Electrical hookups in Canada

Be sure to carry a heavy extension cord. In most of the PP parks we've stayed in, the power posts are few and far from where you want to set up.

Regardless of how anything is wired, ALWAYS test the voltage before plugging in your RV. That way you will not have to post " I plugged in my RV and a bunch of smoke came out of ---- and the Tv doesn't work and on and on. Poor little me"TEST YOUR VOLTAGE.

Read carefully what I wrote. I never said that there was 240 volts on the outlets. I did say that the tab is broken and one leg of 240 is connected to each half of the outlet. Each outlet has 120 VAC, but if you read from the hot side of each half, there is 240.

Whether this is a standard wiring practice or just in some campgrounds I do not know. I encountered it in 1995, and as a curiosity, started measuring across the outlets.

Yes, I have traveled/camped in every Canadian Province. I mentioned it only as information and sharing something that I encountered in some Canadian Campgrounds.

For RV'n in Canada, then, it seems to be safe to figure that if the campground service is 3-prong 30A RV receptacle plus a 15- or 20A duplex outlet, there won't be a possibility of accidental 240V connected to the RV. But if the service involves 50A using four-prong RV receptacle it's possible the 15/20 could be running off one 120 leg on each half of the duplex.

We've had discussions on RV.net about reversed polarity, open neutral, open ground, etc. Mostly on the 30A RV receptacles. As a defense, I have a home "outlet tester" plugged into a 30A adapter plug. I'm starting to think I need to incorporate VOLTAGE testing into this. I'm seeing the spectre of 240 on a 120 outlet ANYTIME there's 240 for 50A service. All it takes is some novice or volunteer mis-wiring the pedestal.

magic43 wrote:
They are not exactly the same. The 30 and 50 amp RV receptacles are the same, but be aware of how the 15/20 amp receptacles are wired. The tab is broken on the 15/20 amp receptacles and one separate leg of 120 volts is wired to each side of the tab. That is OK, but it also means that there is 240 volts between the "hot" legs on that 120 volt receptacle.

Whether this is normal wiring on all or just some I do not know, but I could not use a particular adapter that I have. That adapter is not allowed to be sold in Canada.

JaxDad wrote:
Whaaaaat? Where did you get that idea? 240 volt on a 'standard' 120 household-type plug?

NEVER.

Dutch_12078 wrote:
Actually, a split duplex outlet as described can be done to code in both Canada and the US. The advantage is each outlet has the full 15 or 20 amp capacity available, instead of dividing it between them as happens in a more conventional connection. The only requirement is that the breakers for each half must be tied together for a common trip.

It's absurd to bring up the subject of a split 15 amp duplex which would not be found in any campground as a campsite source supply. Here in Canada it's not a matter of whether split duplex can be done but that it's a requirement in certain areas of the home, the kitchen being one, where at least two split duplex receptacles are required, the idea being one can simultaneously power two high draw appliances from the same duplex receptacle, one from one phase, the other from the other phase. However, to suggest this is a common source supply in any campground or that such a wiring scheme would in any way affect any American visiting Canada is ridiculous. :S

JaxDad wrote:

magic43 wrote:
They are not exactly the same. The 30 and 50 amp RV receptacles are the same, but be aware of how the 15/20 amp receptacles are wired. The tab is broken on the 15/20 amp receptacles and one separate leg of 120 volts is wired to each side of the tab. That is OK, but it also means that there is 240 volts between the "hot" legs on that 120 volt receptacle.

Whether this is normal wiring on all or just some I do not know, but I could not use a particular adapter that I have. That adapter is not allowed to be sold in Canada.

Whaaaaat? Where did you get that idea? 240 volt on a 'standard' 120 household-type plug?

NEVER.

Actually, a split duplex outlet as described can be done to code in both Canada and the US. The advantage is each outlet has the full 15 or 20 amp capacity available, instead of dividing it between them as happens in a more conventional connection. The only requirement is that the breakers for each half must be tied together for a common trip.

magic43 wrote:
They are not exactly the same. The 30 and 50 amp RV receptacles are the same, but be aware of how the 15/20 amp receptacles are wired. The tab is broken on the 15/20 amp receptacles and one separate leg of 120 volts is wired to each side of the tab. That is OK, but it also means that there is 240 volts between the "hot" legs on that 120 volt receptacle.

Whether this is normal wiring on all or just some I do not know, but I could not use a particular adapter that I have. That adapter is not allowed to be sold in Canada.

Good grief, what in the world are you talking about?!! :h 15 amp service for homes (and campgrounds) here in Canada is wired exactly the same as 15 amp service across the US - 125 vac single phase with a hot, neutral, and ground using the same 3-pin NEMA-5 connectors. Here in Ontario where the OP is intending to camp he's unlikely to come across 20 amp service at all, with the common campground configuration being 30 amp and 15 amp service. The only difference between 15 and 20 amp NEMA-5 connectors is the neutral on the 20 amp is turned 90 degrees, the idea being you can only plug a male 20 amp into a female 20 amp receptacle, not a 15 amp, but you can plug a 15 amp male into either a 15 amp or 20 amp female. The weight of each lug is exactly the same whether it's a 15 or 20 amp rated plug or receptacle. While 15 / 20 amp NEMA-6 250 vac service is listed on the NEMA Straight Blade Reference Chart I can't imagine any public campground wired with this service nor have I in 7 decades ever come across such a wiring scheme and to suggest otherwise is ridiculous. :S

magic43 wrote:
They are not exactly the same. The 30 and 50 amp RV receptacles are the same, but be aware of how the 15/20 amp receptacles are wired. The tab is broken on the 15/20 amp receptacles and one separate leg of 120 volts is wired to each side of the tab. That is OK, but it also means that there is 240 volts between the "hot" legs on that 120 volt receptacle.

Whether this is normal wiring on all or just some I do not know, but I could not use a particular adapter that I have. That adapter is not allowed to be sold in Canada.

Whaaaaat? Where did you get that idea? 240 volt on a 'standard' 120 household-type plug?

NEVER.

In Canada, you can not buy a politician..... You can only rent one.

and they refer to electric hookups, as "Hydro" hookups.