Stray voltage

seantierney · 10-05-2020, 04:20 PM

I recently plugged into my house on a 110 line when I touched the door handle or the handle to the outside kitchen I would get a little shock any idea what causes this

Bob Denman · 10-05-2020, 04:41 PM

When you unplug: does the same thing happen?

HaRVey · 10-05-2020, 04:54 PM

It is likely that either the extension cord you are using has a missing or defective ground lug or the home outlet you are plugged into does not have a good ground. I had a similar thing happen when the ground prong on my home extension cord broke off.

lwmcguire · 10-05-2020, 05:36 PM

What RV did you buy?
Hot skin used to be quite common before the 4 wire plugs. As noted above you are missing a ground and might have neutral issues as well.

DavidEM · 10-05-2020, 06:27 PM

The ground is the last thing that protects you from a fault in the wiring causing a shock. You do have an open ground but you also have a fault in the wiring that leaks voltage to the coach's chassis. If you had a goog ground it would pull the voltage down to zero and you wouldn't feel anything and perhaps trip the breaker if really bad.

So you have two problems to deal with: a fault in the wiring and an open ground.

David

**16ACE27** · 10-05-2020, 07:43 PM

Doesn't have to be an open ground: it can be as simple as the receptacle you are plugged in to has the hot and neutral wires reversed. UNPLUG until you get this fixed.

seantierney · 10-05-2020, 08:16 PM

No it’s fine

seantierney · 10-05-2020, 08:18 PM

Bought a 2017 Thor windsport 34j

cavie · 10-05-2020, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seantierney

No it’s fine

What is fine? Please use the quote button. You have what is called a "hot skin Condition". Very dangerous for someone with a Pace Maker. Call an electrician and have it fixed pronto! Not just a missing ground.

Beau388 · 10-05-2020, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Doesn't have to be an open ground: it can be as simple as the receptacle you are plugged in to has the hot and neutral wires reversed. UNPLUG until you get this fixed.

In an 120 volt AC circuit the hot and neutral carry the same current and voltage.

**16ACE27** · 10-05-2020, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beau388

In an 120 volt AC circuit the hot and neutral carry the same current and voltage.

Sorry, no. Same current in a properly operating system, NOT the same voltage.

There's a reason it is called the "HOT" lead. It will measure 120 VAC to ground.
The neutral wire measures 0 VAC to ground as it is normally tied to ground at the distribution source.

You can touch the neutral wire with no ill effects. You CANNOT touch the HOT lead without ill effects.

Beau388 · 10-06-2020, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Sorry, no. Same current in a properly operating system, NOT the same voltage.

There's a reason it is called the "HOT" lead. It will measure 120 VAC to ground.
The neutral wire measures 0 VAC to ground as it is normally tied to ground at the distribution source.

You can touch the neutral wire with no ill effects. You CANNOT touch the HOT lead without ill effects.

Humm, so where does the current go when it leaves the hot wire? Since there is no current on the ground wire or else the circuit breaker would trip there is only one wire left. If you trust - Ask the Electrician.com -

The Neutral Wire
The purpose of the neutral wire is to complete the 120volt AC circuit by providing the path back to the electrical panel where the neutral wire is connected and bonded to the earth ground. The neutral is an insulated wire because it is part of the circuit which flows electrical current.

I might mention that there can be only one bond between the neutral and the ground. That can be the coach's generator or the house's main electrical panel or campgrounds main electrical panel, but never in the coach's main electrical panel.

**16ACE27** · 10-06-2020, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beau388

Humm, so where does the current go when it leaves the hot wire? Since there is no current on the ground wire or else the circuit breaker would trip there is only one wire left. If you trust - Ask the Electrician.com -

The Neutral Wire
The purpose of the neutral wire is to complete the 120volt AC circuit by providing the path back to the electrical panel where the neutral wire is connected and bonded to the earth ground. The neutral is an insulated wire because it is part of the circuit which flows electrical current.

I might mention that there can be only one bond between the neutral and the ground. That can be the coach's generator or the house's main electrical panel or campgrounds main electrical panel, but never in the coach's main electrical panel.

I said it was the "Same current in a properly operating system". You can't feel current going through a conductor (wire), otherwise you would have a lot of fried birds sitting on the power lines. What the OP is feeling is current going through his body to ground. Current flows due to voltage - a difference of electrical potential between two points. In a properly operating system there is no difference in potential between ground and the neutral wire. There IS a huge difference in potential between the HOT wire and ground

lwmcguire · 10-06-2020, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seantierney

Bought a 2017 Thor windsport 34j

Enjoy and congratulations!

lwmcguire · 10-06-2020, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seantierney

I recently plugged into my house on a 110 line when I touched the door handle or the handle to the outside kitchen I would get a little shock any idea what causes this

No one has jumped in as to how to troubleshoot so here are some basics

First test you power cord to establish the ground is OK and check the neutral while moving the cord both at plug in and at each junction all the way back to the transfer switch watching for any reading or deflection then start inside

Turn off all your 120v breakers

Test the skin both to a proven ground and neautral

Use your proven ground/neutral as your negative lead attachment

Start flipping on breakers one by one testing to see when you get a reading with flow to the negative lead

Many times it has been the electric element in hot water heaters that have failed either to age or operating them without water in the tank

Good luck

Bob Denman · 10-06-2020, 06:39 PM

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1602009571

Tom N3EQF · 10-06-2020, 06:41 PM

A simple tool for starters is an outlet tester that will show whether any lines are healthy. Just plug into the house outlet you're using and check the LED's. If the outlet is OK plug the RV into the same outlet and plug the tester in any RV outlet.

OldWEB · 10-06-2020, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seantierney

I recently plugged into my house on a 110 line when I touched the door handle or the handle to the outside kitchen I would get a little shock any idea what causes this

So I do not get my PP slapped for voicing my 'opinion', I will post this link with a lot of good reads. Good luck!

Bob Denman · 10-06-2020, 07:42 PM

Tom,
This looks like a pretty darn handy thing to keep in your pocket!

Thanks!
https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1602013321

Pete'sMH · 10-06-2020, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Tom,

This looks like a pretty darn handy thing to keep in your pocket!

Thanks!

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1602013321

I use one to test every power outlet before I plug in. I use a puck style adapter to test the 30A outlet.

You may also like: