voltage meter or how to ck 50 amp at rv site

The surgeguard still protects the RV when using an adapter to plug into 30 amp, 20 amp or 15 amp.
You are protected in all conditions. Your husband was a good man.

But at 97 volts you get no power at all(too low to switch on). I suggest you carry a battery charger that accepts a wide voltage range (90 to 250 volts) to at least keep the battery charged. Get 10+ amps.

Xantrex Truecharge 2 10a will accept 90 to 250 volts to keep batteries charged. You would plug this in direct to the pedestal.

Truecharge 2 on Amazon $154 shipped

camperpaul wrote:
This is the meter I use:



Most camping/RV stores carry it.

X2 I don't leave home without these two meters.

These two simple meters plugged into the shore station BEFORE you plug in will let you know if there is anything wrong with the shore station outlet.

This one will let the layman camper easily identify the problem and be able to alert the CG owner just what IS wrong with the shore station.



I find a LOT of CG shore stations have an 'open ground'.

Without using the meter you and your family will NOT ever know until one of you sadly 'becomes' the ground. :(

If you want to verify that neutral and ground are wired properly get an inexpensive circuit tester and plug it into a couple of outlets.

What I would do is pickup one of these cheap $7-$20 multimeters from LOWES-WALMART-AMAZON... Use the AC MODE...

Looks like this


Using the MULTIMETER make measurements at the 50AMP PEDESTAL RECEPTACLE for these identified check points.

This will involve you physically sticking the meter probes into the the PEDESTAL 50AMP RV Socket which has deadly AC VOLTAGE potential present. If you are NOT wanting to do this then I would get someone else more accustomed to making AC measurements to make the readings for you. You MUST NOT TOUCH any of the open metal part of the meter probes.

If you cannot identify all of these AC VOLTAGE readings as shown in this pictorial then I would not plug-in my 50AMP SHORE POWER CABLE from my trailer. I.E inserting the meter probe into the RV PEDESTAL 50AMP socket identified as GROUND and HOT1 you should read 120VAC etc...



You may want to hire a local qualified electrician that is aware of RV WIRING to do this for you. The beauty of using a qualified and BONDED Electrician is if he blows up your high dollar dollar appliances his insurance will pay for them... This is serious stuff here... Your comments here and on the previous posts are raising safety 'RED FLAGS' to me. Be careful please...

Roy Ken

This Wikipedia link leads to an extremely simple explanation of what a receptacle tester is and from there on down the page gets more and more technical. Stop when you have been fed enough info. The basics are enough.

Colored lights and an easy to use diagram sticker tell you when things are right. and when they are wrong. These gizmos are common and cheap in the the USA. Get 2 and give one away to a special new friend RV'er who doesn't yet know about them.

So this means using two gizmos. Both with plug-in prongs. The first should be the one above, because if it says danger it matters not the voltage is correct.

Then the voltage gauge is plugged in. Give it a minute, walk around your rig kick the tires then return and see if the voltage has changed.

Something that is never discussed is the effect of low voltage on the ability of your refrigerator to cool on AC power. At 100 volts or less the cooling ability gets sad. Food spoils. Plug in the volt meter where you spend your afternoons (highest demand period for power) and give it a glance once it awhile. If power dips, switch to gas for the time being. Beats a refrigerator full of spoiled food.

There is a CHEAP booster that is totally plug in. It raises power from 100 to 115 volts and is good for 750 watts. I'll send you the link if you like. Would not travel Mexico without one.

The ground stake I mentioned is important. Anything that plugs in your rig that has three wires RELIES on having a good ground. For safety and to protect electronics. This gizmo will cost you about five dollars to make yourself.

Outlet Tester

camperpaul wrote:

ScottG wrote:

camperpaul wrote:
This is the meter I use:



Most camping/RV stores carry it.

Could you explain to the OP how she is going to check a 50A 240V outlet with that device?

The 50Amp 240Volt power is split into two 120 Volt "phases" and one of these meters would be used on each phase.

Still wouldn't tell you if the two phases were properly split. Also wouldn't tell if the two lines were properly connected to the outlet. Those meters would technically show 120 volts each if the neutral in the pedestal was hot and both hot sides were connected to the grounding block. Better than nothing, but not a good answer at all.

camperpaul wrote:

ScottG wrote:

camperpaul wrote:
This is the meter I use:



Most camping/RV stores carry it.

Could you explain to the OP how she is going to check a 50A 240V outlet with that device?

The 50Amp 240Volt power is split into two 120 Volt "phases" and one of these meters would be used on each phase.

Still wouldn't tell you if the two phases were properly split. Also wouldn't tell if the two lines were properly connected to the outlet. Those meters would technically show 120 volts each if the neutral in the pedestal was hot and both hot sides were connected to the grounding block. Better than nothing, but not a good answer at all.

Mexicowanderer.. thanks.. so How do I check for a hot neutral.

Also, are you saying that I will usually only find the "house current" type
plug in? I don't know what it's called. not the 50 am plug, not the 30 amp plug but the smaller one like you use in the sticks and bricks?

Can I still in that plug in use my microwave/convection oven if I turn everything else off. Can I run my fantastic fan or a regular plug in fan?

I need to take a course on electrical stuff. I know nothing about this.

Guess I've just been lucky as.. now I just plug in either the 50 amp or with the 30 amp converter/adapter cord attached to my 50 amp cord. I have a 30 amp male
plug with a female 110/120 or whatever (regular extension cord.. heavy duty). I am assuming (I know assuming) that my hubby used and I'm positive he knew it was the correct extension cord. He was mechanical/electrical fluent. Now he's gone I have to do this myself.

Tks,

Dy
Northern Calif

I have one of these boxes that plug into my 120 plug inside the RV. I don't have two and I don't know where I would plug in the second or which side or group is on which circuit you are talking about.

The one I have has always stayed in the good area... so I really don't look at it all the time.

I'm just trying to get more savy since I now travel alone and there are a lot of things I'm in the process of learning.

I probably didn't make myself clear. I am talking about checking the
RV site 120v at the post where you plug in.. the 50 amp and 30 amp socket BEFORE I plug in.

But I guess the responses I get is that my surge protector will
meet that need. Mine does not have a read-out. it has blinking lights but if it turns off, there are no lights so I would not know what the problem was. It could be low or high voltage, reversed stuff etc.

I was thinking I should check before I plug in and then if it's OK then I can plug in. or if something was wrong I wouldn't plug in.

I don't want to blow up my surge protector thing as it was quite expensive.

Also, I was told to make sure I plug in with the circuit breakers off and after plugging in, turn the breakers on.

Tks, for your comments and information.

Dy
Northern Calif

Mexican park power and the rig...

Much like trying to power a railroad switch engine with a Briggs & Stratton lawnmower engine

Incredibly few outlets have ground wire connections.

SHE HAS TO TEST FOR HOT NEUTRAL REVERSED BEFORE PLUGGING IN!

When I start seeing icebergs floating by the beach I'll look for 240 volt 50 amp sockets on power pedestals. Even 30 amp sockets are rare as hell.

Deep in Mexico it is the norm to plug in and find 97 volts.

NO AIR CONDITIONERS! Management forbids their use!

Greeting From Mexico