Plugging in to a house

[3 Dog Nite]

If you decide to use a 20 amp outlet, be sure to check your 20 to 30 amp adapter. I've been wanting to purchase a new one for a couple of years now. The only adapters I can find are rated for 15 amps only. The packages will use the standard "20 to 30 amp adapter" part name but the adapter itself will be stamped 15 amps. Using 18 amps in the AS will cause the adapter to overheat without tripping the breaker. Anyone who has bought one recently should check the ratings on their adapter.

Check out post 3 of this thread for an idea to protect your water source in cold weather. We used to full time till mama wanted a bath tub again.

Ricky

[featherbedder]

Not only electricians make mistakes as I no a lic. plumber that hooked all cold water to hot side and hot to cold side on friend of mine house, his retort I don't make mistakes. No longer a plumber also he put hand under running trencher no more fingers

[cameront120]

Don't confuse perimeter drain/storm water cleanouts for a sewer cleanout. They aren't the same thing.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, when we had our new house built, I told the contractor several times to make sure that my 30 amp outlet was 120 volt, not 240. I tested it before plugging my trailer into it. If the electrician can read, the box that the receptacle comes in says 30 amp / 120 volts. And the part it's self says 30 amp / 120 volt.

[TG Twinkie]

Some may not read the label. Because they think they know what it is. Because it looks similar to a 240 volt outlet. They wire it that way.


Sent from my iPod touch using Airstream Forums

[rmkrum]

In my experience, when you hear a plumber or an electrician tell you "I've got 30 years experience, don't tell me how you want to do X", fire them immediately.

Every time I've heard that, I've spent A ton of time and money fixing what they screwed up. Like all the frozen pipes that burst in my house because the plumber did not put a shutoff and drain for the hose connections. Or the time the 'experienced' electricians mixed up the phase and neutral on a huge power panel at work.

I get nervous when they don't listen or read the directions on the box the hardware came in....


Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums

[TG Twinkie]

Years of experience???
Could be one year of experience 30 times.


Sent from my iPod touch using Airstream Forums

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

In my experience, when you hear a plumber or an electrician tell you "I've got 30 years experience, don't tell me how you want to do X", fire them immediately.

Every time I've heard that, I've spent A ton of time and money fixing what they screwed up. Like all the frozen pipes that burst in my house because the plumber did not put a shutoff and drain for the hose connections. Or the time the 'experienced' electricians mixed up the phase and neutral on a huge power panel at work.

I get nervous when they don't listen or read the directions on the box the hardware came in....


Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums

Hi, we had that discussion at work, way back in the 70's. And the come back line was, "Thirty years of experience means nothing if you have been doing it wrong all of that time."

[rmkrum]

Yup. It's still true.

You may or may not be amazed at how often the '30 years of experience' phrase signals 30 years of bad moves...

I've gotten into some real knock-down drag out arguments over basic engineering concepts like wire size versus circuit breaker size. It's just amazing how hard it is to get folks to understand simple stuff.


Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums

[xrvr]

Agree with Robersunrus. I worked at a car dealership and at the morning sales meeting the owner was telling the salesman that he had been in the business of selling cars for thirty years. One of the salesmen spoke as a spokesman for the staff and told him maybe he was doing it wrong. After they were all fired we had technicians and parts people working the sales lot until new salesmen were hired. It was fun. Peace, jim

[Msmoto]

To Rolland:

Thanks for your clear and concise directions, especially the testing with a meter.....always good before using, IMO


Ms Tommie Lauer
Greensboro, NC
2015 Serenity 30 RB / 2008 Dodge Cummins 4 X 4
WBCCI #4165 AIR #31871

[Airjeep]

One should also consider using a ground fault circuit interrupter for any circuit used out doors. It is code in some areas.

One time when unplugging a block heater on a drizzle day, got a shock!

At home all outdoor circuits are on ground fault circuit.

Cheers, John

[dznf0g]

Someone in the know correct me...I don't think 30 amp RV circuits are GFI...even if they are outdoors.

[rmkrum]

Typically they are not. Code does not require it, my AS has GFI on wet area outlets internally. An extra GFI on the RV outlet would potentially cause false tripping.

Should plug in RV cable with breaker off to prevent shock or arcing at the plug. Then flip breaker on. Breaker off first when unplugging, then disconnect.

Of course, the careful person either has a smart surge protector in the AS or tests the RV outlet with a meter or tester first.


Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums