditions have shocked and even killed campers. The problem is usually at a mis-wired or faulty-wired pedestal, not the trailer itself.


It's added work, but very simple to check a pedestal before plugging in with a multimeter or a similar device. Another item I use which is even simpler than a multimeter is a non-contact voltage tester such as the Fluke VoltAlert 1AC-A-II.


A great book for those intimidated by RV electrical systems is "RV Electrical Safety" by J. Michael Sokol.

[Donster]

This happened to me last year when I had our 67 Tradewind hooked up to shore power at our barn built in 2005.

The smart people at this forum (I think it was Uncle Bob) said it was an open ground. I thought “no way we just built the barn.” But I got my tester (as pictured above by “Molly’s Dad”) and sure enough an open ground (the ground wire was disconnected). I carry that tester when we go camping because shore power is notoriously unreliable.

[xyzabe]

Are you near or under high voltage lines? The field put off by those high voltage overhead (or buried ) lines can light a neon bulb when you hold it. It can also shock you through the metal body of a vehicle or camper. Just a thought.

[Tbuck]

Originally Posted by Tbuck

Last week camping I was experiencing low voltage shock while touching the camper outside while barefoot. While hooked to shore power turned off main breaker and still felt the shock. When I got home and access to multimeter I have 8 ohms between the ground pin and what I suspect to be neutral (upper right pin). So before I start getting into the breaker panel am I correct in stating they shoudn't be connected in any way. I never noticed this before but not sure if I was ever barefoot outside before. We've had are 27 FC for 14 mouths.

I've been through my AS top to bottom and haven't found any smoking gun. The ohms reading found earlier was a momentary reading on the refrigerator , inverter , AC unit circuits while parked in barn without power (would read continuity then quickly go to open circuit). After many hours on web and forum have determined camp site maintenance isn't always done by a qualified person, so there my have been a issue with the park power at my outlet box. I'll be testing all power sources from this point forward. We'll be going out camping later in Oct. and hope to confirm no electrical issue with our AS. I will repost with further development.

[fastrob]

Got a indicator light at the back of my Trade Wind. If it glows when I plug 'er in that means the ground is bad.
Do not know if they stopped installing that feature.
If it glows I change the cord until the light goes out.

[TG Twinkie]

Originally Posted by fastrob

Got a indicator light at the back of my Trade Wind. If it glows when I plug 'er in that means the ground is bad.
Do not know if they stopped installing that feature.
If it glows I change the cord until the light goes out.

I does NOT mean the ground is bad.
It means the hot leg and neutral are reversed.
The light is lit because it is wired between the neutral and ground.

[fastrob]

Originally Posted by TG Twinkie

I does NOT mean the ground is bad.
It means the hot leg and neutral are reversed.
The light is lit because it is wired between the neutral and ground.

Thanks for making that clear.
I know when the aluminum skin tingles the skin, time to check the ground.

[AtomicNo13]

It usually does not mean check ground! It's a hot neutral swap!

[AtomicNo13]

That light had nothing to do with ground!

It indicates a hot neutral swap!

[TG Twinkie]

The light will not illuminate if there is no ground.
It is not a ground fault indicator.

[rmkrum]

Obtain and install an EMS/Surge suppressor. Don’t trust the so-called “reverse polarity light” to protect you!