Help - electric short rims are hot!

[junior30]

I am new to rv's and just purchased a 2015 thor four winds 31e class c. I have only had it about a month. Was getting ready for a trip tomorrow and while washing the coach got a little shock when I touched the rims.

I was able to narrow it down to it only happens when connected to shore power and is stronger on the drivers side. I was plugged in to 15 amp wall outlet using an adapter. I am guessing there is a short somewhere touching the frame with the line coming in from shore power.

I am going to get under there tomorrow before I leave and see if I can find any issues. Has anyone experienced this before? I'm looking for pointers on where to start looking. I don't think I'm going to let this stop my trip but would like to figure it out before I leave.

[brussam]

Not so much a short as an open to Ground. With the Ground path open, you become the path when touching the frame (wheel). I would suspect the receptacle you are plugged into.

[Chance]

I'd also check the adapter you are using to make sure connections are good, particularly the ground.

[Bruce]

It could be in your power cord.

This should be fixed ASAP.

Bruce

[junior30]

Thanks for the help. I am at a campground and do not have the issue That i noted at home. So I think, like said above, it is either a ground issue with the wall outlet or the 30 amp to 15 amp adapter. I will not be using the adapter or the wall outlet until I determine what the issue is.

Thanks for the help.

[FW28z]

Invest in a surge protector. These can detect both open grounds and reversed (hot and neutral) wiring in the outlet you are plugged into. Every RV'er should have one. They vary in price from around $50 to $300, depending on features and capacity (30 or 50Amps).

Almost all of the surge protectors detect open grounds and reversed wiring, as well as have some degree of surge/lightning protection. The more expensive ones usually add brown-out protection (they can automatically disconnect your coach when the voltage drops too low), voltmeters, remote panels, etc.

[junior30]

Thanks for the replies. The list of things needed for an rv seems to be endless. Apparently the surge protector would be a good investment. One would think that for $80,000 + the rv would have one built in but that would only make sense.