Shocking experience (Avalanche 390DS)

[xrated]

Originally Posted by Ramtop

It’s popcorn and beer time watching everyone argue about who has more credentials and how to test voltage. Meanwhile, the OP hasn’t even been back to read any advice given.

Well, at least some of us have offered some troubleshooting solutions.....whether they've been taken or not.

[The Other Aaron]

Hey sorry for ghosting you guys. I've just been really busy. I'm still working full time and commuting 30 minutes each way (not as bad as others, thankfully). Also, being new to this forum, I was expecting to get an email if there was any activity after my last post. So either I missed the email or they only send the one at first.

I appreciate all your info and insights and for taking the time to help me out.

I have the campground maintenence guy coming out tomorrow to check out the shore power receptacle. The next nearest shore power is too far away to try that. The previous owners of this lot did some funky stuff with the wiring at this box. (Looks like they added another 20A breaker with some underground wiring to the shed. I have kept this breaker off for all this. I don't have any records of who or when this was done, let alone their credentials or sanctioning by the park. I hope it's all legit and hopefully the campground maintenance guy can determine that tomorrow.)

After all the heightened discussion on electric water heater elements, I'm almost afraid to say that I have a gas water heater. (Though I do appreciate the passion with which you state and defend your respective positions)

If I remember correctly there was either .5 or .05 amps from the stairs to the dry gravelly dirt ground. I don't recall the voltage reading.

I have yet to test anything else. Tomorrow's result will hopefully light the way.

I'll try to do better at updating this post as this experience may be of use to others. I will be out of town for the next few days, so cut me some slack if I don't post results about tomorrow's results soon enough.

[The Other Aaron]

Ok, my multimeter battery is running out so this might be a faulty reading, but I got .03 amps from exposed screw head to damp dirt and a fluctuating reading of 20-30 volts.



Maybe that's meaningless. So I'll wait for the maintenance guy tomorrow.

[jxnbbl]

If you are seeing 30V you definitely want it diagnosed and fixed. The good news is it wasn't higher!


If you go to your control panel there is a section Settings and Options. Look at Edit Options, you can set it up so if you reply/enter a thread you subscribe to it and periodically get an email that there are more responses.

[The Other Aaron]

The office sent out the maintenance guy last Thursday and all he did was feel the shore power pedestal to see if it was hot to the touch. He did this of his own accord after I explained the situation. He didn't get shocked, thankfully, and the pedestal wasn't warm. He didn't seem concerned at all and said he'd get the electrician out to check the grounding and wiring in the pedestal cabinet, but we haven't seen him yet.

[JRTJH]

What that "maintenance guy" did was much the same as a "gawker at an accident scene" does when they run into the calamity, get in the way, yell something incoherent, then leave with a promise that it'll be OK......

In reality, he showed he has no concept of electrical safety by "touching a potentially live metal surface to see if it's hot" risking his life in some sort of exhibition to demonstrate there's no problem and then walking away with a promise that it'll be OK....

Essentially, all he did was "gawk at the potential problem and walk away"....

I'd talk to the office staff again and express your concern that there's a potential "life threatening issue" that hasn't been addressed by what he did or more important, what he didn't do" and ask them when that electrician is scheduled to troubleshoot the problem.....

Keep in mind that it may very well be your trailer causing the issue and you may end up paying for the eventual repair, but one of the steps is checking the campground pedestal. If you don't have the skills and expertise to properly troubleshoot your trailer, then it's incumbent on you to hire someone to check your trailer as well. So this is not "all their problem" and waiting on them (if it's your trailer that is faulty) won't fix the issue. Hiring your own electrician to check your trailer is just as important as asking the campground to check their wiring. It's a 50/50 type of "whose equipment needs repair"....

[sourdough]

You need to go buy that EMS I suggested at the start of this thread, it's going to tell you if you have an issue in the park or the trailer. The new Surge Guard 34951 (50A) also checks for faults toward the trailer and will tell you. You can buy one for the price of one electrician visit but can use it from now on at every RV park you visit - they are mandatory IMO and this is a good example why.

The maintenance guy that visited you is clueless. In the right situation he would have just belched, quivered and kicked the bucket in front of you due to his ignorance. Looking for a "hot" ped, from heat or otherwise, by feeling of it is ridiculous. Having no concern, saying everything is OK - is also ridiculous and places the park in a very bad position if anything was to happen to you or anyone else because of a wiring issue. From the sound of it there was no urgency on his part and that electrician may or may not ever come while you and yours are continually exposed to danger - unacceptable in my book.

As the owner of an RV I think it's incumbent on the owner to be self sufficient in these matters. As suggested early on go to the nearest RV store and get that EMS. You can order them on line as well - Amazon would have had it there 2 weeks ago. At the same time I would buy a VOM (multimeter) and learn how to use it - not on this right now because it might be a little complicated....but learn how for future use.

[flybouy]

If I were in this situation and did not have the skill set to diagnose my trailer I would call a professional (liscenced electrician) to diagnose/fix the issue ASAP. You KNOW you have an issue with YOUR property which now makes you resposible for any resulting death or injury. Even if you don't know the cause, you are aware of the issue which I believe makes you responsible.

If an electrician comes out and reports that the problem is with the cg equipment and not your trailer then I would tell cg management and demand reimbursement for your electrician. Document EVERYTHING and leave the trailer unplugged until the issue is resolved. Electrocution is not to be taken lightly. Imagine a person with a pacemaker touching your trailer, or a barefoot toddler. Way to dangerous to take lightly.

[The Other Aaron]

I called the office today to see when the electrician was scheduled since I haven't seen or heard from anyone. She said she didn't have any record of a request. I explained things to her again and she sounded concerned. She had someone come out, but since he was heading home for the day apparently didn't have any tools and just used my NCVT. Yes this sounds super lame (because it is), but I was at work and that's the story I got. I'm not sure if he's a maintenance guy or a licensed electrician or what. He'll be back tomorrow with his tools to check it out further. I'll be giving him a talkin to about not messing around. If he's either not qualified or not able to fix it I'll get my own licensed electrician as suggested. That EMS sounds like a good idea. I just verified and all I currently have is a surge protector, I'll attach the picture of the box.

[sourdough]

Yes, what you have is a simple surge protector. It does have indications for a few faults but does nothing about them. Have you looked at it to see if it is showing any kind of fault? The EMS monitors for faults and if one is detected it shuts down incoming power until the fault is fixed. I am linking your surge protector and a real EMS below. The Surge Guard 34951 (along with several other units from various manufacturers) monitors incoming power and shuts down if there is a fault. You, and every RV owner, needs one IMO. The 34951 used to say it monitored power on the RV side but I can't find that wording now.

Surge Protector:

https://www.southwire.com/power-mana...tector/p/44270

EMS:

https://technorv.com/products/50a-su...3iNllxIp1Kuwmh

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by The Other Aaron

The office sent out the maintenance guy last Thursday and all he did was feel the shore power pedestal to see if it was hot to the touch. He did this of his own accord after I explained the situation. He didn't get shocked, thankfully, and the pedestal wasn't warm. He didn't seem concerned at all and said he'd get the electrician out to check the grounding and wiring in the pedestal cabinet, but we haven't seen him yet.

The lack of urgency by everyone involved is mind blowing to me…Risk of children ( and adults) getting shocked…liability on the campground with management just shrugging their shoulders…risk of damage to your rv….and yet everyone just goes about their business like there isn’t a way to solve this problem…..it’s like watching a fire smolder in your house and just ignoring it…or a hole in a boat and just keep heading further offshore….I would HAVE to call an electrician and pay the service call just for the peace of mind…sort everything else out later…And i’d be ordering an ems IMMEDIATELY or drive somewhere today…Heck just borrow one from somebody at the campground just to see where the problem lies…it may be as simple as they move you to another site..BUT still get the ems
And with all due respect to maintenance guys…he isn’t really qualified in any one area or he would be a licensed tradesman instead of cutting grass, cleaning clogged toilets or changing light bulbs…A maintenance job is a necessary and honorable job but what you need is a licensed electrician

[notanlines]

^^^^^what Brian said! I can’t understand the lack of urgency from all involved.

[NH_Bulldog]

Even though I have a hardwired EMS, I always keep one of these in my tote to test a circuit before I drag out my heavy cord to plug in. I have one unit for 50a and another for 30a. It is a simple circuit tester, nothing more.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog

Even though I have a hardwired EMS, I always keep one of these in my tote to test a circuit before I drag out my heavy cord to plug in. I have one unit for 50a and another for 30a. It is a simple circuit tester, nothing more.

LOL! I think you linked/posted that somewhere else and now I'm the proud owner of one! Don't know when or where I might use it....but what the heck - another toy!

[NH_Bulldog]

It sure weighs a lot less than 30’ of 50a power cord with a 90° cord relief fitting!

I have used it a few times so far this year and one time I found a reversed neutral on the 50a outlet so I tested the 30a one and that one read good. I simply used my 30a cord instead of the big one and our weekend was good.

[sourdough]

My EMS is portable so I just have a little 24" unit to go plug in if I think there is an issue. I don't usually do that and if I think there might be a problem I just carry a VOM of which I have several - but looks like it might be handy.

[The Other Aaron]

An actual electrician came out while I was at work the other day. He got the same voltage and current readings I did. He thinks that it could be from another pedestal or underground root penetration somewhere upstream since there are several that are daisy chained and this place is pretty old (going back to the 70's and beyond) . He said he'd get permission to check the other pedestals and get back to us. He didn't seem worried or concerned at all (probably due to the low voltage and current readings).





To answer a couple of questions: we are on this lot because we bought it, so we can't easily move or try another shore power pedestal. The surge protector I have hasn't registered any faults.



My question is, the feature lists appear identical between the one I have and the other one that was recommended here. Is there something I missed?

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by The Other Aaron

An actual electrician came out while I was at work the other day. He got the same voltage and current readings I did. He thinks that it could be from another pedestal or underground root penetration somewhere upstream since there are several that are daisy chained and this place is pretty old (going back to the 70's and beyond) . He said he'd get permission to check the other pedestals and get back to us. He didn't seem worried or concerned at all (probably due to the low voltage and current readings).





To answer a couple of questions: we are on this lot because we bought it, so we can't easily move or try another shore power pedestal. The surge protector I have hasn't registered any faults.



My question is, the feature lists appear identical between the one I have and the other one that was recommended here. Is there something I missed?

LOTS of difference between a surge protector like you have and a EMS. I posted links to both back in post #50. I'll post another link from Southwire on their Surge Guard EMS Model 34951. Note that the description for the surge protector in the link in post 50 says the surge protector IDENTIFIES power problems, the EMS identifies and PROTECTS you, yours and the trailer from damage by shutting off power to the RV until the fault is corrected.

[Shedboy]

Had the same experience while in Mexico, turned out to be reversed hot and neutral wires in the RV Park Supply Pedestal. Check the RV supply socket first, determine that the problem is in the RV, not the supply socket.

[Getn off]

I had this same issue recently. Mine actually was caused by a lightening strike. All was fixed…we thought.
I was getting the hot skin as u described. Pedestal (30A) tested perfect. Unplugged… no hot skin. No hot skin on genny either. My portable EMS showed all good. Couldn’t figure this out. Stumped. Plugged in without my ems and viola! No hot skin. Turns out the EMS fried something internal with the lightening strike, but looked to be still working correctly. Bypassed, it all worked perfectly again. Replaced the EMS and all is good again.
Try bypassing ur ems/surge protector (if the pedestal checks out) and see if this works.
From what I read, it looks like ur pedestal was good and unplugged it was cold.
Might be worth buying a 30/50 jumper line and try hooking up to a neighbors pedastal, or a portable genny even.
Again, I am betting on the cord, ems/surge protector. If not these, I would buy a new line and replace ur current one that is permanently attached.
Good luck.