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Post by danrhodes on Aug 23, 2019 5:59:51 GMT -8
Did this problem happen at home, or a campground? Have you tested your system at any other location with no problem? This was at home, with an extension cord with a faulty ground prong. I tried it in a different outlet (GFCI, rewly replaced), which I successfully tested with an outlet tester exactly like the one you linked to, and it worked fine. It was definitely a faulty ground at the power source (via the bad extension cord). I just camped at 2 different campgrounds with 30A service with no problems. I'm just trying to avoid shocks in the future if there's a faulty ground at the power source, now that I know this is possible. Normally the 15 or 20 amp household outlet on a RV Park Pedestal has a GFI or GFCI breaker on it. The neutral in this outlet uses the same buss bar in the panel as ground. So the ground is actually hot. You hook your trailer up to that and you just heated up the metal on the trailer... That's if your trailer does not trip the GFI. And if the GFI on the pedestal is non-existent, well first of all the park is out of code. Second you will heat up your metal skin. DON'T USE THE 15 or 20 AMP OUTLET ON THE PEDESTAL.... USE THE 30 AMP RV plug or the 50 AMP RV plug with an adapter if you are using a regular household type plug to fire up your trailer... Better yet, PUT THE RIGHT RV PLUG ON YOUR TRAILER AND NEVER WORRY ABOUT IT AGAIN!!!!! Why does everyone keep fighting me on this? It was a 15A household outlet, faulty ground on extension cord, no GFCI. I was in the process of replacing a GFCI outlet on my house that I normally use for my camper when at home. So far, at campgrounds I've only used 30A pedestals with a proper 30A plug, no adapters. I use an adapter when plugged at home to 15A. Normally at home it's always plugged into a GFCI outlet to power a dehumidifier. I hope I've answered remaining questions as to the cause. What I'm not wondering is, theoretically, if a campground pedestal has a bad ground for whatever reason, what can I do to keep people from getting zapped when touching the camper? Or do 30A pedestals typically have a GFCI function that I can see or test? Have you measured the resistance from neutral to ground on your camper when its not plugged in? You must have a sneak path somewhere.
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oakback
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Post by oakback on Aug 23, 2019 7:07:37 GMT -8
Not that I can remember, I'll try that.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Aug 23, 2019 11:30:01 GMT -8
A few of the people that I have delivered trailers to have had me install an RV 30amp outlet where they park the trailer. No GFCI on that outlet and no problems.
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Post by danrhodes on Aug 23, 2019 12:32:01 GMT -8
A few of the people that I have delivered trailers to have had me install an RV 30amp outlet where they park the trailer. No GFCI on that outlet and no problems. Why is a gfci not required for 30 Amp? Is 30 Amp actually 2 15 Amp service without a ground?
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Aug 23, 2019 16:01:29 GMT -8
30 amp only means that the receptacle and the wire will handle up to 30 amps. As far as I know they don't make a 30 amp GFI receptacle. Now please remember that I have been out of the electrical trade for over 20 years now and they are changing codes all the time to make the inventers of this nonsense filthy rich. A GFCI circuit is a waste of money and time if it's not in a bathroom or the kitchen where an appliance can fall into a tub or sink full of water. When they moved them outside it was just to sell more of those things.
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Post by vikx on Aug 23, 2019 20:05:52 GMT -8
Not really trailer related: I have just learned the hard way that the NEC (code) has changed in a big way. I recently wired an apartment and Arc fault/GFCI breakers are now required for inside circuits. (50 bucks + each) The fridge, bathroom, washer dryer area and microwave all have to be on a dedicated 20 amp circuit. Some have only one outlet and it's a huge waste. Not only that, but all switch boxes must have a neutral wire. That is just in case a sensor might be installed.
Tamper proof outlets are required. Those are the child proof receptacles that can be hard to use.
I agree with Larry, GFI's are a waste. I detest them.
Lastly, I met a lady in the electrical dept. last week who was buying breakers to replace their Arc Faults. They had had a new service installed and the new breakers were inconveniently tripping over and over... very irritating when the fridge quits.
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aslmx
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Post by aslmx on Aug 25, 2019 5:46:07 GMT -8
Not really trailer related: I have just learned the hard way that the NEC (code) has changed in a big way. I recently wired an apartment and Arc fault/GFCI breakers are now required for inside circuits. (50 bucks + each) The fridge, bathroom, washer dryer area and microwave all have to be on a dedicated 20 amp circuit. Some have only one outlet and it's a huge waste. Not only that, but all switch boxes must have a neutral wire. That is just in case a sensor might be installed. Tamper proof outlets are required. Those are the child proof receptacles that can be hard to use. I agree with Larry, GFI's are a waste. I detest them. Lastly, I met a lady in the electrical dept. last week who was buying breakers to replace their Arc Faults. They had had a new service installed and the new breakers were inconveniently tripping over and over... very irritating when the fridge quits. I believe gfci’s can be a nuisance but definitely not a waste. You can go on osha.org and see the death reports of people being electrocuted because of not having them. They are not meant to run a camper because of the many reasons already stated but they do save lives when properly used like hot tubs , swimming pools, boat docks etc.. Most of the jobs we are doing now the actual 4000 amp mains are gfci.
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Post by vikx on Aug 25, 2019 21:59:29 GMT -8
I have to think that the lady replacing the Arc breakers could have had problems other than the new service install. Hard to be sure, but brand new breakers on a good circuit wouldn't have been tripping...
I think GFIs are over rated because they completely fail so often. Yes, they work, but they also can fail because of poor quality control. Many are just plain junk. At 15+ bucks each, they should not fail. Agreed, in wet locations, a good idea to have.
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