Forum Discussion

samhain7's avatar
samhain7
Explorer
May 10, 2015

Strange electrical problem.

I have a wierd one today.

I was showing my father in law my distribution hitch. I was standing barefoot in the driveways and I touched the steel unpainted L pin that holds the bars to the L bracket attached to the trailer tounge.
Guess what. I got a mild shock. My father in law touched it with his shoes on and got nothing of course...
I also touched the painted A frame tounge of the trailer and didn't got a shock. It is only the unpainted L pin.

Any ideas on this one....

19 Replies

  • Before I plug in this goes into the shore station.
    After I plug in this goes into an outlet inside the RV.



    Let's you know what is going on at the shore station and when plugged inside it tells you when something does happen later.
  • OOP,

    Did you look at the "useful tool" link I posted? If you use the foreign voltage detector by probing the skin/coupler and other parts of the rv, it will light up- indicating there is still voltage present. If it does not light- your condition has been fixed. In basic terms, use a good surge protector at the pedestal- it will tell you if something is mis wired. You can also use outlet testers or make your own if you like. Google "RV Electric" and you'll gets lots of good info.
  • So how can I check if the problem is really fixed? Multi meter?
  • When the RV chassis/ground is allowed to float (ie like others said, no ground conductor to Earth) and while 120 VAC Hot and Neutral are connected, the chassis/ground will attempt to establish itself 1/2 way between Hot and Neutral due to capacitative coupling between the Hot, Ground and Neutral circuits.

    This leaky capacitative current path is enough to feel a tingle when you made a conductive path from chassis to Earth but not enough to effect a serious shock. It is a friendly warning of a serious faulty ground condition in that your first level of safety is compromised.
  • I'm an idiot.

    Checked my adapter and it he ground is broken off
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    If you are plugged into a 120VAC 15A/20A house receptacle perhaps the ground lug is missing or not hooked up.

    ALL THREE wires needs to come to the trailer from the house (WHITE-BLACK-GREEN)...

    Roy Ken
  • I am assuming that you are plugged into shore power..
    Sounds like you have a faulty ground. Check the ground wire to the frame. Mine is near the steps to the door on the frame. It might be corroded, loose or missing.