Reversed Polarity Issues?
I ordered a simple voltage monitor for testing power supply at campgrounds. Reads voltage, and if there is correct polarity, or open ground. My parents own part of a small lake, that they've made i...
Forum Discussion
The reversed polarity condition should be corrected immediately because of risk of shock and fire. It is easy to fix.
Correct, reversed polarity does not cause a breaker to trip.
Receptacles downstream of a GFI recept. will still work and be protected, but the GFI recept. will still work but not provide GFI protection for that recept. only. The test button on the GFI recept. will still work though and will not give any indication that the hot and neutral are reversed. Reversed polarity and GFI receptacles
In AC circuits, the neutral is bonded to ground at the main panel in your house (or at CG) and never downstream of the main panel. You should be able to touch any neutral conductor in your house or RV and be safe. With reversed polarity, this is not the case.
Having the neutral bonded to ground is very important. Nowadays, kitchen appliances, power tools, etc. have a polarized plug so that you cannot reverse the polarity. This prevents the outer enclosure/casing from being hot if there is an internal fault or defect in the wiring. If an appliance or tool does not have a polarized plug, it will have a double-insulated enclosure. If you look at a plug, one prong is wider which is the neutral. Appliances and tools that have a switch on them turn the hot conductor on and off and with reversed polarity, it will still be energized and potentially dangerous. Further, with reversed polarity, some appliances may burn out if it is left plugged
If you have reversed polarity at your RV, you could end up with a "hot skin" condition where the exterior of the RV is at 120 volts. This obviously can be dangerous and has been known to be fatal. The only way to test for a hot skin is to use a non-contact voltage tester. Any other tester will not indicate this condition.
Mike Sokol on the hot-skin condition
Some general info. on reversed polarity:
Reversed poloarity
Correct, reversed polarity does not cause a breaker to trip.
Receptacles downstream of a GFI recept. will still work and be protected, but the GFI recept. will still work but not provide GFI protection for that recept. only. The test button on the GFI recept. will still work though and will not give any indication that the hot and neutral are reversed. Reversed polarity and GFI receptacles
In AC circuits, the neutral is bonded to ground at the main panel in your house (or at CG) and never downstream of the main panel. You should be able to touch any neutral conductor in your house or RV and be safe. With reversed polarity, this is not the case.
Having the neutral bonded to ground is very important. Nowadays, kitchen appliances, power tools, etc. have a polarized plug so that you cannot reverse the polarity. This prevents the outer enclosure/casing from being hot if there is an internal fault or defect in the wiring. If an appliance or tool does not have a polarized plug, it will have a double-insulated enclosure. If you look at a plug, one prong is wider which is the neutral. Appliances and tools that have a switch on them turn the hot conductor on and off and with reversed polarity, it will still be energized and potentially dangerous. Further, with reversed polarity, some appliances may burn out if it is left plugged
If you have reversed polarity at your RV, you could end up with a "hot skin" condition where the exterior of the RV is at 120 volts. This obviously can be dangerous and has been known to be fatal. The only way to test for a hot skin is to use a non-contact voltage tester. Any other tester will not indicate this condition.
Mike Sokol on the hot-skin condition
Some general info. on reversed polarity:
Reversed poloarity
