Hi All,
The Power Pal is available again. This is a plug and test unit for determining if plug in power is good. I have had one for years, it works very easily, and well. See them at RV Campground Voltage Tester Protects Your RV (http://www.50amppowerpal.com).
Raymond
I think the Power Pal is good tool. But we have been using a homemade tester that also checks for the same things, although ours does not talk to me. In the middle of this link is our story:
50 Amp Outlet Tester (http://www.beamalarm.com/Documents/50_amp_outlet_tester.html)
We have two Progressive Industries EMS hard wired (before and after our transfer switch), but still plug in my tester into campground pedestal before plugging in motorhome's SmartPlug shore power cable. Sometimes I find that jiggling the pedestal causes a line to go out or ground to disconnect, etc. Campground electric plugs can have many problems and even with EMS, I feel the need to 'look' at electric supply before using.
I am curious, how many of you have found incorrectly wired outlets. How often? I always check because we have too much invested. So far I have not had a problem. What type of places have had bad wiring? This is just a mini survey.
I found three bad outlets in 13 years of traveling.
Howdy Steve,
In 8 years of Motor Coach ownership/travel we have found two defective outlets. One in a COE park and the other in a commercial park. Open neutrals. Before plugging in, I use the 50a Power Pal for instant check, and a hard-wired EMS-HW50C with the remote readout located near the OEM power monitor for full time use.
Dave A
So most are failures rather an incorrectly wired. Missing neutrals are often caused by lightening strikes. I had a lightning strike at our house dans beside several electronic failures, nearly every neutral had to be tightened. Three had to be replaced.
Recently,(last couple of years) we have encountered 4, 2 bad plugs (burnt pos. leg), 1 with burnt off ground, 1 with bad wiring at breaker. These were at a city park, COE parks, and a private park. Back when 50 amp plugs were just coming on the seen at campgrounds it wasn't uncommon to find one not wired correctly. With working in the electrical industry we have always checked prior to plugging in. Whey back it was done with a VOM, for the last 20 years we have used a home made tester.
Pamela & Mike
I have found several at campgrounds and at sites where you stay overnight for dog shows etc., including some Fairgrounds.
Oh one of the three was at FT Wilderness. The good thing is that the truck across from me was the electrician who was looking for bad plugs after a huge thunder storm.