Park Power Pole Problems
We're in a 2005 Holiday Rambler 40' DP with 50 amp. For the second time in a month we're in a park with weak power service. Now, I know just enough about this stuff to be completely dangerous... We...
Forum Discussion
L1 and L2 becomes meaningless once you are past the service entry. The lines are interchangeable and are connected at random from pedestal to pedestal. L2 on your pedestal can be L1 or L2 on the next. Your low voltage may actually be caused by pure bad luck. If the other rigs on the service you are using all happen to draw the majority of the power from the same leg, the voltage is going to drop. It is entirely likely that when the park turns over the new rigs will draw power differently and the services will balance or maybe even unbalance on the opposite lines.
Another problem may lie with the nature of electrical service. The power company can legally deliver voltage to the service within a range. At the low end, they can deliver 114 or so volts to the service drop. Combine that with normal voltage drop over distance and the park may very well be telling you the truth that there is nothing they can do.
The voltage drop on any service will tend to worsen over time. If the connections in the boxes get corroded or if they loosen, voltage drop will occur. Same with the connections in the plug itself and your plug may also be contributing a volt or two to the drop. If the blades are black instead of bright copper, scrub them down with some sandpaper or steel wool.
Finally, if you have had multiple problems at different parks with surge guard showing low voltage on the same leg, maybe it has a problem or your rig is not balancing it's power demands very effectively. It might pay to have a professional electrician take a look if the problem continues at multiple venues.
Another problem may lie with the nature of electrical service. The power company can legally deliver voltage to the service within a range. At the low end, they can deliver 114 or so volts to the service drop. Combine that with normal voltage drop over distance and the park may very well be telling you the truth that there is nothing they can do.
The voltage drop on any service will tend to worsen over time. If the connections in the boxes get corroded or if they loosen, voltage drop will occur. Same with the connections in the plug itself and your plug may also be contributing a volt or two to the drop. If the blades are black instead of bright copper, scrub them down with some sandpaper or steel wool.
Finally, if you have had multiple problems at different parks with surge guard showing low voltage on the same leg, maybe it has a problem or your rig is not balancing it's power demands very effectively. It might pay to have a professional electrician take a look if the problem continues at multiple venues.
