Exposed Live Wires

Nomadicchefs · 05-04-2018, 09:15 AM

The campground we're at had some meter head troubles and removed ours and we are just simply wired up with no meter reading for the time being. It's going to storm and the meter head is open and the main wire expose, should I place a bucket or something over this to protect it from water? It makes me very nervous.

jsmith948 · 05-04-2018, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomadicchefs

The campground we're at had some meter head troubles and removed ours and we are just simply wired up with no meter reading for the time being. It's going to storm and the meter head is open and the main wire expose, should I place a bucket or something over this to protect it from water? It makes me very nervous.

I would contact CG manager and remind them of the safety issue.
If they blow you off, tape a plastic bag around the meter receptacle.

bobbecky · 05-04-2018, 09:31 AM

It is probably not energized. What most likely happened, is, they disconnected wires within the panel and moved them around to bypass the meter socket. The other end of the wire you can see is most likely not connected to anything at this time. If it gets wet from rain, nothing will happen, no sparks or flames. I would double check with the park, but as long as you have power, the wiring is making a complete circuit inside the panel.

Nomadicchefs · 05-04-2018, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbecky

It is probably not energized. What most likely happened, is, they disconnected wires within the panel and moved them around to bypass the meter socket. The other end of the wire you can see is most likely not connected to anything at this time. If it gets wet from rain, nothing will happen, no sparks or flames. I would double check with the park, but as long as you have power, the wiring is making a complete circuit inside the panel.

We are the only ones at the campground. Every single other meter will have to be rewired as well. As for ours, we originally didn't have any power. Whoever installed them had wired them up wrong and a different electrician came out and worked on it. He rewired our meter, but when he flipped it back on at the box, it blew up like a car crash and flames shot out. It tripped 3 times, and after that is when he ran the bypass and removed the entire meter head. I love having power, but electrical issues just make me paranoid

MarcS · 05-04-2018, 09:43 AM

Do you have an EMS? If so, I would think that would protect your RV. I think I'd put a bucket over it, if it were me.

Nomadicchefs · 05-04-2018, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarcS

Do you have an EMS? If so, I would think that would protect your RV. I think I'd put a bucket over it, if it were me.

Yes, I have one. It will protect me, but I wanted to make sure. I'm here alone and my tow vehicle is at work with my husband. If something happens and I need to move the camper, I can't.

RoscoeV · 05-04-2018, 10:07 AM

He must have bypassed the meter, otherwise there is no way the circuit could be complete without the meter. I would still contact the CG manager and voice your concerns.

travelin texans · 05-04-2018, 10:39 AM

I'd contact the CG & if they did nothing I'd put a bucket or bag over it. Even if those contacts aren't live the moisture running down the conduit on the bottom runs into live wires in the breaker panel.

**sourdough** · 05-04-2018, 10:40 AM

He may have bypassed the meter head (must have or you would not have power). The issue I would have, after it took him multiple times to figure out what he was doing, is if he in fact disconnected the leads that would normally feed the meter. If not, and the storm comes in there won't be a lot of fire/flame outs etc., but if you decide to accidentally lean on the metal power ped in the rain because something went wrong outside they might have to come pry you off after you have been fried. I would insist the campground manager have someone, competent, to verify the leads in the meter base are disconnected.

Nomadicchefs · 05-04-2018, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourdough

He may have bypassed the meter head (must have or you would not have power). The issue I would have, after it took him multiple times to figure out what he was doing, is if he in fact disconnected the leads that would normally feed the meter. If not, and the storm comes in there won't be a lot of fire/flame outs etc., but if you decide to accidentally lean on the metal power ped in the rain because something went wrong outside they might have to come pry you off after you have been fried. I would insist the campground manager have someone, competent, to verify the leads in the meter base are disconnected.

Agreed. I believe this electrician was confused by how badly the previous one had worked everything up wrong. Maybe not confused but more frustrated at the issues he was having to try to fix. I haven't heard back from them after leaving messages, so I will go and put a bucket over it. Being accidentally electrocuted isn't on my list of things to accomplish.

rhagfo · 05-05-2018, 05:19 AM

Well sorry that one wire could be hot, BUT that meter base is seriously missed wired as it doesn’t have a neutral!

Nomadicchefs · 05-05-2018, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhagfo

Well sorry that one wire could be hot, BUT that meter base is seriously missed wired as it doesn’t have a neutral!

Great...I never heard back from the electrician, so I put a trash bag over it and tied it tight to keep it off the wire at all. Until they come to fix it.

Pull Toy · 05-05-2018, 07:01 AM

Not on your Bucket List?

Since you don’t know for sure what is energized, I wouldn't touch anything. There was obviously a major malfunction at your site. If the campground won’t own it, I would involve the authorities. Don’t be a hero.

Good Luck,

Nomadicchefs · 05-05-2018, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pull Toy

Not on your Bucket List?

Since you don’t know for sure what is energized, I wouldn't touch anything. There was obviously a major malfunction at your site. If the campground won’t own it, I would involve the authorities. Don’t be a hero.

Good Luck,

No, I'm not trying to be a hero. And I would absolutely involve more people, like law, but it is 100% the only campground in the area and we need a spot for work. The owner is doing all he can, considering he's not an electrician. He's made phone calls and apologies and is doing all he can to right the wrong. It's more the power company or whoever now. And I believe the owner can get more done than I can when it comes to phone calls.

**sourdough** · 05-05-2018, 08:12 AM

Just my thoughts, but I would get the bucket. A plastic bag will collapse in a heavy rain and force you to possibly get very close, too close, to an energized connector. It might even collapse to the inside of the base. As a small measure of protection wear rubber soled boots or rain boots when near it and don't touch 2 metallic items with both hands or body parts letting yourself become the path to ground. Better yet, just put a bucket over it and stay away from it. Sounds like you won't see any repair person for a couple of days at least. Good luck.

Nomadicchefs · 05-05-2018, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourdough

Just my thoughts, but I would get the bucket. A plastic bag will collapse in a heavy rain and force you to possibly get very close, too close, to an energized connector. It might even collapse to the inside of the base. As a small measure of protection wear rubber soled boots or rain boots when near it and don't touch 2 metallic items with both hands or body parts letting yourself become the path to ground. Better yet, just put a bucket over it and stay away from it. Sounds like you won't see any repair person for a couple of days at least. Good luck.

Yes, I imagine I won't see the repairs anytime soon. It's been raining since yesterday evening and will continue for a few days. I'll get a bucket, the one I had wasn't tall enough to cover the open face.

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