Forum Discussion

kmb1966's avatar
kmb1966
Explorer
Apr 17, 2022

Crazy static pop while waxing/cleaning motorhome

I sometimes clean the outside of our motorhome with Wash-N-Wax all using microfiber towels. We have a new RV garage with concrete floors, and still waiting for the electricity to be hooked up. So we have the unit plugged in with an 10 gauge extension cord to the house 120v outlet just to keep the batteries charged. Lately while using the wash-n-wax all, the towels build up a huge static charge and I get POPPED bigtime when I wipe over a metal object (a bin door lock, or screw). It pops me really hard too.
Is there anyway that I can make this reduced?
1. Ground the motorhome to the building better?
2. Wax with barefoot?
??? looking for ideas to get rid of this annoying problem.
Class A
  • Ava's avatar
    Ava
    Explorer
    Apr 17, 2022
    If you you have low humidity in your area, it is probably just static electricity from the action of wiping. Maybe touch a metal part while wiping.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Apr 17, 2022
    I second the bad ground. Use a TLT (Three Light Tester) link to a sample below. You can get 'em in a lot of places. Wal-Mart and competitors, Hardware stores, many Supermarkets, some gas stations and auto parts stores to list but a few.
    Home depot and lowes (of course) link is to Home Depot.

    3 light outlet tester

    Test both ends of cord and any NON GFCI outlet in the RV (Test GFCI ones too)

    Two green lights = good. except for the GFCI (Where you may get but one Green) any other configuration = Bad.
  • dodge_guy's avatar
    dodge_guy
    Explorer II
    Apr 17, 2022
    I’m going with static charge from the micro fiber towels. Try hanging a chain from the frame to the concrete,
  • ReneeG's avatar
    ReneeG
    Explorer
    Apr 18, 2022
    For safety reasons, I would first assume it is a bad ground. Confirm or rule it out for your life's sake.
  • sailor_lou's avatar
    sailor_lou
    Explorer
    Apr 19, 2022
    Definitely check out the ground and fix it if necessary. However, why not just unplug the motorhome and see if the same thing happens?

    Lou
    05 Travel Supreme Envoy
    Cat C7
  • John_Wayne's avatar
    John_Wayne
    Explorer II
    Apr 19, 2022
    See if it does it with the rig unplugged, if it doesn't and only does it with the rig plugged in you may have what's called hot skin on the RV. And it could be enough to kill you.
  • Harvard's avatar
    Harvard
    Explorer
    Apr 20, 2022
    kmb1966 wrote:
    ... I get POPPED bigtime when I wipe over a metal object (a bin door lock, or screw). ...


    You are getting popped because there is a conductive path to Earth Ground just as there should be. Only solution is to wear a conductive bracelet and wire from your body parts (ie wrist or ankle) to Earth/Ground/Chassis so you do not build a static charge.
  • Mr_Mark1's avatar
    Mr_Mark1
    Explorer
    Apr 21, 2022
    My Prevost coach had a 1.5" x 18" rubber strip that hung down from under the chassis midship touching the ground. At 63,000 miles when I sold it, it was still touching the ground but does wear-out over time and is replaced when needed at a service interval.

    That pop is just not normal (I'm not an electrician or gear-head). I have waxed my two previous class-A's while plugged-in, in low humidity, and that never happened to me.

    Safe travels,
    MM.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Apr 21, 2022
    I"m still waiting on him to get back with the Three Light Test.

    OH I had a trailer once where the prior owner swapped the hot and neutral wires.

    Yup. it zapped me

    I fixed. (You hook the lighter color wire to the bright screw and the darker wire to the copper screw.. I mean how hard is that to screw up. Green to green in case you wonder about that one.... Well..... story 2 follows.

    Finally got central air installed when they went to charge it fuses -a- popping. Turns out the kid who wired it... Black wire to green screw and the other way around.... (HOT to Ground short)

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