Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Sunline RV Forum
Sunline User Photos

Go Back   Sunline Coach Owner's Club > Technical Forums > Repairs and Maintenance
Click Here to Login

Join Sunline Club Forums Today


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 05-29-2007, 09:45 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 273
SUN #225
Mark
A shocking camping trip

I have read on other forums about people with issue of non-grounded trailers, and electric shock.

Over the weekend, I was at a private camp near Galeton, PA. I had my camper plugged into one RV extension cord, then I think the owners had me plugged into another cord .

I started noticing a slight vibration when I touched the awning, then the metal frame. I realized that is was electricity, not vibration .

I am thinking this homemade camp might have had a non-grounded receptacle as my first outing I had no such problems. Has anything like this happened to you?
__________________

__________________
Pittsburgh, PA

2002 Chevy Silverado
2003 Sunline 2553
Mark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2007, 05:17 AM   #2
Moderator
 
PTHutch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: New York
Posts: 1,920
SUN #98
PTHutch is an unknown quantity at this point
Mark,

I carry a circute tester with me like this:

specifically to test for those types of conditions.

I check the campground's shore power at the site outlet to make sure it's wired correctly. The tester lets me know if the outlet is wired correctly (i.e., no crossed wires or missing ground).

I also have a voltage meter plug in an outlet inside the TT to monitor voltage levels. It's a cheap meter that looks like this:

I use it to make sure voltage levels don't drop too low if we want to operate the A/C or Microwave.

Hutch
__________________

__________________
Mary & Tom (aka Hutch)
2015 Jayco Eagle Premier 361REQS
2014 GMC Sierra 3500HD 4x4 CC D/A
Sunlines: 2005 Solaris T-280SR; 1999 Solaris T-2670; 1998 Saturn T-24A
PTHutch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2007, 05:47 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Steve Collins's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: New York
Posts: 1,846
SUN #264
Steve Collins is an unknown quantity at this point
Quote:
Originally Posted by PTHutch
Mark,

I carry a circute tester with me like this:

specifically to test for those types of conditions.
Hutch, I also have a red one which is specifically for testing GFCI circuits. Probably more handy for testing the circuit when we camp in someone's driveway as that is what they should have for any outside outlets.

Where did you pick up the plug-in AC volt meter for inside the trailer? I think that is a great idea. Every unit should have one.
__________________

'12 F250 4x4 Super Duty PowerStroke 6.7 diesel
2011 to present: '11 Cougar 326MKS
1999 to 2011: '99 Sunline T-2453
SUN264 * Amateur Radio kd2iat monitoring 146.52
Steve Collins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2007, 06:18 AM   #4
Moderator
 
PTHutch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: New York
Posts: 1,920
SUN #98
PTHutch is an unknown quantity at this point
Steve,

I got the voltage meter at Camping World.

AC Voltage Meter

Hutch
__________________
Mary & Tom (aka Hutch)
2015 Jayco Eagle Premier 361REQS
2014 GMC Sierra 3500HD 4x4 CC D/A
Sunlines: 2005 Solaris T-280SR; 1999 Solaris T-2670; 1998 Saturn T-24A
PTHutch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2007, 05:07 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 273
SUN #225
Mark
I have the same meter indoors as well, it didn't help me with anything regarding this issue.
__________________
Pittsburgh, PA

2002 Chevy Silverado
2003 Sunline 2553
Mark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2007, 08:17 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
MACK C-85's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,131
SUN #64
MACK C-85 is an unknown quantity at this point
Mark, the voltage meter won't show you a ground problem, it only reads between the "hot" and neutral wires. The yellow circuit tester will show an "open" ground condition as well as reversed polarity (hot and neutral reversed). The "open" i.e. no ground, is what gets you shocked.
__________________

2004 Dodge Ram 2500 Club Cab 4x4 CTD
2007 Sunline Solaris T-276-SR: Misty Blue/Cherry
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Reg Cab 4x4 OFF-ROAD
MACK C-85 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2007, 06:13 PM   #7
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 62
SUN #238
MikeM
I am not at home but I saw digital tester and one store and used it.

I also bought a 30 to 15 amp doughnut.

My routine is after I back into a spot and before I unhook, I check the pedestal.

I plug the tester into the doughnut and plug it into the 30 amp plug on the pedestal. You could use a regular volt meter and tester like Hutch uses.

If the pedestal does not check out I am going to have them find me another spot or repair it immediately.

The advantage of what I use is after I am in the trailer I plug it into the receptacle behind the sink and always can see what the incoming voltage is.

I guess I am paranoid some as I also use a surgeguard for my electrical connection.

mike
__________________
2007 T-2363
2004 Toyota 4Runner
MikeM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2007, 10:40 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 273
SUN #225
Mark
Update:

Wen tcampign agian this weekend. Also in the rain one day.

No shocking involved. We think now that the new outside outlet at the private camp we where at on the electrifying trips was not properly grounded. Phew.

On the negative side, the junk cd/radio combo is now eating CD's
__________________

__________________
Pittsburgh, PA

2002 Chevy Silverado
2003 Sunline 2553
Mark is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
pics of our camping trip wanda toso Sunline Community 9 03-13-2010 11:17 AM
Last Camping Trip of the Season Diane Sunline Community 17 10-25-2009 05:59 PM
first camping trip ronnyr Sunline Community 3 08-17-2009 09:08 AM
First Camping trip with the 15.5 SB WandaLust Sunline Community 3 04-27-2009 11:27 PM
Memorial Weekend camping trip mbart5fan Sunline Community 7 05-30-2007 07:24 AM


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sunline RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:20 AM.


×