I have a 1998 Palomino Bronco Truck Camper. I decided to exchange the Centurion 3000 power converter for a Progressive Dynamics 4700 series unit. The installation went great and all the 12V and 120V outlets worked great.But looking at the GFI outlets throughout the camper, and they being old and a bit crusty, I decided to change them out for new units.I shut off the main breaker in the PD panel and started to remove the old receptacles. Wowza! Gave my self a heck of an electrical shock! Using a meter I found the white/ neutral wire was hot and I had 120V from white to ground!I went back to the PD panel to be sure I didn't have a senior moment and hooked up the white and black backwards. Everything looked great.Outside I looked at the AC plug on the end of the electrical service feed and realized that it was a replacement plug. Took it apart and sure enough, some idiot , previous owner had wired the plug backwards! The cable was a 10/3 and the #10 wire would not fit under the connection in the "Harbor Freight" sourced plug.I'm surprised the GFI outlets didn't trigger? And I'm so thankful that no one got hurt or shocked in the couple years I've owned this camper.Rather than replace the plug with another one, I bought a 25' 12/3 extension cord and removed the female end and wired it into the PD panel. Now I have a nice molded, weather-tight molded plug and all is well with the electrical system.Be safe out there!

Bet you were wide awake after that! ;)

i'm surprised you did electrical work with the power on.always un hook the 12v and the shore power kids.

we all need the cob webs burned out sometimes...I actually see better sometimes hehe...Roy Ken

I've been shocked dozens of times. The 60Hz barely phases me anymore.Now take the 400Hz they use in aircraft - that stuff HURTS! :E:B

Rbertalotto wrote:I'm surprised the GFI outlets didn't trigger? And I'm so thankful that no one got hurt or shocked in the couple years I've owned this camper.The GFI only triggers when there's a current imbalance between the hot and neutral lines—that is, when the electricity escapes to someplace else. It doesn't detect any potential difference between neutral and ground, and indeed can be wired without a ground connection at all. (This, so far as I know, is the only way to connect a three-prong outlet to an ungrounded electrical system, presumably an existing old system, and still remain compliant with the NEC. You do need to label such an installation to the effect that the ground lead is not actually ground.)Those non-contact voltage detector probes are really handy for situations like this and not too expensive.

BE CAREFUL with your 120V side of things | Good Sam Community

ScottG
Nomad
Apr 07, 2015
Bet you were wide awake after that! ;)
bcbouy
Explorer
Apr 07, 2015
i'm surprised you did electrical work with the power on.always un hook the 12v and the shore power kids.
RoyB
Explorer II
Apr 07, 2015
we all need the cob webs burned out sometimes...

I actually see better sometimes hehe...

Roy Ken
ScottG
Nomad
Apr 07, 2015
I've been shocked dozens of times. The 60Hz barely phases me anymore.
Now take the 400Hz they use in aircraft - that stuff HURTS! :E
:B
DrewE
Explorer II
Apr 08, 2015
Rbertalotto wrote:

I'm surprised the GFI outlets didn't trigger? And I'm so thankful that no one got hurt or shocked in the couple years I've owned this camper.

The GFI only triggers when there's a current imbalance between the hot and neutral lines—that is, when the electricity escapes to someplace else. It doesn't detect any potential difference between neutral and ground, and indeed can be wired without a ground connection at all. (This, so far as I know, is the only way to connect a three-prong outlet to an ungrounded electrical system, presumably an existing old system, and still remain compliant with the NEC. You do need to label such an installation to the effect that the ground lead is not actually ground.)

Those non-contact voltage detector probes are really handy for situations like this and not too expensive.
Dtank
Explorer
Apr 08, 2015
bcbouy wrote:
i'm surprised you did electrical work with the power on.always un hook the 12v and the shore power kids.

Many years ago there was a movie series for HS shop classes, called "Primitive Pete"

Pete was always taking foolish short-cuts, and paid the price.

Shocking experiences come in all sizes/types! (and voltages).

BIL of a friend worked for the local electrical utility.
He took a short-cut working on some high voltage equipment - when he should have known (and did know) better.
Thought he could get the job done with power on.
Survived with severe burns, etc. - but missing an arm..:(

He continued to be employed by the utility - as a safety instructor.

.
greenrvgreen
Explorer
Apr 08, 2015
After coming within 1/2 inch of brushing my hand across a hot pos and neg, I now:

--Unplug the TT.

--Trip the main.

--Physically disconnect the batts.

--Check the wires with a meter.

When I almost shocked myself I had check the wires and they were dead, but I had checked the WRONG WIRES. I had removed an old outlet and had flipped the breaker for the wrong circuit. In my haste I had checked the downstream (cut) wires, not the upstream (still hot) wires.
Oasisbob
Explorer
Apr 08, 2015
Did similar once. Hit me like a triple expresso. Life changing. You never forget your first time. LOL Glad you are OK
Rbertalotto
Explorer
Apr 08, 2015
I've been playing with electricity for years. This ain't my first rodeo! Usually shutting off a main breaker is plenty of caution. Just can't trust someone elses work. In many cases over the years I've been forced to change electrical receptacles and other components without shutting down the circuit. Couldn't be done any other way. Just got to be careful and not touch the black wire........And getting "whacked" goes with the territory....
Bobbo
Explorer II
Apr 08, 2015
bcbouy wrote:
i'm surprised you did electrical work with the power on.always un hook the 12v and the shore power kids.

He shut off the breaker. That is usually considered disconnecting the power. His only mistake was not rechecking for power after shutting off the breaker.

These jobbies are worth 10 times their weight in gold.

Or, better yet, this one.