No Electricity at CG May 12, 2018, 08:54:05 am It’s hot and humid back in East Texas. Last night during dinner we lost electricity. 12V still working. I checked breakers inside and everything was ok. Checked the breaker at the outside connection. It was ok. Plugged my polarity tester into 30A shore power connection and no shore power. Turned on the generator while I tried to find Park people. Turns out someone arriving late plugged into shore power with the breaker on. The electricity arced and shorted 5 sites. He's okay but I don’t know about his rig. Hope this is helpful. 1 Likes
Re: No Electricity at CG Reply #1 – May 12, 2018, 09:24:56 am Good reminder!When I was a kid I played a lot of golf. Each spring the club would make all of the kids sit down and watch a film on etiquette and whatnot even if you were an older junior (up to about 17 as I recall) and an accomplished player. I think that each spring everyone who RVs should be required to watch a film on how to use a rig properly. Just thinking of all the plumbing and electric mistakes made out there, oy!!!Dave 1 Likes
Re: No Electricity at CG Reply #2 – May 12, 2018, 11:42:57 am Hi Ed and/or Margee. I sometimes check pedestal power, depending on the campground, with a polarity tester, or my Kilo-watt. It won't test without the breakers on. Then I plug my rig in, still with the breaker(s) on. I have never had a problem. I don't see why that would cause a problem, or why that would even be 'standard procedure'. A little arcing at the plug if the air-conditioner was left on, but I (almost) always remember to have that turned off. Maybe the person plugging in, that precipitated the outage, was just the last straw, so to speak, of an overburdened source. I would guess that somewhere there is a larger circuit breaker that controls five spots in the campground. RonB
Re: No Electricity at CG Reply #3 – May 12, 2018, 01:04:09 pm I always use my polarity checker and NEVER plug in while the breaker is hot. !!
Re: No Electricity at CG Reply #4 – May 12, 2018, 01:39:11 pm Quote from: RonB - May 12, 2018, 11:42:57 am Hi Ed and/or Margee. I sometimes check pedestal power, depending on the campground, with a polarity tester, or my Kilo-watt. It won't test without the breakers on. Then I plug my rig in, still with the breaker(s) on. I have never had a problem. I don't see why that would cause a problem, or why that would even be 'standard procedure'. A little arcing at the plug if the air-conditioner was left on, but I (almost) always remember to have that turned off. Maybe the person plugging in, that precipitated the outage, was just the last straw, so to speak, of an overburdened source. I would guess that somewhere there is a larger circuit breaker that controls five spots in the campground. RonBHere's one person's opinion why there might be a problem leaving the pedestal power on when plugging in. Ron, I respect your vast knowledge of RV technology, but to be on the safe side it would seem to be better to plug in with the pedestal power off. ChrisThat advice comes from Jim Finch, KOA's assistant vice president/technical services. "There are three times that the campers should turn off the breaker in the campground electrical supply equipment,” he says.Those circumstances are:Before you plug your RV into a campground’s power pedestalBefore you unplug your RV from a pedestalAnd when an electrical storm is building in the area.Here is why you should turn off the breaker in the first two situations:“If there's anything inside the RV that is on – if everything were turned off, it wouldn't matter -- in the process of plugging it in and unplugging it, you can get a situation where it can arc across, and it isn't totally safe,” Finch says.“I suspect that if you got an arc, it could damage whatever was turned on in the RV, too,” he says, adding that the caution especially applies to 50-amp rigs. And, if lightning is on its way, it’s a good precaution to turn off the breaker and then disconnect your RV from the campground’s electrical system, Finch says.“If there's an electrical strike at a transformer or in the supply side of the power company's equipment – and that does happen – it can travel down the lines and burn up equipment in the RV,” he says.Once the thunderstorm has passed, reverse the order of reconnecting your electricity: 5 Likes
Re: No Electricity at CG Reply #5 – May 12, 2018, 02:04:32 pm If you have a built-in "surge protector" it will delay passing power until it has analyzed it for voltage, polarity, etc.I can't understand why everyone does not have one.I still turn the breaker off at the power pedestal until I have both end of the cord connected, 3 Likes
Re: No Electricity at CG Reply #6 – May 13, 2018, 10:45:16 am My 2cents.I've seen several examples of problematic shore power . As an avid boater(old wooden restoration/repair/re-builder),I've seen shore power wired backwards. Veey hazardous,especially on a boat dock,where there is a thing called"drowning by electrocution".,where someone gets close enough to a reversed polarity boat,that the current causes the heart to stop.On a camper,leaning down and touching the wet/damp ground,while touching any metal on your rig,can be quite the eye-opener.(or closer)So,always use a polarity tester to keep you,and your fur-babies safe. 1 Likes
Re: No Electricity at CG Reply #7 – May 13, 2018, 11:53:34 am I always use my Surge Guard 30 amp power protection. I purchased it the day we picked up our LD at the Mothership.I never plug into a campground power pedestal directly. I always use the Surge Guard to supply power to my LD power cord. I’ve received some quizzical looks from other campers and even a Campground Host. “Whatcha doin’ that for”? I explain my concerns and continue on with the connection only after the Surge Guard has given me the go ahead.https://youtu.be/cBKxlF2--9oWhen connecting to a CG pedestal, I always use a heavy duty rubber strap to secure the S Guard to the pedestal. The unit itself has a tendency to pull its plug away from the receptacle and makes for a poor connection. The rubber strap insures that the plug is in place securely and won’t come loose from an inadvertent bump as someone walks past the pedestal.I also use a steel braided rubber coated dog lanyard and a padlock that loops around the S Guard cable and the pedestal. I get some curious looks about that as well. The 30amp portable Surge Guard isn’t cheap but then nothing about RVing really is. I wouldn’t be without it.Kent 1 Likes
Re: No Electricity at CG Reply #8 – May 13, 2018, 01:09:43 pm Quote from: Don Malpas - May 12, 2018, 02:04:32 pmIf you have a built-in "surge protector" it will delay passing power until it has analyzed it for voltage, polarity, etc.I can't understand why everyone does not have one.A built-in surge protector is a 'must have' IMO. It makes plugging in a non-event, with no need to shut the breaker off.It eliminates the worry about the voltage condition, polarity and it spends several seconds analyzing the power before allowing it to be connected to the Power Center. It's just about fool proof.A built in surge protector will protect against voltage surges in most situations.. I do uplug if thunderstorms are predicted.Here is a well proven surge protector, get the one with the remote display.Progressive Industries, Inc. | Rv Surge ProtectionLarry 1 Likes
Re: No Electricity at CG Reply #9 – May 13, 2018, 01:38:19 pm Hi, how much does a hardwired surge protector cost with installation if you know? Who is recommended to do this in Southern California?
Re: No Electricity at CG Reply #10 – May 13, 2018, 02:05:56 pm Tiger,If you go with a built in Progressive unit, Meyers RV Service Center in Torrance is a reputable company. I’ve had work done there as have many other LD owners.RV Repair - Los Angeles, CA - Meyers RVPretty easy to get to just up the 405.Kent
Re: No Electricity at CG Reply #11 – May 13, 2018, 02:15:04 pm A surge guard is a must have. I been in very high end RV (read big $$$$$) camp grounds that have been miswired. The host claimed the local city has had approved and ok'ed the electrical system. My surge guard claimed a hot neutral and would not let the electrons flow. We moved the plug from the 30 AMP to the 50 AMP and it worked. What that means is the split out of the 50AMP was done incorrectly. Sadly this has happened more then once in my experience.
Re: No Electricity at CG Reply #12 – May 13, 2018, 02:35:07 pm Cramping World has the Progressive Dynamics EMS-HW30C listed for $228, don't know if they install.Took a look behind the panel. I don't know if I have small enough hands to get in there and install it myself.
Re: No Electricity at CG Reply #13 – May 13, 2018, 04:27:41 pm Joel, think about doing this. First, pull the panel box out and set it on the floor so you have some room to work. Next, make a rectangle of 1/2" plywood with perhaps an inch of excess all around your EMS-HW30C, and with 4 holes for screws to mount the surge protector. With the surge protector out and easily accessible, do the wiring connections. Next, attach the surge protector to the plywood. Now you can screw the plywood to the wall, making all the connections fairly easy to do. Finally, put the panel box back and you are done.Ken F in OR 2 Likes
Re: No Electricity at CG Reply #14 – May 13, 2018, 10:56:43 pm Quote from: Kenneth Fears - May 13, 2018, 04:27:41 pmJoel, think about doing this. First, pull the panel box out and set it on the floor so you have some room to work. Next, make a rectangle of 1/2" plywood with perhaps an inch of excess all around your EMS-HW30C, and with 4 holes for screws to mount the surge protector. With the surge protector out and easily accessible, do the wiring connections. Next, attach the surge protector to the plywood. Now you can screw the plywood to the wall, making all the connections fairly easy to do. Finally, put the panel box back and you are done.Ken F in ORKen, how 'bout I give you some gas money and you come to my house and do this for me? You make it sound so simple.Chris 1 Likes
Re: No Electricity at CG Reply #15 – May 14, 2018, 11:30:09 pm Chris, as a few other members could tell you, I wouldn't do it for you, but I sure would hang at your elbow as I guided you through it. Will you be near the Tetons this summer? If so, let's do it!Ken F in OR
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