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08-21-2015, 04:17 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: NEPA
Posts: 1,477
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Reverse polarity at pedestal
So I get to camp, plug my surge guard into the pedestal, and it comes up "reverse polarity," so of course, it won't allow the power to turn on. The outlet on the other side is the same way, but the one at the next site the other way is OK. So will this damage my camper if I plug in without the surge guard? Is it a matter if hot and neutral being switched, and what can happen if it's used in that condition? TIA...
__________________
2015 XLR Hyperlite 30HFS5 (mods being performed regularly)
2009 Salem LA 292fkds (gone) 
Nights- ('12)23 ('13)23 ('14)15 ('15)31 ('16)27 ('17) 20 (‘18)21 (‘19)23
2019 Honda CRV (camping support vehicle)
2014 Harley Davidson FLHX (XLR cargo)
2011 Ram 2500 CC 4X4 CTD, B&W Companion (toy hauler hauler)
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08-21-2015, 04:23 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: NE Florida
Posts: 781
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May or may not cause damage, but I for sure would not plug into it. There is definitely a safety issue there. 
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08-21-2015, 04:38 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Eastern Ontario
Posts: 4,167
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__________________
Fonzie
2011 Rockwood 8319SS with ProPride 3P hitch/GoodYear Marathons/TST TPMS 507
2019 F350 Ruby Red 6.7l diesel 3.31 axle electronic locker
Yamaha 3000iseb generator:Progressive Ind. EMS-HW30C : Eastern Ontario
Nights Camped: 2014 (18) 2015 (18) 2016 (36) 2017 (32) 2018 (42) 2019 (28) 2020 (35)
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08-21-2015, 04:50 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,960
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Mike Sokol (our RV electrical safety guru), went over this fairly recently in this thread:
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...tml#post909373
P.S. I also recommend reading that entire thread linked above. It could save members problems in the future.
__________________
 2011 Flagstaff 831 RLBSS
A 72 hour hold in a psych unit is beginning to intrigue me as a potential vacation opportunity.
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08-21-2015, 05:08 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: NEPA
Posts: 1,477
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Thanks for all the replies.
So after a few minutes of the surge protector being plugged in, the reverse polarity warning decided to stop. I'm guessing there may have been some residual current somewhere in the ground, or pedestal, since we got a lot of rain here last night. Or maybe Venus was in the improper alignment momentarily. It's working fine now. Go figure.
__________________
2015 XLR Hyperlite 30HFS5 (mods being performed regularly)
2009 Salem LA 292fkds (gone)
Nights- ('12)23 ('13)23 ('14)15 ('15)31 ('16)27 ('17) 20 (‘18)21 (‘19)23
2019 Honda CRV (camping support vehicle)
2014 Harley Davidson FLHX (XLR cargo)
2011 Ram 2500 CC 4X4 CTD, B&W Companion (toy hauler hauler)
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08-21-2015, 07:10 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: NE Florida
Posts: 781
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Reverse polarity is not something that just goes away; it is a physical wiring issue. Your surge guard may be the problem.
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08-21-2015, 07:19 PM
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#7
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Who Dares, Wins
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Chester County, PA
Posts: 7,063
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Not an electrician so go easy... But could someone plugged on down stream somewhere that is incorrectly wired be back feeding the system? Do not know if this is possible just a curiosity.
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Pat, Jen, Heather & Sapphire, the head mouser.
2015 Chevy HD D-Max
2022 Impression 315MB
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08-21-2015, 07:22 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Eastern Ontario
Posts: 4,167
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doc73
Not an electrician so go easy... But could someone plugged on down stream somewhere that is incorrectly wired be back feeding the system? Do not know if this is possible just a curiosity.
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No not possible......
__________________
Fonzie
2011 Rockwood 8319SS with ProPride 3P hitch/GoodYear Marathons/TST TPMS 507
2019 F350 Ruby Red 6.7l diesel 3.31 axle electronic locker
Yamaha 3000iseb generator:Progressive Ind. EMS-HW30C : Eastern Ontario
Nights Camped: 2014 (18) 2015 (18) 2016 (36) 2017 (32) 2018 (42) 2019 (28) 2020 (35)
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08-22-2015, 09:11 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 97
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Papa GLS
Reverse polarity is not something that just goes away; it is a physical wiring issue. Your surge guard may be the problem.
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Or no reverse polarity exists. Reverse polarity is implied when a voltage between neutral wire and safety ground wire is too large. How large? Well, that voltage difference may occur when a neutral wire is carrying too much current - therefore has a small voltage difference. No reverse polarity exists. But that voltage difference is enough for a surge guard to suspect it exists.
To say more means numbers from a meter must be provided, All this is layman simple once one learns the simple relationships between those AC power wires.
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08-22-2015, 09:26 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Orlando
Posts: 778
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Reverse polarity is when the hot and neutral legs are reversed. This will not damage an AC appliance but it is a safety issue.
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08-22-2015, 09:34 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: NE Florida
Posts: 781
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Simply stated & completely correct Brewhedd.
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08-22-2015, 11:38 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 301
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Not good for LED lights and some electronic devices.
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08-22-2015, 12:12 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Ontario
Posts: 1,177
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While out on our 3 week trip, I found one reversed plug but also found a LOT!! of outlets without a breaker so had to plug into live circuit. I have since noticed my surge protector has a slight burned base at the hot terminal.
__________________
2014 Forester 3051s
2016 Nissan Pathfinder SL
2012 Sonic toad
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08-22-2015, 12:12 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Full timer,,,at Lake Georgetown in central Texas for the winter.
Posts: 442
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Check your 12 vdc fuses when the dust settles. Our Jayco blew a couple of 30 Amp "reverse polarity" fuses, and I was pulling my hair our trying to figure out what happened. We plugged into my daughter's garage in Idaho and her plug was reversed. I'd correct it and make sure you get what you're supposed to without exception. No telling what could happen down the like,,,,but I DO know that those fuses were in the system for a reason.
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08-22-2015, 12:56 PM
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#15
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jkoenig24
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Box Elder, SD (formerly NY)
Posts: 953
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DO NOT CONNECT to a power source that has Reversed Polarity. Before connecting to a power source ALWAYS check to see what VOLTAGE is being delivered AND check that there is NO Reversed Polarity. Advise the appropriate person (Owner, manager etc) that there is a serious problem and, move to a location that has been PROPERLY wired. The life (and coach) you save could be yours.
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08-22-2015, 12:57 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Wheeling, IL
Posts: 261
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I recently purchased a SurgeGuard 44260 and plugged it in at the campground. Two green lights came on saying the power was on after plugging in the power cable. At the time, I was the only one plugged into a bank of boxes. I did not experience any problems in the camper during the stay. When I was breaking down to leave, I noticed the SurgeGuard was indicating Reverse Polarity. Any ideas why this would have changed? Related to another unit coming in and plugging in later?
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08-22-2015, 01:19 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Clarksville Va.
Posts: 10,422
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjbuckely
I recently purchased a SurgeGuard 44260 and plugged it in at the campground. Two green lights came on saying the power was on after plugging in the power cable. At the time, I was the only one plugged into a bank of boxes. I did not experience any problems in the camper during the stay. When I was breaking down to leave, I noticed the SurgeGuard was indicating Reverse Polarity. Any ideas why this would have changed? Related to another unit coming in and plugging in later?
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I have a sureguard and had the exact same problem, after that one time never did it again. One time I plugged it in and said bad ground or something like that, unplugged it and plugged it back in and it went away. All I can say ELECTRONICS Gremlin.
__________________
Coachmen M/H
Concord
2018 / 300 DSC
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08-22-2015, 01:31 PM
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#18
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Alleged curmudgeon
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Southwest Michigan
Posts: 558
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A similar situation arose for me back in June and I received some decent guidance and discussion in this thread
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...s-85683-2.html
__________________
Lee
2013 Windjammer 3008W
2006 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 6.0L w/Equalizer 4
Nights camped: 2012 (29); 2013 (26); 2014 (40); 2015 (43); 2016 (35); 2017 (34); 2018 (39); 2019 (30); 2020 (16); 2021 (14); 2022 to date (12)
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08-22-2015, 01:37 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Wheeling, IL
Posts: 261
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Thanks. I'll keep an eye on it on the next trip.
Thanks Vern. Read your story too. I did not notice any power interruptions.
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08-22-2015, 02:54 PM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 97
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjbuckely
Any ideas why this would have changed? Related to another unit coming in and plugging in later?
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That was explained in Post 9.
As another so accurately noted, reverse polarity does not harm any appliances; is only a problem for human safety. That should be obvious. AC reverses polarity 120 times every second. And clearly is not a problem for LEDs - that are not connected to AC mains.
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