Electrical

[hb6500]

The metal on my camper is electrified when plugged into my garage 110 outlet.
It is not sever, but can be felt when barefoot.
Why?

[westend]

Did you put your shoes back on? :B

This is RV Hot Skin problem. You have a disconnected ground and, with shoes off, become an additional ground point.

Keep your pets away until you have this fixed. Also, anyone with a Pacemaker or Defibrillator should stay away.

[Bill_Satellite]

Since this is new to you it is very likely the issue always existed and you are just discovering it now. You can find out if this is true by plugging into a campground outlet but the testing procedure can be deadly. Take off your shoes and touch the skin. Please don't do this!
I would suggest you get something like this Fluke non-contact voltage detector.
Fluke Tester
With this device you can test the outlet. If that's good you can work your way up the power source. Test the extension cord if you use one. Test the transfer switch if you have one. Test each outlet inside the coach. If you find power where there should be none you may simply have a reversed wire in the circuit somewhere. Do a Google search and you will find information like this.
RV "hot" skin
Take this problem very seriously and be sure you find and fix the problem.

[hb6500]

If I check the outlets in the camper would that show anything?

[hb6500]

Thanks for all the help

[time2roll]

Inside the RV checks correct also?

Can you plug into a GFI outlet? I am thinking it will trip because you have a ground fault in the RV.

Usually these are routed to ground through the outlet and you would not feel it.

Any chance you are parked under some power lines?

[krobbe]

A reversed polarity on the garage outlet will energize the neutral side of the 120VAC circuits of the TT. Since the neutral is bonded(tied together) to the ground, the TT chassis will have 120VAC on it. By touching it, you become the path for current flow to the earth. A tester like RoyB suggests is a very worthwhile tool to have. It is also to check your house outlets to make sure nobody has incorrectly wires those receptacles.

Edit: I see you already checked the garage outlet.. Never mind.

I would look for and clean up any corrosion or loose terminals on any and all terminations. The terminals from the battery to the chassis or circuit breaker are good for getting lots of corrosion.

[fla-gypsy]

hb6500 wrote:
I have checked the garage outlet and it shows ok.
It's plugged into the outlet with a pigtail connector.

Most likely problem if you've never encountered it before

[hb6500]

I just bought it used. I never felt it until I took my shoes off

[hb6500]

I have checked the garage outlet and it shows ok.
It's plugged into the outlet with a pigtail connector.

[gbopp]

Did it just start shocking you? Or has it done it before?
As stated above, check the source. That may be the problem.

[fla-gypsy]

Start with the obvious and don't overlook anything. The cord and plug would be the starting point. I laid my extension cord on my bumper one day where it plugs into my camper cord and created that situation. Bad adapter!

[time2roll]

What are you plugged into? Put an outlet tester in and post the results.

Could be bad ground or reverse polarity. Could also have ground fault in the RV. Start with the source.

[RoyB]

Because the path to ground has been interupted. Usualy the cause is a faulty 120VAC receptacle in your garage connection or the flimsy extension cord you are using.

The only way your trailer frame gets a ground is though the shore power plug.

Use one these 120VAc circuit testers from LOWES on the 120VAC receptacle before plugging in your RV30A-15A long dogbone adapter and it will tell you whether your connection is good or bad...


Don't take this lightly - what may be just a tingle to you might really do harm to someone else...

Roy Ken