Getting Shocked

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Getting Shocked

August 04, 2019, 01:39:20 pm

We all ran back to the RV from the beach due to a thunderstorm. When trying to unlock the coach I was getting shocked. I had to trip the main breaker to get in the RV.

I just had the AC replaced and I don't think the problem existed prior to the swap. Any suggestions to where I should look for the grounding problem? We are staying at Camp Gulf in FL.

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #1 – August 04, 2019, 01:47:22 pm

Be extremely cautious touching anything metal on or attached to the coach frame until you figure out the problem.

Cut the power to the A/C unit. Pull down the inside ceiling panel from the A/C. Take a look at the wiring connections and where the wires are routed. See if anything looks suspicious or out of place. The wires might be inside a metal junction box up inside the unit.

Has anything changed at the power post where you are plugged in? A bad connection at the post can cause "hot skin" condition. See link below:

RV Electrical Safety: Part IV – Hot Skin | No~Shock~Zone

If the above link doesn't work, the same info is contained in .pdf below:

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #2 – August 04, 2019, 01:54:18 pm

Can never have too many grounds.

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #3 – August 04, 2019, 01:56:37 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – August 04, 2019, 01:47:22 pm

Be extremely cautious touching anything metal on the coach frame until you figure out the problem.

Has anything changed at the power post where you are plugged in? A bad connection at the post can cause "hot skin" condition. See link below:

RV Electrical Safety: Part IV – Hot Skin | No~Shock~Zone

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Hot Skin is a very dangerous condition. Please be very, very careful as you make this your #1 priority to solve.

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #4 – August 04, 2019, 02:13:32 pm

Flipped the breaker for the AC and still shocking at the key to the door. This could have been a preexisting issue that we are just now finding. The power line monitor shows "correct polarity".

The rain is making an easy ground through me. I have not tried to get in the coach in the rain before today.

Any other points to investigate? How can I test the camp connection?

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #5 – August 04, 2019, 02:16:00 pm

Are you guys using any kind of surge protector at the shore power pedestal? If you are, does it show any kind of fault code?

If you are not...you need one. Put it on your "High Priority" shopping list after you get this problem resolved.

Progressive Industries is one manufacturer of quality electrical protection devices:

EMS-PT50X & PT30X MAIN | Rv Surge Protection | United States | Progressive...

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #6 – August 04, 2019, 02:18:39 pm

I am not currently using anything extra. Does the factory power line monitor do anything other than show correct polarity and line voltage?

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #7 – August 04, 2019, 02:30:03 pm

Quote from: Eric & Alena + 3 – August 04, 2019, 02:13:32 pm

How can I test the camp connection?

Eric,

I am not familiar with your coach power monitor, so I don't know what it can tell you.

Read through first section of the link below. It shows how to test the park outlet with a multi-meter (I hope you have that tool with you).

50 Amp Outlet Tester

Here's a simple video showing the same test:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hmuUBWKwGo

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #8 – August 04, 2019, 02:43:16 pm

Thanks. I do have a multimeter. I will test the park connection now. Our inverter has not properly worked since we bought the coach. I checked the fault codes and the pictures are what I found. I will check back after I test the park connection.

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #9 – August 04, 2019, 02:50:19 pm

The problem could very well be at the power pedestal, your coach frame (and skin) should be bonded to your grounding conductor in your power cord (green wire) and connected to the grounding bus in the pedestal thru the 30 or 50 amp plug. If you could connect a voltmeter between the coach frame or skin to the grounding bus n the pedestal (or frame of the pedestal itself) it should read 0 volts if wiring and connections are good. There should also be very little if any voltage potential between the neutral bus (white wires) and the grounding bus (green or bare wires) in the power pedestal. Some campgrounds will use too small of conductors and run too long a distance from the source ( transformer/ meter/ first means of disconnect) and you will see the neutral be at a potential above ground.

As stated in the above posts........... be careful until you find the problem, never grasp anything that could be "hot" as you may not be able to let go of it.

With the coach unplugged........... does the frame of the pedestal give the same sensation as touching the coach?

Again! Be careful!!

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #10 – August 04, 2019, 03:00:03 pm

The park connection passes the tests.

To be really clear the only spot we felt the shock was when using the metal key in the deadbolt. I could not even get the buzz when touching the outside of the deadbolt lock.

I will investigate the coach grounding to frame and body.

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #11 – August 04, 2019, 03:08:51 pm

You had to unplug from the park outlet while you tested it. Did you check to see if you were still getting the shock from the key when your shore power cord was unplugged?

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #12 – August 04, 2019, 03:09:29 pm

I dont know, but what about the door bell...

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #13 – August 04, 2019, 03:13:26 pm

Does not shock when disconnected from site.

No doorbell.

I am trying to check the ground between the body and frame.

Then I am going to run the generator and see if I can get the buzz.

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #14 – August 04, 2019, 03:20:03 pm

Eric,

You may have a short in the 50 amp plug that was looking questionable. You may also have a brush in your cable reel that is shorting between power and either ground or neutral.

Mike

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #15 – August 04, 2019, 03:56:29 pm

5.4 volts across the G and W post at the camp hookup.

8.2volts between the deadbolt key and wet ground beneath the coach.

Is 8.2 volts enough to feel or am I not likely capturing the actual voltage st the key?

Zero voltage (0.24) at the key when running on the generator.

Mike - I cleaned the connections at the 50 amp plug to like new condition.
I do have a closed circuit condition between poles X and W on my 50 amp plug when checked disconnected from the shore power. There are not amy other closed circuits on the plug. I believe you are on to the problem. I will need to investigate the power reel.

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #16 – August 04, 2019, 06:57:37 pm

So I learn every day. I pulled the shoreline reel apart and found the main cable hold down on the output had come loose allowing the wire to pull out. I couldn't find any obvious shorts but once I taped all the connections and re installed the cable hold down my closed circuit went away. On another positive note I was able to clean and install the reel so the bay door properly closes.

The campsite has a grounding issue being on an island. The electric company tells the site they are to expect up to 10 volts across the ground depending on the other rigs and electrical issues. The neutral is bonded to the ground which is only attached at three points throughout the park. The repair man says there has been an instance or two where the voltage across the ground hit 30 and 45 volts one time due to a rig with a faulty hot water heater. He kept installing larger breakers until he no longer tripped the breaker.

When he was here with me the voltage swung from 1.2 to 4.3 volts across the ground and neutral.

Good news is my coach is fine. Just have to be careful when everything is wet. I am not really thrilled with this outcome but the alternative is running the generator and that is not feasible.

Thank you for all the suggestions and help. Beer time.

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #17 – August 04, 2019, 07:49:30 pm

Quote from: Eric & Alena + 3 – August 04, 2019, 06:57:37 pm

So I learn every day. As we all do..........

He kept installing larger breakers until he no longer tripped the breaker.
don't learn from this unless you have a fire extinguisher at the ready!

Good job trouble shooting....... enjoy the cold one.

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #18 – August 04, 2019, 08:44:02 pm

If you check between the coach frame and the ground at your power cord plug you should have continuity.

Checking continuity between neutral and ground at your power cord plug should be 0

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #19 – August 04, 2019, 08:46:23 pm

On generator you should not get a stock touching the coach since the generator is not grounded

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #20 – August 04, 2019, 08:51:02 pm

Quote from: Eric & Alena + 3 – August 04, 2019, 06:57:37 pm

He kept installing larger breakers until he no longer tripped the breaker.

Good way to burn the coach up or electrocute someone

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #21 – August 04, 2019, 10:35:57 pm

I had a faulty power cord, hot skin is from lack of proper ground.drive a stake if you have to and wire it to that frame. Good Lord if the power company is too cheap to remedy this, are there islands with non conductive soil?

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #22 – August 05, 2019, 12:57:12 am

Pam and Mike to the rescue again for one of our members.
Reckon the praise from Michelle is correct, but most of us knew this fact before as they always have straight answers to most problems posted and with 99% accuracy. Just the facts and said with humility.
Well done guys.
JohnH

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #23 – August 05, 2019, 09:58:41 am

I want to add a point of information regarding electric shock.
I don't know what the threshold is for that tingling, buzzing sensation, but,
If you grab something electrically hot and feel that you can't release your grip,
look at your hand and while watching, will your hand to open.
The muscles are still under your control, you can't feel them moving.
Seeing is believing.
Finally, don't panic. All you need to do is break the connection.

An island without a good earth ground? That doesn't make sense.
An island with corrosion problems? That makes sense.

Re: Getting Shocked

Reply #24 – August 05, 2019, 10:29:10 am

Quote from: Old phart phred – August 04, 2019, 10:35:57 pm

Good Lord if the power company is too cheap to remedy this, are there islands with non conductive soil?

The salt spray causes havoc on the power lines.

RV park owner in Bolivar, TX. told me of all of the problems he has with complaints of getting shocked when touching their RV. He said most of them are the RV has a problem. He did say twice he tracked the problem all the way back to the power company. He says now when he calls the power company they come out right away. He said the last time they had to go to three different poles to fix problems on them.

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