Re: What’s in Your Toolbox? Reply #25 – January 15, 2020, 08:58:56 pm Checking the wiring at the power pole is an essential activity for me when before I level my rig at a new site. Last fall I found an open neutral at Flying Flags in Buelton. The site next to me had the same condition. The maintenance guy showed up with a meter and said "see, it is fine". I pointed to the little red light on his meter that said "open neutral" and said, "no, I don't think so." I asked to be moved. A week later, while at the campground north of Jedediah Smith State Park, the power pole had an open ground. I peeked in the back of the box and saw the green wire disconnected and called the front office and offered to fix it. The lady said their maintenance guy had to do it, but wouldn't be at work for two more days. I had her move me.Two summers ago I found an open neutral at Boulder Creek RV in Lone Pine. I went down to the office and asked to be moved and the guy at the desk arrogantly stated, in front of a crowd of people at the counter, that his power poles were all perfect and I was mistaken. I requested that he meet me at my site. Remarkably, using my Progressive industries SP and his meter, the pole had an open neutral. Instead of saying "Darn, I was mistaken", he went off on some cock and bull about how the "sandy soil caused the neutral circuit to dissipate into the ground periodically..." He stated that he had a Ph.D. in biochemistry and understood these complex issues. I was able to suppress my urge to bust out laughing and just got him to move me to another site. If I had had an adult beverage, a chair, and a little time to kill, I would have asked him to explain such an interesting phenomenon. He did go on to tell me a curious tale of how he was working at the RV park instead of in his field of biochemistry. Sometimes it is better to just shut up...I don't level the LD or plug the power cord into the EMS PT30X until I know that the power pole wiring is problem free. 3 Likes
Re: What’s in Your Toolbox? Reply #26 – January 15, 2020, 09:14:12 pm So Harold, can these non-contact testers find all these issues you mention?BTW, if someone has to mention their “qualifications,” they probably are full of bs, or just insecure. 1 Likes
Re: What’s in Your Toolbox? Reply #27 – January 16, 2020, 01:14:05 am "can these non-contact testers find all these issues you mention?"Non-contact testers do just one thing: sniff out 120 VAC. "Non-contact" in this case doesn't mean they can measure from several feet away like an IR thermometer; it just means they don't need to be electrically connected to a wire, unlike a meter. If you hold one within half an inch or so of a live 120 VAC conductor, it will light up and in most cases beep. If you follow latljus's suggestion and bring one near a campground power post's housing and it lights up, you know that housing is live, so beware!These probes don't tell you about specific wiring errors the way a $5 plug-in outlet tester does, nor do they protect against "bad electricity" getting through to your rig the way an Energy Management System (EMS) does. They are, however, extremely useful both for troubleshooting and as a safety measure when working on 120 VAC circuitry.For example, lay one against the side of a shore power cord, anywhere along its length, and you will instantly know whether that cord is live. When working on AC circuits inside my rig, I always tap the tester against any wire or terminal I'm going to mess with, just to be sure that it's really dead. And when troubleshooting something like an automatic transfer switch (ATS), I can slide the probe along the wires going into and out of the box to see which ones are live. All of this is done without making electrical contact with any wires or terminals. They are invaluable little gadgets, and well worth their modest cost. 7 Likes
Re: What’s in Your Toolbox? Reply #28 – January 16, 2020, 09:07:28 am Quote from: Andy Baird - January 16, 2020, 01:14:05 am"can these non-contact testers find all these issues you mention?"Non-contact testers do just one thing: sniff out 120 VAC. "Non-contact" in this case doesn't mean they can measure from several feet away like an IR thermometer; it just means they don't need to be electrically connected to a wire, unlike a meter. If you hold one within half an inch or so of a live 120 VAC conductor, it will light up and in most cases beep. If you follow latljus's suggestion and bring one near a campground power post's housing and it lights up, you know that housing is live, so beware!These probes don't tell you about specific wiring errors the way a $5 plug-in outlet tester does, nor do they protect against "bad electricity" getting through to your rig the way an Energy Management System (EMS) does. They are, however, extremely useful both for troubleshooting and as a safety measure when working on 120 VAC circuitry.For example, lay one against the side of a shore power cord, anywhere along its length, and you will instantly know whether that cord is live. When working on AC circuits inside my rig, I always tap the tester against any wire or terminal I'm going to mess with, just to be sure that it's really dead. And when troubleshooting something like an automatic transfer switch (ATS), I can slide the probe along the wires going into and out of the box to see which ones are live. All of this is done without making electrical contact with any wires or terminals. They are invaluable little gadgets, and well worth their modest cost."All of this is done without making electrical contact with any wires or terminals. They are invaluable little gadgets, and well worth their modest cost."Good stuff, Andy. Thanks for sharing.Chris
Re: What’s in Your Toolbox? Reply #29 – January 16, 2020, 02:28:36 pm Quote from: HiLola - January 15, 2020, 09:14:12 pmBTW, if someone has to mention their “qualifications,” they probably are full of bs, or just insecure.I fully agree. I have found while working with subcontractors on houses that if someone says "I am a professional" to justify that their work is "right", it is a big red flag to get rid of them (typically without paying them unless you have confirmed they did some work of value). Anyone I have run into that claims this as their justification has no clue how to follow building codes and does horrible work (e.g. might work initially but will have to be ripped out and be "repaired" in 1-5 years).A true professional will explain what they are doing and why (and even discuss choices pros and cons).Since I know what I am doing, I call contractors on poor work. If I get bs back, I say I will tell you what - let me call one of the permit inspectors and we can get their opinion. That makes these unknowledgable "professionals" quit arguing and disappear. As others have done, I would probably quietly push to get my issue resolved (e.g. get moved), I don't want extra hassle from the park because they are reacting to being told there is a problem.Unfortunately these days, you have to know what how something should be done before you hire someone to do the work or you have no idea if it was done well or not.Jane 2 Likes
Re: What’s in Your Toolbox? Reply #30 – October 19, 2021, 04:56:16 pm Ok, so this thread is aging well on the vine. Here are two upgrades to my LD tool box.One: A 1/4†Blackhawk rotator ratchet for getting those pesky bolts removed that are in hard to reach places. Blackhawk GW-9946R Drive Rotator... Amazon.com: Blackhawk GW-9946R Drive Rotator Ratchet, 1/4" : Tools & Home...https://youtu.be/y9bbPxRvkS8Second: A rechargeable Electric Screwdriver for those times where the screws are many and long and a power drill is just too large to fit into tight spaces.SKIL Rechargeable 4V Cordless... Amazon.com: SKIL Rechargeable 4V Cordless Screwdriver with Circuit Sensor...Are these necessary upgrades to my already existing tool? Probably not but they can sure eliminate that frustration when accomplishing tedious tasks.Kent As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: What’s in Your Toolbox? Reply #31 – October 20, 2021, 09:43:34 am My favorite tool? I’ve so many but one set stands out as my most favorite. And they are often the highlight of my day. 😇 5 Likes
Re: What’s in Your Toolbox? Reply #32 – October 20, 2021, 11:31:55 am Hmmm…I do use a Tire Spoon on occasion. Great for wheel covers. Doesn’t do so well for soup.Kent 1 Likes
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