Parks with Electrical Problems

[SHvnDave]

Because of my inverter sensitivity, I have begun to notice which parks have electrical problems. I have noticed open ground or Neutrals, fluctuating voltages, etc. With an open ground, I have detected up to10 volts potential from the skin of my coach to earth - enough to knock you on your butt.

I think it is time to name names and let's force these people to bring their electrical systems up to code!

San Augustine Corp of Engineers park on the Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas: open ground.

Coachlight RV Park, Carthage, MO: Open ground or Neutral

I would appreciate input from others on parks they have found with electrical problems.
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SHvnDave
SHvnJudy
& Buffy

Living in a 99 Monaco Diplomat

[elh3946]

I hope you are notifying the RV parks of the problems; otherwise, they may not be aware of them and, thus, can't do anything to correct them.

[SHvnDave]

I have, of course. One park acknowledged the problem and the other, even when presented with the meter readings, denied any problems. I have also spent $100 to ensure that my electrical system is properly functioning - it is - and I have no problems with most parks. But now when I hook up, I test first - it is that important.
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SHvnDave
SHvnJudy
& Buffy

Living in a 99 Monaco Diplomat

[jrf]

but now when I hook up, I test first - it is that important.
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Plenty of RV parks, especially older places, have incorrectly-wired pedestals; this is hardly a "new" problem. But yes, it is that important to test the quality of the power coming out of the pedestal before hooking up. But I stopped being surprised a long time ago at how many people just plug in with no thoughts as to the safety or adequacy of the power supply.

Folks might want to look at www.surgeguard.com or www.progressiveindustries.net and invest in a good power line monitor, either portable or hard-wired. I've heard plenty of people say that a power line monitor is "too expensive"; I wonder if they've looked at the cost of re-wiring their rig? [/b]

[SHvnDave]

I agree that a surge protector/circuit tester is an excellent idea and everyone should invest in one; however, I also would like to start holding the park owners feet to the fire by posting the names of the parks where the power system is either potentially damaging to the coach or possibly dangerous to the occupants. As I said, getting 10V AC with your feet wet will give you a whole new outlook on this problem.
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SHvnDave
SHvnJudy
& Buffy

Living in a 99 Monaco Diplomat

[Adrienne]

I would caution you to send an email or certified postal letter to the parks informing them that if they do not respond or immediately comply with safe electrical operations, the names and locations of their parks will be made public. In today's litigious society, you could be sued if, in the interim between your letter and your post, they have repaired or upgreaded their system to code.

Once you have published their names, it's very difficult to repair their reputation. The damage will already have been done.

I'm not an attorney by any means but I advise you to wait before publishing any more names. Thank you.
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Best--

Adrienne Kristine
Forum Administrator
http://www.RVTravel.com
http://www.FreeCampgrounds.com
http://twitter.com/AdrienneAXK

[tantamount]

[Alterego]

Every electrical system in any park (Fed, State, County, City, or Private) is covered under the NEC (National Electric Code). If you find a problem and management refuses to repair it, NOTIFY the Electrical Inspector who has jurisdiction over that particular area. {Most normally it will be the local County Electrical Inspector that you would need to notify.} It is the electrical inspector's job to order repairs be made to be in compliance with code, and power be shut off if safety is an issue.

[tantamount]

[jrf]

There is a plethora of precedent to establish culpability on the part of the provider in cases like these.
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Perhaps so, but in real life, the burden of proof is still on the person whose rig's sytem was damaged. Since the process of establishing responsibility and collecting damages would very likely involve lawyers, insurance companies, and possible court proceedings, I suspect that it would be a very long, complex, and expensive procedure! And I would bet that the guy with the fried wires would be the one to suffer the greater inconvenience, hassle, and expense trying to prove an RV park's liability. YMMV.

[SHvnDave]

Since I first posted here, I have invested in a surge guard to monitor and protect my system (trips at >134V or <92V).

I am also building a box that will be mounted on a grounding rod. The box will plug into a 30A outlet and my 50A plug will plug into the box. The ground rod will be connected to the neutral connection and driven a foot into the earth to ensure I see zero volts on my neutral.

If the ground is not at zero volts, I will connect a separate line at my rig to go directly to earth - this keeps the neutral and the ground several feet apart and should solve most problems.

Note that when you have traveled 8-10 hours and pull into the only campground around, it doesn't matter whether the problem is the campground's because the problem WILL BE yours.

Adrienne - I would really like to see an article in RV Travel so more RVers and park owners become aware of the severity of the problem - maybe show a brightly lit lightbulb connected to the skin of a motorhome and mother earth.
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SHvnDave
SHvnJudy
& Buffy

Living in a 99 Monaco Diplomat

[bluegypsy]

As a workamper who is currently working at a commercial RV park, let me add this: We are now at a top-rated RV park, and I know for a fact that the electrical pedestals are repaired by unqualified, un-certified workampers. As relative newbies, we are learning as we go, and what we've seen here has led us to conclude that we need a circuit protection/testing thingie before our rig gets fried.

[lectricman1952]

[roadramblin]

We have stayed at Coachlight RV Park in Carthage, MO many, many times. As a matter of fact, it is where we are sitting this very minute. Any time we have notified them of anything amiss, they have taken care of it ASAP.
One time I saw a man rinse out his sewer hose by placing it over the water faucet. Eeeewww! I notified the park, and they immediately came to the site and sanitized the faucet.
They could not be better at this park.
We love em!
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Barb B

[cvrvr]

That is why, the first thing I do before plugging my shore power cable, is to verify the polarity and voltage of the pedestal receptacle. Also I have a hard wire SurgeGard unit mount in my coach.

Too many campgrounds with bad power problems.

George
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George & Karen Wharton
2004 Allegro 30DA W-20
2000 Jimmy toad