240v 30amp recepticle fries another one!

MitchF150 wrote:

shakyjay wrote:
That is why I wired my own. I know exactly how it was done even though I am not a bonded or certified electrician! I do have a little experience though.

I did my own too... And I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, so I knew what I was doing... :)

I did however put a volt meter to the plug after the job and before I plugged in the trailer! ;)

Mitch

+1

I wired my own 50/30/20 amp pedestal, and STILL I used a volt meter to test every possible combination of wires to be sure it was 0 where it was supposed to be 0, 120 where it was supposed to be 120, and 240 where it was supposed to be 240.

You never destroy anything by being too careful.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
"The pro who did the work obviously misunderstood what the outlet was for"

Hate to say it but that statement is an oxymoron.

....

The definition both Mexico and I use for "Professional" is paid, one hopes licensed in this case but paid, cash, check, charge, debit card or money order paid, not "A cold one" or in my case a cup of coffee but paid and not "Donation" either (I mean some folks force money on me when I help them, but my bill is a cup of coffee, hot and black).

Now had you added the word COMPETENT to that..

A Competent professional is all the things you said that I clipped out. Oh and he also gets paid.

When it comes to installing outlets, the only difference between someone like me and a COMPETENT pro.. Is the bill (Coffee v/s $$$$). and the fact that I do not do electrical (License required) work on another's property. (I do do Electronics though, I'm certified in that field).

Alas... Far too many pros are not competent epically when it comes to the TT-30.. They ASSUME you see.. One of the things I was taught as part of my professional (police dispatcher) job was how to remember the spelling of ASSUME.. I will make it easy.. Just -U- and you will figure it out (Alas, software should not let me post the full memory trick).. But far too many pro's think they know more than you and thus even if you tell them 120 volt.... they look at it, see "Dryer" or "Tool" and wire it ... WRONG.

bigdogger wrote:

Tin Pusher wrote:
At every CG, before I plug in, I take the VOM and check it. Had a friend who got 240 at a CG (don't know where).

Doesn't seem very likely, but once is too many times :)

Since the recepticals at an RV park are used by RVs daily it would be virtually impossible to have a 30 amp one deliver 240 volts and not have been noticed before you arrived. Since the proper wiring would have been run to that outlet, it would be nearly impossible to even miss-wire a repair because only one hot wire would have been run to that outlet. A mistake leading to 240 volts at a park would almost assuredly be a miswired repair to a 50 amp outlet. That mistake would be reversing a hot with the neutral.

And I got 240V on a 30A correctly wired 30A plug. :h

The problem was a bad neutral in the 240V CG distribution system. My PI HW50C shut down the rig power and was displaying 160V as ran out to remove the plug.

Very high voltage can and does happen on a 30A RV plug.

shakyjay wrote:
That is why I wired my own. I know exactly how it was done even though I am not a bonded or certified electrician! I do have a little experience though.

I did my own too... And I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, so I knew what I was doing... :)

I did however put a volt meter to the plug after the job and before I plugged in the trailer! ;)

Mitch

Hey my neighbor wired his own house (he was union electrician ) and it failed inspection 3 times. Also when I was doing a lot of hot tub repairs I averaged 1 tub a month fried because the electrician hot wired the neutral. So much for pros

I would not give the electrician or the company a pass on this mistake.
Have it fixed, let him pay the bill and never call again.

Handyman I could maybe understand but a licensed electrician... NO WAY.

"The pro who did the work obviously misunderstood what the outlet was for"

Hate to say it but that statement is an oxymoron.

A professional...

Inquires what the receptacle or circuit is to be used for.

Examines the plug of the device to be connected.

Matches the receptacle to the plug.

Checks with standards to determine polarity and ampacity of the connecting wires, and orientation of connections.

Checks and advises as to circuit protection (breakers, grounding, etc)


Back when the industry was monitored, an electrician could lose his contractor's license if such a violation were reported to state or regional authorities. Hundred dollar an hour incompetence RULES.

john&bet wrote:
Usually when someone ask about doing this job him self most of the posters say to hire it done if you don't know how. The op does just that now you all are all over him because he didn't check it himself. The electrician took responsibility and he should be insured and bonded. If none of you have never made a mistake in your professional lives then you can cast stones otherwise be careful. JMHO.

John on this we agree, which is why I made my prior post in this thread.

One normally assumes when one hires a job done by a professional that it is done right, and it is true (As the O/P posted) that said professional by virtue of his license has an obligation to do it right.

Personally, I make no such assumption, since I have seen WITH MY OWN EYES, some of the things professionals have done, and read about this specific issue too many times.

On these very forums we have even read of RV parks, who hired some repairs done, and the electrician made a small mistake.

I have often stayed in a park that had a power problem, Main transformer servicing the park failed.. The power company brought out a temporary and it worked fine till one of the aluminum underground feeder cables from the transformer to the park's main distro panel failed, The park manager replaced all 3 with brand new same diamater copper (Less resistance, more current) and pop when the temp job.

So the power company, The ultimate professionals, brought out a new bigger transformer.... And hooked it up wrong hitting half the park with 240 where 120 belonged even 50 amp rigs were bothered. Thankfully I was not there that weekend.

And in my own house,, the power company hired some work done and the hired contractor screwed it up, which is why I know that when hit with a GENUINE power surge (not a spike) those 10 buck surge protector strips which are really spike suppressors... Sound like firecrackers.

Cost me all my surge strips. my computer's power supply and a new blower for the furnace.

naturist wrote:
After all, swapping wires around in the distribution box costs only a few minutes of time and involves zero parts costs.

Minimal costs, anyway. Need to change the double pole breaker out for a single pole, cover up the extra slot that was opened on the panel cover, and add some white tape to each end of one wire to re-mark it from hot to neutral.

I always check before plugging in. Even the ones I wired myself. No telling what was done to them while I was gone.

DICK