I will try to clarify some points that seem to be confusing.....
We use a meter to test an outlet not only to see if it is the correct voltage but that the polarity is correct. You need some basic understanding of electricity and wiring to do this. If you do not understand you should not do this. It is not about having 120 and plugging in and then having a variation/fluctuation.
The easiest way to check polarity is a polarity tester which can be bought at almost any hardware store for $10 to $20.
You need to have your 120 on the correct leg coming in to your RV. If the hot side goes to your common or neutral side you could have a hot ground and have AC voltage in your chassis. This gets more involved and more complicated.
http://www.rvtravel.com/?q=rv-travel-newsletter-issue648
http://www.rvtravel.com/?q=rv-travel-newsletter-issue648 Has been running a series of articles about RV wiring and plugging into improperly wired outlets in RV parks. This is from last weeks RV Newsletter..........
Editor's corner
With Chuck Woodbury
Chuck@RVtravel.com
We reported earlier this month about the death of three-year-old Landyn Gerald Keener, who was electrocuted when he touched his family's Airstream trailer in Amboy, Ill., when it was experiencing a "hot skin" condition. After hearing the news, our technical editor Chris Dougherty interviewed electrical engineer Mike Sokol about how such a tragedy could occur and how other RVers can avoid becoming a victim. Watch that interview on our RV Travel Channel. Chris will have an update tomorrow (July 27) in his RV Tech Tips newsletter. Here's a preview link so you can read the story without waiting.
The fact is, a hot skin condition can occur on any RV, new or old. In a nutshell, it's caused when an RV is plugged into an improperly wired electric plug or cord. In most cases, the only harm that will come to touching an affected RV is receiving a mild shock. But under certain circumstances the shock can be deadly. Here is a news story about the deadly incident. (You may need to answer a brief survey question to read the entire story.)
Here is a letter Mike Sokol received that illustrates how what we write in this newsletter can affect lives:
Dear Mike,
I came across your tutorial on "hot skin" conditions at RVtravel.com. At first I discounted the idea that this could be a frequent enough occurrence to worry about, but the kid who got electrocuted really bothered me. So, I went and bought the Fluke tester to see if the extension cord I was using out of my garage was a problem. Sure enough, when I plugged it into the RV as I usually do it came out with a hot skin condition. I was quite surprised to be honest, but all the red flags were there in retrospect. And here I was letting my kid play in the unit while it was plugged in at home, and I was going in and out, all of us oblivious to the potential danger.
Without you calling attention to this phenomenon I never would have known about it. I doubt the groups I camp with know much about it either, but I will be sure to spread the word. We will never know what would have happened to one of us if I had not found this condition, but I can certainly say that you alleviated a problem and possibly saved someone from serious injury or death. So I wanted to send you a note of sincere gratitude for disseminating this information. —Andre Beverly
Watch a nine-minute video by Mike Sokol where he explains how to test for a hot skin condition.
From the editor
By Chris Dougherty
Editor of RV Maintenance Tips
and Certified RV Technician
http://rvmaintenancetips.com/Plugging into disaster
As of 2011, approximately 8.9 million households own an RV, and with numbers like that RV accidents are very few. That said, we were recently reminded that even a safe RV can kill if plugged into a bad electrical source. I was reminded twice.
RVTravel Channel viewers saw our special report earlier this month where we reported that 3-year-old Landyn Gerald Keener of Amboy, Ill., was killed when he touched the side of the family’s RV. The investigation revealed that the coach had suffered a "hot skin condition" as a result of being plugged into a bad household receptacle. The video can be seen here.
On a similar note, the RV can be damaged severely by plugging into the wrong receptacle at home, or one that was installed improperly, as friends of mine learned recently. They hired an electrician to install an RV receptacle in their home, only to find that the electrician had never seen an RV before. Since the receptacle looked like a dryer outlet, that's how he wired it. Dryer outlets are wired to 240 VAC, not 120 VAC. They plugged their class C in and fried the coach's electrical system. It tripped out quickly, but not before taking out the TVs, GFI receptacle and microwave oven.
Most public camping facilities are wired correctly. All new RVs built by Recreation Vehicle Industry Association members are built and tested to National Electrical Code (NEC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) regulations. The problem usually lies with improper shore power connections, and most of those are at home.
If you are going to plug in your RV at home, please consider having a licensed electrician install a proper RV outlet on the side of your home, and ask them if they know about wiring an RV receptacle. One source for RV power outlets is rvpoweroutlet.com. They are great people and will help you choose the box you need. It's a small investment that you'll have as long as you own your home, and can add to its resale value!
Lastly, after you do plug in, we recommend using a non-contact voltage tester to determine if you have a hot skin condition. This is a small thing you can do which will make sure that at least you don't have a dangerous situation going on with your RV's skin.
For more information on RV hot skin conditions, please check out the RVTravel Channel on YouTube for videos from our contributor Mike Sokol, and check his site out at noshockzone.org.
http://www.noshockzone.org/category/rv-safety/They did a 12 part series on RV electricity that all RVers should read and try to understand. Find it on their website. It runs from time to time on the RV Newsletter.
NEXT - PROGRESSIVE in MEXICO - to Clarify. You can have minor fluctuations of only a few volts which will shut down the system. As I understand it when you turn the key you turn off function of cutting out at 132 for high and 108 for low. You still have the surge protection for high voltage spikes. In SOME (not all) RV parks in Mexico the wiring was done by some sort of "handyman" who knows little about electricity. I have seen main panels with wires coming from the transformer which are not adequate to supply one RV - let alone a park full of them. With inadequate wiring you can have voltage drops and surges going on every time someone's AC cycles or they use their microwave. This will keep the Progressive going on and off all day - every time someone changes the flow of electricity by putting more demand on the system - or a slight rise in voltage when they turn something off. Now, to be clear, this does not happen everywhere and in time you can determine which parks are OK by monitoring your voltage with a plugin meter somewhere in the house. There will always be risks and some cannot be avoided or protected against. We try to do what we can.
Some things to look at Home Depot (or other hardware stores)
Klein Tools Non-Contact Voltage Tester
Klein Tools Dual Range Non-Contact Voltage Tester
Klein Tools Electrical Analog Multimeter Test Kit
Klein Tools RT500 Receptacle Tester (about $18)
Test standard receptacles for proper operation
Large light indicators for greater visibility
Reinforced prongs for increased durability
Push-pull design with slip-resistant ribbing
Made in USA of US and imported parts
