Forum Discussion

TheGriswolds's avatar
TheGriswolds
Explorer
Jun 27, 2013

Anyone had this condition before?

We have a Keystone Cougar that we bought new in January and love so far but the other day while in the driveway prepping for a trip I discovered something very strange. While the electrical was hooked up to my house (15 amp) to run the fridge and charge the battery a little I was inspecting the outside and washing some bug spots off the trailer. While my hands were around the bottom of the frame area I could swear I felt a little electric current, like a really weak electric fence. Not alarming but enough to get my attention. I also felt I could detect it when checking torque on the lug nuts when the wrench was on some of the nuts, and when putting the adnode (sp?) rod into the water heater. How big of a deal do you think this is? I'm calling the dealer soon anyway since it is under warranty just to bounce it off them but I figured I'd see what you guys thought.
  • TheGriswolds's avatar
    TheGriswolds
    Explorer
    Jun 28, 2013
    Checked it tonight and the outlet showed up as "hot/neut reverse". Time to fix the outlet, or call an electrician. At least it isn't a trailer problem, although now that I have this tool I will check all the interior outlets at our next camping trip.
    Thanks
  • dan-nickie's avatar
    dan-nickie
    Explorer
    Jun 28, 2013
    Should be an easy fix.
    Turn off breaker in house. Test to make sure with your new tester.
    Swap the black and white wires in the outlet.

    Check every campground outlet before plugging in also.
    You might need a 30 to 15 amp adapter if you don't already have one..
  • thylton's avatar
    thylton
    Explorer
    Jun 28, 2013
    dan-nickie wrote:
    Probably the house circuit wired wrong.
    Pick up one of these testers and use it wherever you plug in.


    What kind of tester is this?
  • dan-nickie's avatar
    dan-nickie
    Explorer
    Jun 28, 2013
    It's typically called either an Outlet or Receptacle Tester.
    You can find them at most any hardware store or many other department stores.
    Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart or online Amazon etc.
    They are a very common item.
  • TheGriswolds's avatar
    TheGriswolds
    Explorer
    Jun 28, 2013
    Yep, I looked for a receptacle tester. At Home Depot they had two kinds, the one I bought will test GFCI circuits, which is what I needed. It cost $8.98.
  • dodge_guy's avatar
    dodge_guy
    Explorer II
    Jun 28, 2013
    dodge guy wrote:
    Ground issue. Feels weird huh?! now imagine that X1000!!! :E


    Not that i'm proud of it but i shocked myself real good one time while working on an outlet that was live. Someone was using a power tool on the same ckt, which created a good load. I had a cold at the time (which is my excuse for not thinking it through to begin with!). Anyway i grounded real good and you can feel that electricity flow through your entire body. The funny (well not really) part is within an hour that cold was completely gone! And it was a bad cold too!
  • 24rules's avatar
    24rules
    Explorer
    Jun 29, 2013
    I would first try a different drop cord then if that does not fix it take the tester that you were showed and plug that into the drop cord if there are any configuration of test light besides two yellow then take that same tester and plug it into the outlet that the drop cord was plugged in to and again if any lights other than 2 yellow then your house outlet has a issue and if you know nothing about house wiring then I would suggest hiring someone that does

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