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10-12-2015, 01:55 PM
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#1
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SipStreamer
2010 20' Flying Cloud
Lakeside
, Montana
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 124
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To throw or not to throw, the breakers
We’ve all pulled into a campsite and found the circuit breakers to be thrown (turned off) on the pedestal, so here are my pro’s and con’s on this.
Reasons to leave the circuit breakers on:
1. Sign on pedestal says LEAVE CIRCUIT BREAKERS ON (I’ve often seen this).
2. Newbie bothers host with complaints that there’s no electricity at their site (you know it happens).
3. You have to throw on the breakers to have electricity at your site (you’ve done this).
4. Constant throwing on and off circuit breakers eventually weakens the breaker resulting in premature tripping (heard that somewhere).
Reasons to turn the circuit breakers off:
1. (please fill in blank)
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10-12-2015, 02:11 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2015 30' International
2009 27' FB International
2007 25' Safari
Currently Looking...
Greensboro
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,564
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Circuit breakers off
When one connects a plug with a lot of voltage and amperage, there is inevitably an arcing of the contacts as the plug is inserted. The circuit breaker/switch is designed to minimize risk during connection and IMO should always be off when the RV line is plugged.
Also, should one have an unforeseen connection with the metal plugs as they are inserted, with the breaker off this is of no concern. Breaker on and one could find themselves dead or severely injured by electrical shock. Most of us are standing on the ground when we plug in, so....
__________________
Happy trails and Good Luck
Ms Tommie Fantine Lauer, Greensboro, NC
AIR #31871 KQ3H
www.fantinesvoice.com
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10-12-2015, 02:29 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2020 28' Flying Cloud
Upper St Clair
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,943
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I don't care what a sign says. If breakers are on when I arrive I turn them off, plug in my circuit tester and fault detector, wait the 145 seconds for it to check everything and tell me all is ok, then I plug in our wire from the AS.
When I leave I turn the breakers off prior to pulling plug.
__________________
2020 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2021 F350 6.7 King Ranch
USAF Master Training Instructor (TI) & (MTI)- 68-72
Volunteer K9 Rehabilitator & Trainer
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10-12-2015, 02:42 PM
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#4
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4 Rivet Member
2016 30' Flying Cloud
Oviedo
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 264
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Most circuit breakers are not designed or intended to be used as switches and I believe the NEC prohibits their use as such unless specifically marked as intended for that (SWD). It will cause the breaker to fail quicker, although it is debatable what the life derating actually is.
Unless one is in the habit of connecting to the pedestal with the AC, microwave & water heater on, there is not a huge amount of current to cause destructive arcing.
Worrying about the risk of electrocution while plugging into the pedestal strikes me as right up (down) there with getting killed by a meteor. There is a much higher chance of slipping and falling in the shower and hitting your head, but I don't think most of us would advocate wearing a helmet in the shower
My personal opinion is both the wear and safety arguments are fringe concerns. The bigger issue is convenience and making it easier on the hosts since you would be amazed the number of folks who don't think to check the breaker when they hook up.
__________________
Keith & Barb
2016 30' Flying Cloud
2016 Ram 2500 diesel
Southeastern Camping Unit, WBCCI #1675
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10-12-2015, 02:54 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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I have never seen a sign saying leave the breakers on, in fact just the opposite. Plug in both ends and flip the breaker on. Prevents arching and sparking at the trailer plug end. Common sense to me.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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10-12-2015, 04:16 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
2012 27' FB Eddie Bauer
Sparks
, Nevada
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,116
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To throw or not to throw, the breakers
Breakers off both before I plug in and unplug to avoid arky-sparky. Particularly important in 50 amp as it can create damage if negative lead disengages before positive leads. The only leave on stickers I have seen are for the occasional 20amp that power the sight lights (overhead or pedestal) or a heat tape for the water riser.
2015 F350 CC 4X4 6.7 Diesel
2010 27FB Silver Cloud "The Silver Spoon"
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10-12-2015, 06:36 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill
, Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
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Breaker OFF all connections made before energizing the circuit. Breaker OFF before disconnecting.
IT COULD LITERALLY BE A LIFE SAVING PRACTICE!
I have only been in one privately owned RV. Park where there was no way to shut the power off at the pedestal.
In that case one should shut the main breaker off in the coach. But that will not prevent you from getting electrocuted while plugging in or unplugging.
Sent from my iPod touch using Airstream Forums
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10-12-2015, 07:09 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Burlington
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,743
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To be honest, I have never worried about it (maybe I'm way too lazy!)
I just plug in and then ask my "Mrs" to tell me if both lights are lit on the polarity checker that I keep plugged in at the galley 110 outlet in the trailer.
If they are on, great, if they are not on, then I check the breaker at the post and flip it on if needed - usually no need, as the last occupant has usually left it on anyway!
Again, not to say that this is the way to do it by any means ..... and I will accept any criticism and perhaps even change my ways .... but it's what I do! A a rule, all major power consumption devices such as AC, water heater, etc., are off when I plug in, so no significant current flow anticipated.
Brian.
__________________
Brian & Connie Mitchell
2005 Classic 30'
Hensley Arrow / Centramatics
2008 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD,4x4,Crew Cab, Diesel, Leer cap.
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10-12-2015, 07:26 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W
, New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
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I always shut them off before connecting my Progressive Dynamics surge protector and tester. I wait until it cycles through and tells me nothing is wired incorrectly BEFORE unhitching. If the site's electrical is a mess, I want to know that before setting up.
But I think the procedure should change. I start that way, then connect my 30a cord to my trailer receptacle and then plug in to the PD box - but at that point, the breaker and PD box are on. Even though nothing significant is on in the trailer, it may be worth testing first, then shutting the breakers off, then connecting the cable and then turning the breakers back on to avoid any risk of electrocution. Will think about that for next season.
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10-13-2015, 08:24 AM
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#10
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4 Rivet Member
Curtis Wright
Currently Looking...
Eyren Haven
, South Jersey
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 326
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Electrocution at a power pedestal is a real danger.
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10-13-2015, 11:46 AM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member
2014 27' FB International
Clearwater
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 109
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I deal with high amperage equipment for a living, not to mention running the vacuum around the house.
This relates to the AS how?
Best practices.
1) Turn off the shore powered items in the trailer prior to disconnecting shore power.
This reduces load at unplug and re-plug.
2) Leave the breakers on the pedestal alone. High amperage breakers will age, more quickly when used as a "switch". My experience is 30-50% life reduction.
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10-13-2015, 12:12 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Sequim
, Washington
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 525
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Sounds like "life reduction" is the crux if the matter. But there is disagreement whether the emphasis is on the life of the circuit breaker or the life of the operator.
See: RV Electrical Safety: Part IV – Hot Skin | No~Shock~Zone
__________________
D2
"Having differences makes a difference"
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10-13-2015, 02:51 PM
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#14
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2 Rivet Member
1985 25' Sovereign
Wichita Falls
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 65
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I am the maintenance man at my rv park, have 175 sites all wired for 20,30 and 50 amp service, by far the biggest electrical problem I have here is from people who hookup or unhook their plugs without turning the breaker off. If everything in the rv is turned off there is no problem, however many people have lights and air conditioners turned on and it does cause some serious damage inside of the electrical boxes, outlets burned, wires melted and breakers fried. I shudder to think what is happening to the computers that many of the new motor homes have. My step father was an electrical engineer and he drilled it into my head at an early age - turn off before unplugging anything electrical.
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10-13-2015, 03:17 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mission
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 836
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There was a time when I repaired big radars and related test equipment. The joke after making repairs was - "okay, let's smoke test this thing".
All breakers off before connecting power, then main breaker on, followed by breakers for circuits. Reverse order to disconnect.
Because you just never know ...
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10-14-2015, 11:27 PM
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#16
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1 Rivet Member
2014 23' Flying Cloud
Irving
, Texas
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 7
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The cost to replace a 30 amp breaker is almost nothing, compared to the value of anything it powers up. The time it takes to replace one is less than the time it will take to write this post. And I doubt you could even build a site to code without them today, and for good reason.
Turning off the power for safety reasons is what they are designed to do. They prevent a plug of unknown condition, likely held in the bare hand of an unknown person, standing in unknown weather and other conditions from becoming HOT until the user intends it to be hot.
The fact that use will make it wear out someday brings them on par with every other mechanism in the modern world, and replacing them is simply a cost of doing business.
The notion that we should be more concerned about the cost of that part, which BTW we already pay for in the form of site rentals, or the amount of inconvenience it causes a park host (which could be counted in mere seconds per episode) every time some newbie can't figure out why there's is no juice, is far outweighed by the amount of reasonable safety they add to the equation.
I'm all for ways to save the park owner money or time, but not by volunteering my own personal safety instead...I'm there for my own enjoyment and I'm paying for the privilege, so I shut off the breakers, period.
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10-15-2015, 05:59 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2015 30' Classic
2012 28' International
Greensboro
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,708
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I always turn off the breaker before I plug in. And I have a hard-wired Progressive Dynamics monitor/surge protector that won't LET power into my rig if there's a bad ground, neutral issue or whatever. The usual problem I find in park pedestals isn't with the breaker, it's worn out contacts or broken insulator material from people who don't pull the plug straight out. (Saw this last night in the pedestal I was hooked up to.)
__________________
_________________
"SilverLeaf II" 2015 30' Classic
2019 RAM 2500 Limited 4x4 CC w/6.7L Cummins
ProPride 3P
AIR# 58452
WBCCI # 3430-Unit 21
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10-15-2015, 06:27 PM
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#18
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2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
olympia
, Washington
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 49
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paiceman
I don't care what a sign says. If breakers are on when I arrive I turn them off, plug in my circuit tester and fault detector, wait the 145 seconds for it to check everything and tell me all is ok, then I plug in our wire from the AS.
When I leave I turn the breakers off prior to pulling plug.
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What tester are you using? Need one. Thanks!
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10-15-2015, 06:45 PM
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#19
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2 Rivet Member
2012 25' FB Flying Cloud
Queens
, New York
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 71
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<<What tester are you using? Need one. Thanks!>>
x 2 Paiceman.
TIA
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10-16-2015, 08:55 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Sequim
, Washington
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 525
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See Mike Sokol 's web site for detailed information concerning the necessary (inexpensive) instruments and proper technique. I use this procedure every time I hook up and on an extended trip with 57 separate hookups I found three faulty and dangerous connections. The camp manager in two cases fixed the problem immediately. The third manager was in denial but allowed me to move to a different site. I will follow Sokol's advice to never hook up to defective power. Death is too high a price for camping.
D2
http://www.noshockzone.org/rv-electrical-safety-part-iii-%E2%80%93-outlets/
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