electrical problem

dougrainer wrote:

larry cad wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
Lets handle some misstatements here.
220 versus 120. Well, for RV's below 500K, this is a non issue. It allows smart alecks to tout their limited knowledge when they claim YES, there is 220(240) to the RV. Technically, yes. But the systems are built and separated that ONLY 120 volts is in the RV. ALL the claims of 220(240) do is make people think they have that when they do NOT. It just confuses them. They always tout the HI LINE RV's that have 220 dryers and such. Well. this forum is not about Hi line RV's, it is for the 99 percent that are under 500K. People that have million plus RV's do not read these forums and they certainly do not attempt to repair problems themselves. Doug

Sorry Doug, I have to disagree with you.



I am "IN" my RV. I am in the bedroom of my RV. My RV is not a "hi line", and no where near $500,000, and I fix my own RV. I am not a smart alec, and I DO know what I am talking about because I do electricity for a living, and I spent several years gaining a degree in electrical engineering just to back it up, so please don't tell me that there is no 240v in my RV and please don't confuse the issue more than it already is by making additional misstatements.

The real confusion happens when people don't understand the difference between 50 amp RV service and 30 amp RV service. However, the 240v that is in the RV can be a real problem is there is a loose neutral, for example.

Not trying to cause trouble, just trying to clear up an ongoing problem.

THIS IS WHAT I POSTED. NEVER said there was NOT 220/240. Doug
"YES, there is 220(240) to the RV. Technically, yes. But the systems are built and separated that ONLY 120 volts is in the RV"

Perhaps we should examine our phraseology and maybe it's nit-pickin, by "in", do you mean "inside", or do you mean "available", as in a 240v outlet? If you mean "available", you are correct, it is not readily available. It is, however, "in" the RV. Inside the breaker panel, as the photo shows. And it is somewhere in the power system that a loose neutral can cause havoc because the two separate 120v lines rely on the neutral to keep the 240v balanced. As has been pointed out, a loose neutral can cause a much higher voltage than 120v to be applied to the 120v load, resulting in damage to the device. The key point here is that IF there were NO 240v to begin with, there would be no damage possible. That it is not readily available to the RVer is not important. That it exists all the way from the power post, and into the RV breaker panel is enough to cause electrical damage if the neutral is not properly connected at some arbitrary point in the system.

(Doug, you know I respect you. I have mentioned your knowledge, ability and experience on this forum many times over the years)