shocking!

So it only happens when you are plugged into shore power or have inverter turned on??..... you have a short in the 110v system somewhere and power is going into the trailer frame and skin. Attach a ground wire to skin or frame and drive a ground rod into the dirt until you figure out what is going on. When you touch the trailer you are becoming the ground for the current to travel through since the rig is on rubber tires so insulated. Very dangerous as you could get full shot of 110v which can kill. Best not to use shore power or inverter until you get it figured out and corrected.

Start with a 3 light outlet tester. First check the source. Then check some outlets in the RV.

It takes very little current to stop your heart, like milliamps. Whatever you do, never allow the current to pass through your heart. That will be the end.

Ground the unit with a copper plated ground rod driven at least 4 feet into the earth (available at hardware stores or Lowes) and ground the unit with a solid copper wire physically bolted to the body and only then start your search.

Is the unit near high tension power lines?
Clicky

I do electrical, you have one of a few things that it is--
(In order of what i would say is most likely)

* Since you say this is a modified RV, they very well could have redone your shore power cord, and it could be wired with hot on the wrong side---I feel this is your most likely issue.
* The outlet you're plugging into is backwards.
* Your neutral line is bad, forcing current to now pass through the ground wire, leaving either the ground wire, or you, to ground the trailer

In any case, as Time2Roll mentioned, get an outlet tester and it will tell you

Had that on my BBQ trailer. First, it probably only happens when you are connected to shore power, right? If you haven't changed anything (receptacle wiring, power cords or wiring on power cords), then the next question is - does it happen *wherever* (not just home) you connect to shore power? If so, then check your power cord first, then the receptacle on your trailer, then the house receptacle. When you check the male/female connections -Are there any burn marks? That's often a telling sign!

I'd open both ends of your power cord and look for a disconnected ground in the cord wiring. Just to be safe, I'd disconnect, clean (if necessary), and reconnect the wires in your cord. Make sure the color codes match too!

When you check your receptacle boxes - first on the trailer, then on your house - also open, check/reconnect, wires.

My BBQ trailer was wired wrong. But, afterwards, I also had a time when connecting/disconnecting the power cord loosened up the connections in the cord and the ground was loose. I noticed it every time I went to check tire pressure! I'd touch the valve stem and get a very minor tingling shock.

It's usually the most obvious place - the cord and its connections.

Good luck!
Bill

If you get the shock when plugged into shore power, there is only one thing certain, that the frame of the RV is not grounded via the shore power cord. The problem could be that the outlet isn't properly grounded, or that the ground wire of the shore power cord isn't connected to the RV frame. Nothing else is indicated by this shock, as a correctly wired RV will give a mild shock if it's not grounded. There could be an additional wiring problem, but you have to get the ground fixed first. Best to not use the RV until the fix is made.

This weird couple pulled in next to me in Zihuatanejo. Sun goes down. I notice an orangish light under their awning.

"Well, we was getting jolted. So I bought a pigtail socket and light bulb. Now I have a neat porch light that doesn't glare."

You guessed it. Clipped to the trim molding the other wire to whatever the hell he used to pound into the ground. Time to loaddum up and head on down the pike

oneofakind wrote:
I have a 21 foot avion travel trailer that was converted into a motor home by 'mounting' and marrying it with a 1970 Ford E300. We are having an issue - it is shocking you when you touch it if it rains or are standing on wet ground, mostly the door handle but you can get a shock almost anywhere on the shell if it is raining - does anyone have any advice on where to begin the search for the problem or what the problem might be.

Unplug the rig immediately from shore power and stop using it until the source of this issue is found. To understand why read Mike Sokol's article on hot skin, a condition that can kill you. :E

Two thigns I have had do that....
AN open ground will put the chassis and metal parts connected to it at 60 volts relative to either neutral (Which is bonded to ground elsewhere) or hot. (This is on a 30 amp RV. on a 50. it might be a different voltage or even zero, higher if plugged into 30)

This indicates an open ground. HOwever though you can measure 60 volts, or close to it, nearly no current flows.. The reasons are technical and Well. One of the many classes I took in college explained it rather well.

However another issue I've seen is a polarity reversal. For some reason it did NOT trip the breaker (I know the ground was good) but that dang trailer would knock me for a loop if I touched two metal parts INSIDE the trailer.

I finally figured out what the prior owner had done wrong and fixed it.. He was, like me, trained in electronics... But unlike me he was NOT cross trained in electrical. (Black means different things depending on which hat I'm wearing).