My friend just brought home a new travel trailer and plugged it into his 30a rv receptacle mounted outside his garage. You guessed it, 240 volts instead of 120. He got his electrician out to check the damages and he took full responsibility. He had one of his employees wire the receptacle and was amazed that the employee could have wired it that way. At least the electrician is paying for the damages to converter, microwave, tv etc.Dave

A quality Surge Protector may of prevented that damage. Can't trust the voltage and ground at many RV parks. I have one hard wired in my rig.

Hey it's 3 wires either way........Kudos to the electrician (the boss not the one that did the install)

The dealer where I bought my last 5er said he gets about 2 of those a year.

RJsfishin wrote:Hire a Professional !!:)He did!

240v 30amp recepticle fries another one! | Good Sam Community

62 Replies

pcmentor29
Explorer
Feb 21, 2014
Here's my setup for checking 30 amp

Pete
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Feb 21, 2014
I have one of those. also a Kill-a-watt, the Kill-a-watt is about a kilobuck worth of meters in a 20 dollar (or less) box. Just plugged in it measures volts and frequency, If you plug an appliance into it it measures watts, volt-amps, power factor, current and one or two other things. (Hours and watt-hours as I recall).
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Feb 20, 2014
camperpaul wrote:

This is the same one I use; all I need to know is the needle in the "green"?

Anything else would be overkill (like swatting flies with a TNW).
The utility standard is 120V +-10%, but certainly the green area is safe.
camperpaul
Explorer
Feb 20, 2014
pcmentor29 wrote:
Thanks. I just ordered a meter too.

This is the same one I use; all I need to know is the needle in the "green"?

Anything else would be overkill (like swatting flies with a TNW).
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Feb 20, 2014
You can read voltage and hertz when plugged in. You need a load for the other measurements.
AllegroD
Nomad
Feb 20, 2014
pcmentor29 wrote:
2oldman wrote:
Wouldn't a digital readout be more 'up to date' and accurate?

Where can I get one for $15

The kill a watt is $19 but 1)it's bigger than I want and 2) does it read voltage when you plug it in? Thanks, Pete

Lowes or Homedepot. It might be bigger but is the best bang for the buck in digital. Ya want digital for better accuracy. They do show voltage and much more.
pcmentor29
Explorer
Feb 20, 2014
2oldman wrote:
Wouldn't a digital readout be more 'up to date' and accurate?

Where can I get one for $15

The kill a watt is $19 but 1)it's bigger than I want and 2) does it read voltage when you plug it in? Thanks, Pete
AllegroD
Nomad
Feb 20, 2014
x3 Kill-A-Watt
Tin_Pusher
Explorer II
Feb 20, 2014
2oldman wrote:
Wouldn't a digital readout be more 'up to date' and accurate?

Oh yeah, more decimal places always means more accuracy :)
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Feb 20, 2014
Click Kill A Watt