Accidentally plugged into 220v

[xnizstudio]

So yes I made a mistake and wired the RV outlet into a 240v dual pole breaker at the house . The converter is toast . I have a keystone Laredo fifth wheel .

I took the tv and microwave out and tested inside my house. They seemed okay. At the time of the overload , the AC was powered off. So I know that it’s hard
To say what else burned up. I’m hoping since the microwave and tv still work that nothing else was damaged . It was plugged In for about 20 seconds. Smoke was coming from the converter . The replacement converter will be here tomorrow. Hopefully this is the only damage.

I talked to my insurance company and they will cover any damage .

Just figured I’d post here and let you guys know how it goes.

At least I only have a $100 deductible 😕

Edit: The following page outlines the difference between 240v and 120v breaker layouts/installments.

https://www.thespruce.com/installing-a-240-volt-circuit-breaker-1824649

A 3-wire, 240-volt circuit has two hot wires—each supplying 120 volts for a total of 240—and an equipment ground wire. A 120-volt circuit has only one hot wire connected to the breaker plus a neutral wire connected to the neutral bus bar in the service panel.

The wiring was fine. I just had the incorrect breaker. You can wire a dual pole 240v breaker to only put out 110/120v but, thats not the best practice and will more than likely fail inspection. So before you reply and comment about incorrect wiring, the wiring was not the issue, having the incorrect breaker was the issue.

[ependydad]

allen8106 wrote:
A 50 amp RV does NOT like 220. A 50 amp RV has two 120 volt legs and is not 220.

From here:
http://www.myrv.us/electric/Pg/50amp_Service.htm

This 50-amp service has 4 wires with two 120-volt HOT feeds. It is a misconception that this 50-amp RV service is something special. This service is a STANDARD 120/240 50-amp 3 pole with 4 prongs used for numerous applications.

(shrug)

[allen8106]

kmb1966 wrote:
how can a 30 amp rv plug fit into a 220 outlet? I have never seen one that fits.

You're making an assumption it's 30 amp. He never said it was 30 or 50 amp in the original post.

Considering it's a 5ver I'll bet it's 50.

[allen8106]

Big Katuna wrote:
More info pls. Must have been a 30A RV. A 50 A rv likes 220.
How exactly did it happen.

A 50 amp RV does NOT like 220. A 50 amp RV has two 120 volt legs and is not 220.

There's a big difference.

[red31]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
A three-wire 30 amp twist lock is light years more durable and secure.

someone will somehow wire it for 240v and claim it is wired correctly. :S

[MEXICOWANDERER]

RV circuit design labeling just plain sucks.

Open up an access point and stare at a hot conductor. Is it L1 or L2? If I tried pulling a stunt like that on a Commerical fishing vessel my bones would have been resting on the bottom shackled to a concrete pylon.

Take a moment and ***** to the NEC, Label the envelope DANGER! RISK OF DEATH! MISLABELED! ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS! it may take a while but you will get a response.

I despise so called 30-amp RV plugs, from concept to finished product the design is ignorant, inept and flawed. A three-wire 30 amp twist lock is light years more durable and secure.

It's musch like a six pole triler pigtail. The playtoy RV version is build to last a tenth as long as a commercial truck 7 wire connector.

[IAMICHABOD]

xnizstudio wrote:

Everything seems okay! AC is still working and the refrigerator was cold this morning when I woke up.

It seems I got lucky 😄

That is great to hear,now don't do that again.....

Then follow Bobbo's advice :B

Mine has saved me.

[mich800]

Sounds like to OP has some working knowledge of the circuits. But did not realize the rv is 120 volts. As soon as they hooked up the neutral to the breaker they must have known that would generate 240 volts to the outlet with a double pole breaker. Not the first time this has happened. I agree, make use of the insurance and move on.

[xnizstudio]

Bobbo wrote:
Install it and forget it. I have. US made. User serviceable, if needed. Good warranty.

Progressive Industries EMS-HW30C

Thanks! Gonna buy this my next paycheck.

[xnizstudio]

p220sigman wrote:
Thanks for the story. Don't let the negative people on here get you down. There are some on here that never met a dead horse they didn't want to keep beating.

Hopefully your other appliances are fine. I'm not sure how you could test them other than seeing if they work. You would need to know the test points and voltages to test the individual boards other than inspecting them for burned areas. You might want to fire up the fridge with a thermometer inside to make sure that it is cooling adequately and not just "running" though.

Everything seems okay! AC is still working and the refrigerator was cold this morning when I woke up.

It seems I got lucky 😄

[xnizstudio]

DrewE wrote:

xnizstudio wrote:
Got the SINGLE pole breaker installed and the new converter and all appliances are working without damage .

Anyone who wants to argue about the dual pole breaker being wired incorrectly can read https://www.thespruce.com/installing-a-240-volt-circuit-breaker-1824649

A dual pole breaker provides 240v. A single pole provides 120v.

I’m not an electrician and even I can google and find the above URL. The dual pole breaker was wired to supply 240v .

Bunch of ignorant people on here arguing about how it was wired incorrectly.. feel free to read the above URL

The claim is not that the breaker itself was wired incorrectly, but rather that the receptacle was wired incorrectly. A dual pole breaker is required for a 240V circuit (in North America), but that's not the only thing it can be used to power. It could also be applied to a pair of otherwise unrelated 120V circuits sharing a neutral, as in some areas is or at least was relatively common. It could be used to feed a subpanel which has 120V or 240V circuits. It could indeed also be used to feed a single 120V circuit, though it's rather silly to do so as a single pole breaker is smaller and less expensive.

At any rate, I'm glad you've gotten it all sorted out, and I'm genuinely sorry for the number of people who jumped on you for no good reason.

The arguement has been that the wiring was incorrect which is false. Like you said, you can wire a 240v breaker to put out 120v, but thats not really the best practice. The main issue is that I had a dual pole breaker, when it should have been a single.

The wiring was fine at the breaker box and even to the outlet. The issue is that the dual pole breaker should have been a single. As soon as we swapped the breaker, everything worked fine. So.. again, as I've stated a dozen times, it was the incorrect breaker.

Either way, lesson learned.

[p220sigman]

Thanks for the story. Don't let the negative people on here get you down. There are some on here that never met a dead horse they didn't want to keep beating.

Hopefully your other appliances are fine. I'm not sure how you could test them other than seeing if they work. You would need to know the test points and voltages to test the individual boards other than inspecting them for burned areas. You might want to fire up the fridge with a thermometer inside to make sure that it is cooling adequately and not just "running" though.

[Bobbo]

Install it and forget it. I have. US made. User serviceable, if needed. Good warranty.

Progressive Industries EMS-HW30C

[DrewE]

xnizstudio wrote:
Got the SINGLE pole breaker installed and the new converter and all appliances are working without damage .

Anyone who wants to argue about the dual pole breaker being wired incorrectly can read https://www.thespruce.com/installing-a-240-volt-circuit-breaker-1824649

A dual pole breaker provides 240v. A single pole provides 120v.

I’m not an electrician and even I can google and find the above URL. The dual pole breaker was wired to supply 240v .

Bunch of ignorant people on here arguing about how it was wired incorrectly.. feel free to read the above URL

The claim is not that the breaker itself was wired incorrectly, but rather that the receptacle was wired incorrectly. A dual pole breaker is required for a 240V circuit (in North America), but that's not the only thing it can be used to power. It could also be applied to a pair of otherwise unrelated 120V circuits sharing a neutral, as in some areas is or at least was relatively common. It could be used to feed a subpanel which has 120V or 240V circuits. It could indeed also be used to feed a single 120V circuit, though it's rather silly to do so as a single pole breaker is smaller and less expensive.

At any rate, I'm glad you've gotten it all sorted out, and I'm genuinely sorry for the number of people who jumped on you for no good reason.

[STBRetired]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
All that plus 5 bucks will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Be wise, and move on. A little bruised but a lot wiser.

A lying thieving neighbor just moved out after smashing my 100 dollar tail light lens and caught in the act thieving a motion detector lamp. He left the landlady a 700 peso electrical bill because she kicked his ass out and he had to move.

Sometimes life is a bowl of cherries complete with worms. But put it into perspective -- a car bash is a lot worse, right? or a slip and a broken leg. Or a stroke.

SHINE

IT

ON

MEX, seems like you know about more than just batteries and charging systems.
Hope you stay well.

[xnizstudio]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
All that plus 5 bucks will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Be wise, and move on. A little bruised but a lot wiser.

A lying thieving neighbor just moved out after smashing my 100 dollar tail light lens and caught in the act thieving a motion detector lamp. He left the landlady a 700 peso electrical bill because she kicked his ass out and he had to move.

Sometimes life is a bowl of cherries complete with worms. But put it into perspective -- a car bash is a lot worse, right? or a slip and a broken leg. Or a stroke.

SHINE

IT

ON

Dang man! Bad luck for both of us!