Camper electrical question

kcult

kcult

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that means power and ground and switched right? so hot is running through ground? makes sense
 
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just an aside, thats why i've read its good practice to have a surge protector for your camper. checks for reverse polarity that can cause big dollar damage to the electrical system.
 
The problem that you described is consistent with reversed polarity.

Ground and neutral buss are usually connected, so with reverse polarity you were energizing the neutral, which in turn energized the camper ground. Hence the shock.

Having corrected the polarity issue, you should be good to go.
 
Check the outlet you had it plugged into. And check your shore power cord with an ohm meter to make sure the terminals are in the same spot on both sides of the cord. Seen plenty of cheaper cords wired incorrectly and plenty of campsite outlets that had been repaired and wired wrong.
 
kcult said:
Check the outlet how and for what?
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Reverse polarity. At some point in the circuit, your hot and ground are reversed. The outlet is a prime suspect. If that’s correct, check your cord. Make sure their is continuity between the hot, neutral and ground end to end, but only to the associated pin. The plug should be polarized (larger neutral I think it is) so they’re easy to identify which is which.
 
Pull the outlet apart and check if the gnd wire is connected to the outlet. I had a bunch of them like that in my last house. All were in two rooms on the upstairs floor.
 
Nov01Add-An-Outlet-5.jpg


white to silver, black to brass, ground to green
 
Cape Fear said:
Kill the breaker and check with a meter before you remove the cover from the receptacle.
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And test the meter first to make sure that it does read ~120v on a known working outlet, otherwise a blown fuse could falsely make it look like the outlet is dead.
 
noway2 said:
And test the meter first to make sure that it does read ~120v on a known working outlet, otherwise a blown fuse could falsely make it look like the outlet is dead.
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Everyone knows only sure way to test is to put your index finger and thumb across the white and black wires.
 
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kcult said:
Because the guy knew I had an outlet wired wrong?
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The only explanation I see. ;)

kcult said:
On the same hand?
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Not necessarily. I've taken a receptacle out just to look and used one hand. You get tickled.
Use two hands and your eyes cross. :rolleyes: The test results are the same, you know it's live.
 
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rdinatal said:
Everyone knows only sure way to test is to put your index finger and thumb across the white and black wires.
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It helps if you lick your fingers first.
 
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