As I arrived at my current campsite I hooked up my surgeguard as I started my regular routine. I didn't think anything of it, until I get back to it after awhile and it was showing a red warning sign of "reverse polarity". First time! I called the campground, waited about 45 min. Couldn't continue with setup as not sure if I was staying in that campsite or not (while I waited I carried my surgeguard around to all the empty campsites to check all of those for fun---they were all good!) Electrician shows up, and fixes the problem!! Just a little snafu, but now very glad I have my surgeguard to let me know when things aren't just right!! Nice to know that these precautions are important to take!!

When you consider that a lot of CG's will just have an employee go out and install a new plug etc. there is a big chance for mistakes. Reverse polarity is simply having white on brass instead of black, but could still have serious problems in the right circumstance. Glad your SurgeGuard caught it and am always amazed when I see people plug in without a SurgeGuard, EMS or anything to check the pedestal.

I carry one the 120VAC circuit testers just for this reason. This will tell you the same thing. Of course since this only plugs into a 120VAC 15A/20A receptacle you have to use an adapter to mate up with the service you are testing on the pedestals.I have to admit I don't do this everytime and really should be. In your case the surge protector is always used so this is a big plus for you as you have just found out...Since the majority of the hookups use the 30AMP connections on the pedestals you can imagine the wear and tear they get. I always look for burn marks before plugging in. I usually don't go to 50AMP service pedestals but if the 30AMP side didn't look good to me I would switch adapters and plug my 30AMP trailer into the 50A side using the proper adapter. You know this has to be a big effort for the CG management to keep up with their used-up connections... Got to be a big job for them...Roy Ken

Redterpos3 wrote: Electrician shows up, and fixes the problem!! Just a little snafu,Do you know what he or she did? (Funny, you never think of an electrician as a woman, do you?)

2oldman wrote:Redterpos3 wrote: Electrician shows up, and fixes the problem!! Just a little snafu,Do you know what he or she did? (Funny, you never think of an electrician as a woman, do you?)As a previous poster noted that a reverse polarity isn't too big a deal, and the electrician just secured the connection, and made it correctly. Didn't take long, he said these pedestals are set up a bit differently than at home. He did say this was the first time he had seen a surgeguard :h guess not many use them.

Redterpos3 wrote: a reverse polarity isn't too big a deal, and the electrician just secured the connection, and made it correctly.Thanks. I've often wondered about that since, by definition, ac current 'reverses' itself 60 times a second.

SurgeGuard warns of a pedastal problem | Good Sam Community

Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Jul 25, 2014
SCVJeff wrote:
Dutch_12078 wrote:
M GO BLUE wrote:
RoyB wrote:
I carry one the 120VAC circuit testers just for this reason.

This will tell you the same thing. Of course since this only plugs into a 120VAC 15A/20A receptacle you have to use an adapter to mate up with the service you are testing on the pedestals.

I have to admit I don't do this everytime and really should be. In your case the surge protector is always used so this is a big plus for you as you have just found out...

Since the majority of the hookups use the 30AMP connections on the pedestals you can imagine the wear and tear they get. I always look for burn marks before plugging in. I usually don't go to 50AMP service pedestals but if the 30AMP side didn't look good to me I would switch adapters and plug my 30AMP trailer into the 50A side using the proper adapter.

You know this has to be a big effort for the CG management to keep up with their used-up connections... Got to be a big job for them...

Roy Ken

Completely useless...unless you are willing to watch it on a 24/7 basis

Have you ever seen an outlet magically reverse the neutral and hot connections after you've checked it and plugged in? :h
No, but I've see Neutrals completely open while in service more than once.

On 50 amp, 120/240 connection that could cause damage. On the 120 VAC circuit the tester is used for, all that happens is the power stops flowing.
Duck
Explorer
Jul 25, 2014
I use a portable Progressive EMS. Before doing anything I plug in the EMS which checks for any problem with the pedestal power including the voltage. At some older cg I have noticed that the voltage my be ok but a little low. This could cause the voltage to drop below acceptable if you use a lot power with your rv.
Don
SCVJeff
Explorer
Jul 25, 2014
Dutch_12078 wrote:
M GO BLUE wrote:
RoyB wrote:
I carry one the 120VAC circuit testers just for this reason.

This will tell you the same thing. Of course since this only plugs into a 120VAC 15A/20A receptacle you have to use an adapter to mate up with the service you are testing on the pedestals.

I have to admit I don't do this everytime and really should be. In your case the surge protector is always used so this is a big plus for you as you have just found out...

Since the majority of the hookups use the 30AMP connections on the pedestals you can imagine the wear and tear they get. I always look for burn marks before plugging in. I usually don't go to 50AMP service pedestals but if the 30AMP side didn't look good to me I would switch adapters and plug my 30AMP trailer into the 50A side using the proper adapter.

You know this has to be a big effort for the CG management to keep up with their used-up connections... Got to be a big job for them...

Roy Ken

Completely useless...unless you are willing to watch it on a 24/7 basis

Have you ever seen an outlet magically reverse the neutral and hot connections after you've checked it and plugged in? :h
No, but I've see Neutrals completely open while in service more than once.
ScottG
Nomad
Jul 25, 2014
Dutch_12078 wrote:
M GO BLUE wrote:
RoyB wrote:
I carry one the 120VAC circuit testers just for this reason.

This will tell you the same thing. Of course since this only plugs into a 120VAC 15A/20A receptacle you have to use an adapter to mate up with the service you are testing on the pedestals.

I have to admit I don't do this everytime and really should be. In your case the surge protector is always used so this is a big plus for you as you have just found out...

Since the majority of the hookups use the 30AMP connections on the pedestals you can imagine the wear and tear they get. I always look for burn marks before plugging in. I usually don't go to 50AMP service pedestals but if the 30AMP side didn't look good to me I would switch adapters and plug my 30AMP trailer into the 50A side using the proper adapter.

You know this has to be a big effort for the CG management to keep up with their used-up connections... Got to be a big job for them...

Roy Ken

Completely useless...unless you are willing to watch it on a 24/7 basis

Have you ever seen an outlet magically reverse the neutral and hot connections after you've checked it and plugged in? :h

Useless??? Whats the likelihood a plug will reverse polarity while your using it?
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Jul 25, 2014
M GO BLUE wrote:
RoyB wrote:
I carry one the 120VAC circuit testers just for this reason.

This will tell you the same thing. Of course since this only plugs into a 120VAC 15A/20A receptacle you have to use an adapter to mate up with the service you are testing on the pedestals.

I have to admit I don't do this everytime and really should be. In your case the surge protector is always used so this is a big plus for you as you have just found out...

Since the majority of the hookups use the 30AMP connections on the pedestals you can imagine the wear and tear they get. I always look for burn marks before plugging in. I usually don't go to 50AMP service pedestals but if the 30AMP side didn't look good to me I would switch adapters and plug my 30AMP trailer into the 50A side using the proper adapter.

You know this has to be a big effort for the CG management to keep up with their used-up connections... Got to be a big job for them...

Roy Ken

Completely useless...unless you are willing to watch it on a 24/7 basis

Have you ever seen an outlet magically reverse the neutral and hot connections after you've checked it and plugged in? :h
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Jul 25, 2014
2oldman wrote:
Redterpos3 wrote:
a reverse polarity isn't too big a deal, and the electrician just secured the connection, and made it correctly.
Thanks. I've often wondered about that since, by definition, ac current 'reverses' itself 60 times a second.

If the neutral and hot connections are reversed at the 30 amp outlet, and you have a neutral to ground short somewhere in your coach, there will be a 120 volt potential between the RV frame and earth ground. Something that can really ruin your day under the right (or wrong!) conditions.
oldtrojan66
Explorer
Jul 25, 2014
Not sure if Surge-guard would have caught this or not. I had a loose connection on one side of my 30 amp receptacle in the pedestal. I didn't notice this since the friction seemed normal on the other side and plug didn't seem loose. First I noticed was after three days and breaking camp to go home. Burned spade on plug. I bought a new end before plugging in again. I wonder if just looking would tell you anything about looseness? Of maybe a spare "spade" with breaker off just to test the tightness of the connection.
M_GO_BLUE1
Explorer
Jul 25, 2014
RoyB wrote:
I carry one the 120VAC circuit testers just for this reason.

This will tell you the same thing. Of course since this only plugs into a 120VAC 15A/20A receptacle you have to use an adapter to mate up with the service you are testing on the pedestals.

I have to admit I don't do this everytime and really should be. In your case the surge protector is always used so this is a big plus for you as you have just found out...

Since the majority of the hookups use the 30AMP connections on the pedestals you can imagine the wear and tear they get. I always look for burn marks before plugging in. I usually don't go to 50AMP service pedestals but if the 30AMP side didn't look good to me I would switch adapters and plug my 30AMP trailer into the 50A side using the proper adapter.

You know this has to be a big effort for the CG management to keep up with their used-up connections... Got to be a big job for them...

Roy Ken

Completely useless...unless you are willing to watch it on a 24/7 basis
Ka_Ron
Explorer
Jul 24, 2014
I have a surge protector that I use rarely because it seems as if the A/C will trip it when it comes on.
Maybe the draw is coming across as a power surge to the protector.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Jul 24, 2014
2oldman wrote:
Redterpos3 wrote:
a reverse polarity isn't too big a deal, and the electrician just secured the connection, and made it correctly.
Thanks. I've often wondered about that since, by definition, ac current 'reverses' itself 60 times a second.

Kind of the same effect with the old non-polarized, non-grounded plugs which could be plugged in either way.

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