Electrical question
Been a camper for a while, but relatively new to the RV style. 26" Class C (actually a Class B+). Pulled into our reserved camp site & set up. Slides out, leveled, water hooked up, plugged into electr...
Forum Discussion
My EMS flashed Open ground.. I did an emergency fix (NO I will not describe it) but the issue turned out to be a screw lose at the park's distribution panel on the NEUTRAL wire.
How that works.. Voltage neutral to ground should be zero.
on 50 amps voltage side to neutral should be 120 volts (And 240 side to side)
Normally if you have an OPEN neutral the side to neutral voltages will be ... Wild (swing all over creation as A/C's kick on and off for example) the EMS sees this and flags "OPEN NEUTRAL"
But if the neutral is not open but "high resistance" (poor connection) it may not swing enough to trip the "Open neutral" alarm but even 1 volt neutral to ground should trip (Open ground)
Why is open ground dangerous?
Well the neutral is grounded at at least one point (Park distribution panel) and possible more (No I wont bother listing). IF the ground is open and for any reason there is a hot-Chassis short.. When you reach out to open the door on the RV. or hook up water. or otherwise touch both ground and RV YOU become a conductor.. and not the musical kind.
Even a few mA through the wrong part of your body and "Brothers and sisters, we are gathered today to remember our dear departed friend (your name here).
And most RV's on 30 amps. with an open ground.. Will measure 60 volts chassis to ground (though it can't deliver a whole lot of current) as an electronics tech I do know why.. Though I've never been damaged by that.. I've felt it a few times.
How that works.. Voltage neutral to ground should be zero.
on 50 amps voltage side to neutral should be 120 volts (And 240 side to side)
Normally if you have an OPEN neutral the side to neutral voltages will be ... Wild (swing all over creation as A/C's kick on and off for example) the EMS sees this and flags "OPEN NEUTRAL"
But if the neutral is not open but "high resistance" (poor connection) it may not swing enough to trip the "Open neutral" alarm but even 1 volt neutral to ground should trip (Open ground)
Why is open ground dangerous?
Well the neutral is grounded at at least one point (Park distribution panel) and possible more (No I wont bother listing). IF the ground is open and for any reason there is a hot-Chassis short.. When you reach out to open the door on the RV. or hook up water. or otherwise touch both ground and RV YOU become a conductor.. and not the musical kind.
Even a few mA through the wrong part of your body and "Brothers and sisters, we are gathered today to remember our dear departed friend (your name here).
And most RV's on 30 amps. with an open ground.. Will measure 60 volts chassis to ground (though it can't deliver a whole lot of current) as an electronics tech I do know why.. Though I've never been damaged by that.. I've felt it a few times.
