Shocking Experience

[bmg]

Just finished installing scissor jacks on our SV 264. We noticed that when we touched the frame that we picked up a slight shock. Not real strong, but annoying. I unplugged the electric and finished the job. I suspected a faulty ground, perhaps from the house outlet. But when I used a Receptacle Tester to check the circuits everything was ok. No problem with the house outlet or the convenience outlet outside the trailer. The TT was not hitched up to the TV. Any ideas?

[milzat]

This is often caused by the wiring in the electrical receptacle that your RV is plugged into or an improperly wired extension cord. If the "hot" and "neutral" wires are reversed, your trailer and you may become an electrical circuit.

To test, you'll need a polarity tester. This will tell you if the wiring is incorrect or a ground is OPEN.

[bmg]

Originally Posted by milzat

This is often caused by the wiring in the electrical receptacle that your RV is plugged into or an improperly wired extension cord. If the "hot" and "neutral" wires are reversed, your trailer and you may become an electrical circuit.

To test, you'll need a polarity tester. This will tell you if the wiring is incorrect or a ground is OPEN.

That's what I tested for and everything tested out ok. Both the house receptacle and the outside receptacle on the TT, where the drill was plugged in were ok. We have the 30 ft. 30 amp cord plugged directly into the house. That's why I'm scratching my head. BTW do you know what happened to my favorite emoticon? That's the one with the poor guy scratching his head. I can't seem to find it.

[granite]

We had a similar experience after a small DIY in the cargo area. Luckily, we connected the two occurences, searched and removed a small nail that seemed to be slightly grazing a wire to somewhere. Pulled the nail and no more shocks.

[KyDan]

You need a volt meter.
If you know which is neutral and which is hot and which is ground
you should test voltage between each one.
Neutral to ground should read ZERO. If it reads any voltage there
is a problem.
In my opinion the neutral and ground should be connected
together in the fuse box of the trailer as well as the house
fuse box.
Others here have said that having the neutral and ground
bonded together can cause the GFI circuit breaker to trip if
you ever plug into one of those.
First thing is to test neutral to ground.
If you find voltage there, you have to look for the cause.
Also an ungrounded outlet or ungrounded trailer might
cause you to feel a shock.
Testing for that get's a little more complicated.

Good luck.
You should try to find the cause.
Your trailer should never shock you.
If it's shocking you a "little" today it might kill you one day
when it's raining.
Let us know what you find!

[MtnGuy]

bmg, are you plugged into a GFI receptacle. Most building codes require GFIs in outside and basement receptacles. That should prevent the shock, but of course throw the GFI, which is a good thing. Then proceed to find the problem.

On another forum that I am a member of, the consensus there is that a burned out electric element in the hot water heater can cause this problem.....might want to check that out.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by mtnguy

On another forum that I am a member of, the consensus there is that a burned out electric element in the hot water heater can cause this problem.....might want to check that out.

Good Call!!
Turn of the circuit breaker to your hot water heater
and see if that cures the problem.

[bmg]

Originally Posted by KyDan

Good Call!!
Turn of the circuit breaker to your hot water heater
and see if that cures the problem.

I just changed the element a couple of weeks ago, so I don't think that is the problem. The circuit tester checks out at the house and at the outside receptacle on the TT. I need to check the rest of the outlets in the TT. We're taking it out this week so I'll check and see if we still get a little shock at the campground. If not, than is probably something in the house wiring.