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xnizstudio's avatar
xnizstudio
Explorer
Aug 26, 2019

Accidentally plugged into 220v

So yes I made a mistake and wired the RV outlet into a 240v dual pole breaker at the house . The converter is toast . I have a keystone Laredo fifth wheel .

I took the tv and microwave out and tested inside my house. They seemed okay. At the time of the overload , the AC was powered off. So I know that it’s hard
To say what else burned up. I’m hoping since the microwave and tv still work that nothing else was damaged . It was plugged In for about 20 seconds. Smoke was coming from the converter . The replacement converter will be here tomorrow. Hopefully this is the only damage.

I talked to my insurance company and they will cover any damage .

Just figured I’d post here and let you guys know how it goes.

At least I only have a $100 deductible :/

Edit: The following page outlines the difference between 240v and 120v breaker layouts/installments.

https://www.thespruce.com/installing-a-240-volt-circuit-breaker-1824649

A 3-wire, 240-volt circuit has two hot wires—each supplying 120 volts for a total of 240—and an equipment ground wire. A 120-volt circuit has only one hot wire connected to the breaker plus a neutral wire connected to the neutral bus bar in the service panel.

The wiring was fine. I just had the incorrect breaker. You can wire a dual pole 240v breaker to only put out 110/120v but, thats not the best practice and will more than likely fail inspection. So before you reply and comment about incorrect wiring, the wiring was not the issue, having the incorrect breaker was the issue.
  • xnizstudio's avatar
    xnizstudio
    Explorer
    Aug 27, 2019
    I only posted here to share my experience so that it doesn’t happen again to someone else. Unless anyone has any good advice on surge protectors or ways to check for damage, please keep it moving along.

    I could care less about the specifics on electricity and being told it was wired wrong. At the end of the day, it was an accident and if I chose the single pole breaker like I initially had, then it would have never happened. The dual pole breaker was wired the same way every other dual pole breaker in the box was wired. People make mistakes which is why I have full coverage insurance to cover damage. If anything, it’s a 2007 model, so I’ll be getting new appliances if any are burned out. So I win either way at this point. I have a new power converter, and new appliances if needed all for an extra $200. Doesn’t bother me a bit I lost on $200. I’ll make $200 in 4 hours in my line of work. So I’m not worried or upset at all. I still have my camper, and everything is insured.
  • JRscooby's avatar
    JRscooby
    Explorer II
    Aug 27, 2019
    xnizstudio wrote:
    I have a new power converter, and new appliances if needed all for an extra $200. Doesn’t bother me a bit I lost on $200. I’ll make $200 in 4 hours in my line of work. So I’m not worried or upset at all. I still have my camper, and everything is insured.


    So, in your opinion it is just great that you can make a mistake, and at a very small cost to you get your camper upgraded? You understand that many that contribute to your repair might need to work longer for their share?
  • xnizstudio's avatar
    xnizstudio
    Explorer
    Aug 27, 2019
    JRscooby wrote:
    xnizstudio wrote:
    I have a new power converter, and new appliances if needed all for an extra $200. Doesn’t bother me a bit I lost on $200. I’ll make $200 in 4 hours in my line of work. So I’m not worried or upset at all. I still have my camper, and everything is insured.


    So, in your opinion it is just great that you can make a mistake, and at a very small cost to you get your camper upgraded? You understand that many that contribute to your repair might need to work longer for their share?


    That’s their job. Not my problem. They’re getting paid either way.

    Another ignorant response. Keep it moving.
  • twodownzero's avatar
    twodownzero
    Explorer
    Aug 27, 2019
    xnizstudio wrote:
    twodownzero wrote:
    xnizstudio wrote:
    twodownzero wrote:
    Ed_Gee wrote:

    Yup....lots of ignorance here.....one does not plug anything into a 'breaker'. That device simply installs in your house breaker box. The question is what did you actually plug your RV into.....my guess is an electric dryer 220v outlet, many of which will unfortunately mate with an RV 30A 120VAC plug. But glad your damage was held to a minimum. Could have been far more costly!


    If you're going to be critical, why don't you at least read the thread before running off at the keyboard?


    It was plugged into a 30amp RV outlet wired directly to a dual pole 30amp breaker putting out 220v. It was not a **** electric dryer outlet


    I know, I read the thread.

    I also am going to say that it has nothing to do with the breaker. If dual pole breaker had been wired to only one side with the other side on the neutral where it belonged, this would have never happened. Obviously double breakers are not made to be installed this way, but it would have worked and provided 120 v to the outlet. The problem was not the breaker; it was the wiring job.


    And again... had we knew it was 110v we would have never plugged it in and found the proper way to wire it. But , had I got the single pole breaker as originally planned, this would have never happened. The wiring job was fine. It was wired properly for 220v. Had I plugged a house dryer into it, it would have been fine. There was no wiring issue aside from the fact it should have been a single pole or the wiring could have been hacked to put out 110v had we knew it needed 110v.

    If you have no better advice related to surge protector systems or ways I can test for damaged appliances, then I respectfully request for you to mind your own business. Thank you.


    The wiring job was not fine, because the receptacle was made for 120 volts. Also, apparently you didn't read my post, which explained to you that it is possible, although not consistent with code, to wire a double pole breaker to a 120 v outlet.

    I have always thought electricians were massively overselling what they do for a living, especially when it comes to house stuff. This post has me rethinking that, because if you are seriously blaming a circuit breaker for a miswired 120 volt outlet, it demonstrates that some people just should not be doing this kind of work.
  • Dave_H_M's avatar
    Dave_H_M
    Explorer II
    Aug 27, 2019
    After reading four pages, I give up.

    this thread is over my head. Heck yeah, lets use the guy at Lowes as the scape goat. It is all his fault. :R
  • xnizstudio's avatar
    xnizstudio
    Explorer
    Aug 27, 2019
    twodownzero wrote:
    xnizstudio wrote:
    twodownzero wrote:
    xnizstudio wrote:
    twodownzero wrote:
    Ed_Gee wrote:

    Yup....lots of ignorance here.....one does not plug anything into a 'breaker'. That device simply installs in your house breaker box. The question is what did you actually plug your RV into.....my guess is an electric dryer 220v outlet, many of which will unfortunately mate with an RV 30A 120VAC plug. But glad your damage was held to a minimum. Could have been far more costly!


    If you're going to be critical, why don't you at least read the thread before running off at the keyboard?


    It was plugged into a 30amp RV outlet wired directly to a dual pole 30amp breaker putting out 220v. It was not a **** electric dryer outlet


    I know, I read the thread.

    I also am going to say that it has nothing to do with the breaker. If dual pole breaker had been wired to only one side with the other side on the neutral where it belonged, this would have never happened. Obviously double breakers are not made to be installed this way, but it would have worked and provided 120 v to the outlet. The problem was not the breaker; it was the wiring job.


    And again... had we knew it was 110v we would have never plugged it in and found the proper way to wire it. But , had I got the single pole breaker as originally planned, this would have never happened. The wiring job was fine. It was wired properly for 220v. Had I plugged a house dryer into it, it would have been fine. There was no wiring issue aside from the fact it should have been a single pole or the wiring could have been hacked to put out 110v had we knew it needed 110v.

    If you have no better advice related to surge protector systems or ways I can test for damaged appliances, then I respectfully request for you to mind your own business. Thank you.


    The wiring job was not fine, because the receptacle was made for 120 volts. Also, apparently you didn't read my post, which explained to you that it is possible, although not consistent with code, to wire a double pole breaker to a 120 v outlet.

    I have always thought electricians were massively overselling what they do for a living, especially when it comes to house stuff. This post has me rethinking that, because if you are seriously blaming a circuit breaker for a miswired 120 volt outlet, it demonstrates that some people just should not be doing this kind of work.



    By default, a dual pole breaker puts out twice the voltage. It was wired the same as all the other dual pole breakers in the box. The only way to get 110v from a dual pole breaker is to modify the original wiring layout rather than using the intended wiring scheme. Sure you can get the 110v out of the dual pole, but that’s not how it is intended by default.

    It “could” have been prevented, sure. But again if no had went with the single pole, it would have never happened with the default / general wiring of a single pole breaker.

    I don’t blame the person who wired it because he’s an HVAC technician that installs breakers and transformers for HVAC units. He had no knowledge of camper RV power requirements. I bought the 30amp dual pole breaker. It’s my fault but I partly blame the sales rep who convinced me to change breakers.

    Either way, there’s no need to argue. A mistake is a mistake. Sh*t happens . We live and learn.
  • xnizstudio's avatar
    xnizstudio
    Explorer
    Aug 27, 2019
    Dave H M wrote:
    After reading four pages, I give up.

    this thread is over my head. Heck yeah, lets use the guy at Lowes as the scape goat. It is all his fault. :R


    Lol. It’s my fault but I partly blame him for convincing me to swap breakers .

    The purpose of this post was not to discuss electricity requirements or wiring problems.

    It was to get advice on surge protectors and ways to check for damage, as well as just sharing my story.
  • xnizstudio's avatar
    xnizstudio
    Explorer
    Aug 27, 2019
    So.. once again, if anyone has any advice on surge protectors and checking for damage, please feel free to reply.

    If you are replying to bash me on the wiring scheme and anything related to power requirements , please keep it moving.
  • JRscooby's avatar
    JRscooby
    Explorer II
    Aug 27, 2019
    xnizstudio wrote:
    JRscooby wrote:
    xnizstudio wrote:
    I have a new power converter, and new appliances if needed all for an extra $200. Doesn’t bother me a bit I lost on $200. I’ll make $200 in 4 hours in my line of work. So I’m not worried or upset at all. I still have my camper, and everything is insured.


    So, in your opinion it is just great that you can make a mistake, and at a very small cost to you get your camper upgraded? You understand that many that contribute to your repair might need to work longer for their share?


    That’s their job. Not my problem. They’re getting paid either way.

    Another ignorant response. Keep it moving.


    Yes, everybody that pays for insurance should maybe just buy you a new RV just because you are to good to educate yourself? There was a time in this country when accepting responsibility for ones mistakes was considered a virtue. Now somebody pointing out the bragging about passing the cost of their mistake on to others is called ignorant?
    I point out that maybe another RV owner might have to work more than your 4 hours to pay his increase in insurance rates for years. I am not very smart, or well educated, but I have a idea about right/wrong.
  • xnizstudio's avatar
    xnizstudio
    Explorer
    Aug 27, 2019
    JRscooby wrote:
    xnizstudio wrote:
    JRscooby wrote:
    xnizstudio wrote:
    I have a new power converter, and new appliances if needed all for an extra $200. Doesn’t bother me a bit I lost on $200. I’ll make $200 in 4 hours in my line of work. So I’m not worried or upset at all. I still have my camper, and everything is insured.


    So, in your opinion it is just great that you can make a mistake, and at a very small cost to you get your camper upgraded? You understand that many that contribute to your repair might need to work longer for their share?


    That’s their job. Not my problem. They’re getting paid either way.

    Another ignorant response. Keep it moving.


    Yes, everybody that pays for insurance should maybe just buy you a new RV just because you are to good to educate yourself? There was a time in this country when accepting responsibility for ones mistakes was considered a virtue. Now somebody pointing out the bragging about passing the cost of their mistake on to others is called ignorant?


    I paid for the RV myself and I have paid for my insurance policy for the past 10 years with no claims. You're the one saying I'm too good to educate myself. I never said that. The only person that its costing any money to is the insurance company and myself. The people who actually do any repairs are getting paid because that's their job. I have the right to use my insurance and file a claim without people like you getting on my case about it because I've been paying insurance for over 10 years without a single claim. So, why does that matter to you?

    A mistake was made. I have insurance to cover it. Yes, I am happy that I have the insurance. Yes I am happy I may get new appliances. Why would I not be happy? That doesn't mean I'm bragging. You're just being a jerk.

    The camper itself was lightly used and everything inside of it was still "new". So it's not like I bought some junk RV and blew everything up to get new appliances.

    An accident happened, and if I need to file a claim, I will.

    Seems to me like there are a lot of very rude people on this forum and are more focused on being jerks than actually providing quality information and quality advice.

    You would rather sit here and bash on me and give negative responses, rather than focus on trying to help me and provide links to good surge protectors and advice on how to check for electrical damage.

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