Power Pedestal Connections
We read an online RV newsletter that comes out each Saturday. Electricity is often a topic of discussion. Today there was a survey to try to tell what percent of readers have experienced some sort of ...
Forum Discussion
To date I must have donated 80 or so, receptacles. To my site and adjoining sites that had bad receptacles. One of the big problems is RV plugs are heavy. With 30 to 15 amp adapters they are even heavier. Common plastic contractor grade receptacles are easily broken. It usually start off with the plastic around the ground pin being snapped off.
This permits even greater flopping of the RV plug. It's common to see RV plugs sagging half in an out of a socket. A sure way to overheat and destroy both. An 18" tall welded "Y" brace can ease a lot of the strain. Some sites have grass a receptacle. Others have gravel, asphalt or concrete. A 12" angle-iron cross will fit anywhere.
Regular dishwashing or medical nitrile gloves offer protection against shocks AS LONG AS THE GLOVES STAY BONE DRY. Receptacles can be hot swapped but this is not for people who are not totally confident and experienced working on live circuits.
A non contact voltage detector works fine to orient line voltage and neutral wires.
HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR FOLKS WHO ARE CONFIDENT WORKING AROUND LIVE CIRCUITS
1. Top quality tools such as WiHa screwdrivers will work with rusty eroded screws better than lesser brands.
2. Before starting squirt Liquid Wrench or PB Blaster right onto the old receptacle cutout. Get those wire binding, and receptacle mounting screws loose.
3. No damp grass, damp concrete or damp gravel allowed around your feet. Borrow your doormat.
4. Dykes, stripper, and screwdrivers have a lot of conductive steel in them. The use of Bone Dry hands and gloves is essential.
5. Remove upper and lower #6 flathead screws binding receptacle to enclosure.
6. Examine electrical wire binding screws. Is there more than one wire per screw? Stop! Your neighbor one one side or the other is being fed off your receptacle. Ask permission from them before proceeding.
7. With the receptacle mounting screws removed and receptacle pulled a little, take images with your camera of both sides of the receptacle.
8. Mexico has stranded wire which is a hassle to use with stranded wire unless your chosen replacement receptacle has HOLES in the rear that the wire is inserted into then tightened with the screw.
9. Transfer wires one-at-a-time to replacement receptacle. This will keep wires separated and reduce the chance of a flashing short circuit.
10. If you wish to crimp U fork (spade) connectors to stranded wire, the connector screw is a # 6 fork. A YELLOW color insulator is for # 10-12 AWG wire and a pair of # 14 AWG wires can be fit into a single yellow insulated terminal.
This permits even greater flopping of the RV plug. It's common to see RV plugs sagging half in an out of a socket. A sure way to overheat and destroy both. An 18" tall welded "Y" brace can ease a lot of the strain. Some sites have grass a receptacle. Others have gravel, asphalt or concrete. A 12" angle-iron cross will fit anywhere.
Regular dishwashing or medical nitrile gloves offer protection against shocks AS LONG AS THE GLOVES STAY BONE DRY. Receptacles can be hot swapped but this is not for people who are not totally confident and experienced working on live circuits.
A non contact voltage detector works fine to orient line voltage and neutral wires.
HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR FOLKS WHO ARE CONFIDENT WORKING AROUND LIVE CIRCUITS
1. Top quality tools such as WiHa screwdrivers will work with rusty eroded screws better than lesser brands.
2. Before starting squirt Liquid Wrench or PB Blaster right onto the old receptacle cutout. Get those wire binding, and receptacle mounting screws loose.
3. No damp grass, damp concrete or damp gravel allowed around your feet. Borrow your doormat.
4. Dykes, stripper, and screwdrivers have a lot of conductive steel in them. The use of Bone Dry hands and gloves is essential.
5. Remove upper and lower #6 flathead screws binding receptacle to enclosure.
6. Examine electrical wire binding screws. Is there more than one wire per screw? Stop! Your neighbor one one side or the other is being fed off your receptacle. Ask permission from them before proceeding.
7. With the receptacle mounting screws removed and receptacle pulled a little, take images with your camera of both sides of the receptacle.
8. Mexico has stranded wire which is a hassle to use with stranded wire unless your chosen replacement receptacle has HOLES in the rear that the wire is inserted into then tightened with the screw.
9. Transfer wires one-at-a-time to replacement receptacle. This will keep wires separated and reduce the chance of a flashing short circuit.
10. If you wish to crimp U fork (spade) connectors to stranded wire, the connector screw is a # 6 fork. A YELLOW color insulator is for # 10-12 AWG wire and a pair of # 14 AWG wires can be fit into a single yellow insulated terminal.
