Static Charge on trailer

[NCMODELA]

Hi all. I put the low amp charger on the battery on the camper today and noticed after awhile that there was a charge on the trailer because anywhere there is metal I would get a small shock. Is this common? Is this bad or not and where would I start to seeing a fix for it.

The only other time it did this was when the slide motor stuck and the motor would just run but not go anywhere.

Thanks
bill

[NCMODELA]

Ok..I will have to check once I get to the outer banks when the trailer is not near the power lines.

[campigloo]

Could you have a loose or frayed neutral wire? I would check connections in power panel and look for broken frayed or loose wires any where there is movement, like around slides.

[NCMODELA]

Sorry. I fell asleep last night. I took the charger and battery off this morning and the problem did not exist with the ground hooked up. But when I removed the ground there was a charge....not aa much as with the charger hooked up though. Also same results when I hook the battery back up, still some charge but not near as much with the charger hooked up.

[Harvard]

smkettner wrote:
Is the RV plugged in or just the charger connected?
Does the condition continue after removing the charger?

I can not see (for certain) if the second part of this question was answered so I will ask it again, did the condition continue after removing the charger?

If the answer is yes, it did exist without the charger then it is from high voltage distribution lines. If the answer is no it does not exist without the charger then it could be because the charger DC output is floating 1/2 way between the 120 HOT and NEUTRAL which is very common when there is no 3rd wire ground connection between RV chassis and pedestal EARTH/GROUND.

[westend]

Secondary power lines in my area have 10K volts.

[NCMODELA]

I guess I just didn't think of it...they are not the huge metal lines but the smaller wooden pole ones bit they are transfer lines. They don't hum however

[hddecker]

It is very common for metal under a tower to become charged, 99% of the time it's no problem, the 1% can sit you on your backside or worse.

I had a project that required the building of a steel structure, because I was right at the edge of massive power line, we consulted with the power authority. It took us all of ten seconds to figure it would be a lot easier to relocate the project.

[NCMODELA]

Dang double post

[NCMODELA]

I drove a rod in the ground hooked cables to it and no more charge. Take cables away and there is a charge..almost instant. That is crazy would never had thought of that...thank you so much for your help

[Harvard]

NCMODELA wrote:
Is the fact that I'm charging the battery making it worse?

It can be complicating the issue. If the charger were to be providing a conductive path from the DC(--) lead to 120VAC 3rd prong, that would be providing a wanted conductive path from the TT frame to 120 VAC GROUND/EARTH which would help hide the issue. Best thing would be to have the RV 30AMP plugged into 120VAC at all times when parked as you are IF it is indeed a high tension issue.

[Harvard]

Is your drive way asphalt or concrete? They would not be conductive (normally) so the above would not work. The RV chassis needs to be connected to a CONDUCTIVE EARTH. Even if you plug the RV 30AMP plug into a properly grounded 120VAC outlet it will stop the problem.

[NCMODELA]

Is the fact that I'm charging the battery making it worse?

[Harvard]

NCMODELA wrote:
Dang. You learn something new everyday. It take it that it doesn't help the young is on a piece of wood.

Is this dangerous or when I pull it out it will be okay?

Take a set of jumper cables and temporarily connect the RV frame to a Temporary Ground Rod (of some kind) and then remove the wood from under the tongue jack. If necessary replace the wooden platform with a metal platform if the soil is such that the jack is going to be driven into the soil too far. Once complete you can remove the Temporary Ground Rod connection.

[NCMODELA]

Dang. You learn something new everyday. It take it that it doesn't help the young is on a piece of wood.

Is this dangerous or when I pull it out it will be okay?

[Harvard]

NCMODELA wrote:
The charger does have a third prong and so does the extension cord....

The camper is under some transfer line electrical wires....high tension, could that cause it?

Yes, a metal conductor (an Aluminum RV skin included) isolated from EARTH GROUND will act like an capacitance plate between the high tension wires and EARTH.

Normally it would not be noticed IF the hitch jack provides a conductive path from the skin/frame to a conductive EARTH ground.