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Jetstreamer's avatar
Jetstreamer
Explorer
May 28, 2016

Bad ground?

A recent electrical issue made me hook up my tester to my rv outlets. They all test with the "bad ground" light. I think my trailer has always been like this. Everything in the camper works as it should. Is there something unique about camper wiring (floating neutral or ground) that would make it test different form a stick and brick home? What further checks should I perform?

17 Replies

  • westend wrote:
    Your RV has the neutral and ground separated. It is not bonded even in the load center like a residence. The RV's 120 V system relies on the connection from your RV load center, through the cord, and to the power source, eventually having ground and neutral bonded in the power source's load center.

    If all your receptacles show an unbonded ground connection, the most likely culprit is the cord. Check for continuity of the ground through the cord.

    This first. ^^^ If using a 30 to 15 amp adapter, it could be the adapter. Check to make sure the blades in the plug(s) are clean and not pitted/dirty. If using a lo-cost 15 amp extension cord, the connector (not plug) could be faulty inside.

    Then maybe the receptacle the shore power cord is plugged into or the wiring from this recept. to the panel supplying power to it. After that, maybe the ground connection inside your RV where the shore power wiring connects to the converter/panel.

    Please note that an open ground can potentially create a risk of a hot skin condition on an RV which can be deadly in some circumstances. The cause of the open ground needs to be found and the RV not used until it is.
  • Your RV has the neutral and ground separated. It is not bonded even in the load center like a residence. The RV's 120 V system relies on the connection from your RV load center, through the cord, and to the power source, eventually having ground and neutral bonded in the power source's load center.

    If all your receptacles show an unbonded ground connection, the most likely culprit is the cord. Check for continuity of the ground through the cord.
  • Also test your tester. I have two, one of them lights up like yours in most of my 5fr outlets but works fine in the S&B - it simply does not like the cheaper 5fr receptacles. The other tester works fine. Just saying ...
  • Depends
    Portable generator or shore power
    Most portable generators will test that way
    The neutral is not bonded to the ground aka generator frame
    Shore power should test good for ground
    If it doesn't then test all cords and adapters for continuity on the ground lugs from one end to the other

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