Hot Skin Event

JGallagher · 08-11-2021, 02:17 AM

Plugged in last night at a private home that regularly hosts RV’s. (Boondocker’s Welcome site). The sun was shining directly on the Surge Protector so I could not see the LED’s to confirm that all is well. Did not worry about it as I was told that this is where everyone plugs in.
Went to close the door before bed and received a shock from the handle while standing on the ground!
Having read this forum, I had seen a post or two on Hot Skin. Thanks Thor Forums!

Read the lights on the surge protector and it indicated that there was reverse polarity so I unplugged.
I would state that everything worked normally in the rv during the evening.

I have never had this symptom before and want to know if the hot skin is due to the reverse polarity or if there is a second issue with the electrical system of the RV or perhaps, of the wiring of the home.

I will be more careful in the future and I, of course, informed the homeowner of the electric problem.
Strangely, I had exactly 1/3 tank of fresh water at the time.

Thanks for your comments.

Chateau_Nomad · 08-11-2021, 02:45 AM

Copied from a knowledge base...

Why do I have voltage on my ground wire?

Neutral-to-earth voltage can be caused by a number of factors, both in and around the farm. Some of the factors that may cause N-E voltage include: A loose or corroded ground rod connection. Badly rusted electrical boxes or conduit (a tube or duct for enclosing electric wires or cable).

In respect to this, should ground wire have voltage?

Neutral-to-ground connection. Some neutral-to-ground voltage should be present under load conditions, typically 2V or less. To check for reversed neutral and ground wires, measure the hot-to-neutral and hot-to-ground voltages under load. The hot-to-ground reading should be higher than the hot-to-neutral reading.

Why do I have voltage between neutral and ground?

Neutral to ground voltage exists because of the IR drop of the current traveling through the neutral back to the Neutral to ground bond. Zero Reading: A certain amount of Neutral to ground voltage is normal in a loaded circuit. If the reading is stable at close to 0V.

Does a ground wire carry current?

In any electrical circuit, there are two wires needed to complete any circuit. The grounding wire does not carry electricity under normal circuit operations. It's purpose is to carry electrical current only under short circuit or other conditions that would be potentially dangerous.

Trophy1200 · 08-11-2021, 02:58 AM

It's a good job you had exactly 1/3 of a tank of water, any more or less could have caused serious problems.

Jimbo56 · 08-11-2021, 10:02 AM

I’ve never experienced the problem you state. Can’t help there. Maybe cuz I carry 2/3 tank of fresh water.🤪

cpmath · 08-11-2021, 11:15 AM

You were in your bare feet when you touched the door handle weren't you? I try to have a water tank with 7/8th in it. That should help.

JGallagher · 08-11-2021, 01:16 PM

I unintentionally have derailed my own post with the addition of the comment about the water tank. Oh well...
Yes, I was barefoot when I touched the door handle.
Would love to hear from any of our Master Electricians about my issue as it could potentially be serious.
Thanks again.

saddlesore · 08-11-2021, 02:25 PM

I believe that I would invest in a full EMS that would not "Connect" if any wiring faults were found..

HarryS · 08-11-2021, 04:33 PM

https://rvelectricity.com/2018/09/24...stray-voltage/

waynetaylor55 · 08-11-2021, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saddlesore

I believe that I would invest in a full EMS that would not "Connect" if any wiring faults were found..

Hooligan2 · 08-13-2021, 01:51 AM

If your boondock private home had "converted" a 2 wire receptacle to 3 wire by using a jumper between neutral and ground, your appliances would work normally but a reverse connection would apply hot voltage to the ground. This explains it better,
https://www.ecmweb.com/construction/...esting-exposed

JGallagher · 08-13-2021, 01:34 PM

We are at a campground just west of Sioux Falls, SD - Lake Vermillion Rec Area.
I plugged in and all is well.
No "Hot Skin/stray voltage"
I measured with the multimeter at the door and all was fine.
Clearly the issue was due to the wiring at the receptacle at the previous site.
I am happy that I alerted the homeowner to the issue.
Thanks everyone for the replies.

lwmcguire · 08-14-2021, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hooligan2

If your boondock private home had "converted" a 2 wire receptacle to 3 wire by using a jumper between neutral and ground, your appliances would work normally but a reverse connection would apply hot voltage to the ground. This explains it better,
https://www.ecmweb.com/construction/...esting-exposed

Had to be the issue at the home

gnach · 08-14-2021, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hooligan2

If your boondock private home had "converted" a 2 wire receptacle to 3 wire by using a jumper between neutral and ground, your appliances would work normally but a reverse connection would apply hot voltage to the ground. This explains it better,
https://www.ecmweb.com/construction/...esting-exposed
...snip...

Thanks for that reference. The phenomenon is well explained, and the author illustrates that a non-contact voltage tester should be part of our site testing before hooking up to a campsite pedestal.

And thanks James, for persevering past the useless comments.

knucklehead · 08-19-2021, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo56

I’ve never experienced the problem you state. Can’t help there. Maybe cuz I carry 2/3 tank of fresh water.🤪

What the HELL does the amount of water in the fresh tank have to do with anything????? Bob Trice

MLP · 08-19-2021, 04:52 PM

Nothing. Except for those who do not understand that.

Chateau_Nomad · 08-19-2021, 05:28 PM

You can be "shocked" to discover how many do/do not use "the pink stuff" in their water lines...

petef · 08-19-2021, 08:28 PM

this happened to me at a campground in Tecopa Hot Springs, CA. It rained that night, when I went out side to get something out of the bay I got shocked when I touched metal. The campground wiring has some issues..

gnach · 08-19-2021, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knucklehead

What the HELL does the amount of water in the fresh tank have to do with anything????? Bob Trice

Nothing. Just a joker in the back of the class throwing spit wads.

HMCSW · 08-19-2021, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGallagher

We are at a campground just west of Sioux Falls, SD - Lake Vermillion Rec Area.
I plugged in and all is well.
No "Hot Skin/stray voltage"
I measured with the multimeter at the door and all was fine.
Clearly the issue was due to the wiring at the receptacle at the previous site.
I am happy that I alerted the homeowner to the issue.
Thanks everyone for the replies.

We have a device to plug into power source which displays polarity and is a surge protector. We do this prior to plugging in our RV.

Chateau_Nomad · 08-20-2021, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HMCSW

We have a device to plug into power source which displays polarity and is a surge protector. We do this prior to plugging in our RV.

I believe previous posters have suggested using a good Electric Management System... either at the pedestal or a permanent install. This prevents a faulty wired pedestal from energizing your MH if something is amiss. You are risking potentially seriously electrical damage to your rig without one. They are not cheap... but worth every penny!

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