Check power before you plug in.

[Phil57]

We are in Beaumont TX staying overnight at Golf Coast RV. It's a nice place but the first site only had one leg of the power working. I reported it and was told someone just left and it worked for them. I said they might have had 30 amp and got nothing. So she moved us as their is not a maintenance person on duty. The second site the breaker would not turn on. We did find one that worked but had to pick up two bags of dog poo before I would let my dogs out. A rough start to a overnight. Glad we stopped early.


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[NO3putt]

Phil, sounds like a place to put on our list of where not to stay. Safe travels

Skip

[Shinny]

I hope the rest of your trip is better. I always use my PI surge suppressor/wiring tester before plugging in.

[Phil57]

I use a multi meter to check before also. I just thought this would be a good reminder for those that don't. This is I nice park so if it can happen here it can happen anywhere. You don't have to spend a bunch on a MM for testing the proper voltage and polarity. I think mine was twenty bucks.


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[asquared]

X2 on always using the surge protector. These are the kind of places that might work when checking and then not so well later thus the need forums over/under surge protector.

[Shinny]

Originally Posted by Phil57

I use a multi meter to check before also. I just thought this would be a good reminder for those that don't. This is I nice park so if it can happen here it can happen anywhere. You don't have to spend a bunch on a MM for testing the proper voltage and polarity. I think mine was twenty bucks.


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This is why I joined this forum, for people like you looking out for everyone. Thanks

[Terier]

At a new campground I decided to change my routine around & waited until the end to plug in the surge protector only to find out I didn't have any power. I broke camp while waiting to be assigned to another site. Lesson learned.

[Gilm2113]

For the electrically challenged, can you describe how to check this with a multi-meter?

[vasnipe]

Excellent observation. Take a look at my thread from May of this year. I would post the link but have not figured that part out on my tablet yet.
We are going back to that campground in a couple of weeks.
I will be checking closely and using my new to me autotransformer.
Herk has written about his experiences with his unit,

Pay attention to your power

Chris in Virginia

[Phil57]

Originally Posted by Gilm2113

For the electrically challenged, can you describe how to check this with a multi-meter?

Oh boy I will try. We are checking AC in this case. That is what your house current is. DC is like a battery current. Set your MM to 200 and check each leg. A leg is the flat slot. Red in one flat slot and black in the round top. It should read 110-140 do the same for the other. Should be the same. Then check the same with the bottom again should be the same. Also check the ground and neutral. It should read zero.
I will count on others that know what they are talking about to correct my post. I'm a retired food salesman and electricity is still a form of witchcraft to me.


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[Phil57]

http://www.myrv.us/electric/Pg/testing.htm
This may be of more help.


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[Weezer]

Sneak and I have learned (thru others' mistakes thankfully) to never unhitch until the electrical is checked and passes the surge protector test.

I've seen others have to hitch back up, remove chocks, etc. and relocate. That's gotta suck.

[Ford Idaho]

I plug in the Surge Guard and let it run the pretest before I even bother to level out, makes moving easy if needed.

[Witch Doctor]

To test for polarity on a 30 amp 110 v circuit is easy just plug in the cheap $10.00 3 light tester to a socket. It will show by lights if the it is wrong for your unit. You don't have move, just switch the the hot and neutral in the box on the pedestal pole. Bingo your done 10 mins not more.

[Gilm2113]

Thanks everyone for the information. It is very helpful.

[Phil57]

I would not under any circumstances rewire a post at a campground. Any thing goes wrong and it's your fault.


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[davel1971]

checking with a voltmeter before hooking up is good, but does nothing if a problem occurs while hooked up. I count on my EMS hardwired unit to protect me. Has saved me a few times

[ColoradoRick]

Wow, this information is SO valuable as I'm a computer/network expert, NOT an electrician. (But my neighbor, a retired master electrician, has been teaching me many things over the past 10 years...and I've fixed his laptops, WIFI and TV many times!)

I found all the parts on Amazon for less than $50 and will be adding this to my RV toolbox.

30-amp RV outlet Tester

[Ham_Bone]

Just purchased one of these.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by Phil57

I would not under any circumstances rewire a post at a campground. Any thing goes wrong and it's your fault.


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I'm sure you are answering my post, First of all I plugged in my EMS and it said revised polarity, I then called the CG host and showed him. We then plugged into two empty spaces and showed him they were wired right. He said well I don't know how to fix that. And we do not have any other spaces and I can't get an electrician tonight. I said all you have to do is switch the hot and neutral on the plug. He said can you do that and I said sure he said well go ahead, I did it and stayed the night. How many campers do you think didn't even know that and plugged in before me? It's not a big thing and that's how you change it. Then My EMS worked fine. Really I probably saved someone down the line...... When I was traveling to different countries mostly 3rd world by sail boat I must have done it 25 x's or more. Use to have a light that came on the panel when it was wired wrong warning me, That was before the fancy EMS systems.