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12-13-2017, 07:53 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 114
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Electric Mishap
I brought our 2011 Wind River home to begin getting it ready, and packed for our winter trip to Florida. While parked in our driveway, I had an electrician install a 30 amp outlet in our garage so I didn't have to use a 20 amp circuit thinking I could use a heater inside it. Needless to say, and after warning him that this circuit had to be 120 volts, he wired it for 240 thinking I didn't know what I was talking about.
Thinking he did it correctly, and knowing how good of an electrician he is (was), I plugged the trailer in without metering the new outlet. As a note, nothing was operating inside the trailer. Immediately, the main breaker in the trailer broke, as well as the one in our home. I unplugged everything and called him back. He came and corrected his mistake, but I don't know if anything was damaged inside the trailer. Everything seems to be working now, but I haven't operated the frig or AC yet and wondering if anything might have been damaged. Any advise would be greatly appreciated before we leave for Florida. Thanks
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12-13-2017, 08:06 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Port Orchard, WA
Posts: 4,215
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Baring checking EVERY single plug/outlet, and every single appliance, I would specifically check:
- if you have a transfer switch, check it and confirm that t was not damaged.
- Inspect ALL circuit breakers to ensure that they are not "welded shut".
- check the Air conditioning unit in AC mode, and Heat (if a heat pump)
- check functioning of power inverter, if installed.
You may have gotten off lucky. If I discovered any problems, your "electrician" needs to pony up for repairs.
__________________
Scot & Laura Kellersberger, U.S. Army (ret)
Newmar 4 wheel drive Dutch Star 3891, SOLD
Now RV'ing on the water in a Trawler!
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12-13-2017, 08:09 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Alberta - East of the Rockies, West of the Rest
Posts: 831
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I'm very sorry for what happened to your trailer's electrical system.
Since you know nothing 120 Volt was turned on (not entirely true) when you plugged the trailer in there is a good chance that the breakers tripped quick enough to limit the damage to the converter/charger box. I would replace it, they are not that expensive and maybe your electrician can help you out with this since it is his fault you're in this situation.
Now may be the perfect time to also invest in a surge protector like Progressive or SurgeGuard.
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2018 Ram 5500 with 2021 Arctic Fox 1140
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12-13-2017, 08:13 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: "Murvul", TN
Posts: 1,653
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I'm going to have to question your phrase...."good Electrician" and completely disagree with you on that point. Good electricians know exactly what they are dealing with BEFORE they start work on something like that, not after a customer calls them back to correct their mistakes. If it sounds like I'm being harsh.....I am. I'm also a high voltage electrician and you damn Well better know what you're doing or you don't last very long in this trade. I've been a Journeyman since 1980. Can anyone say Crispy Critter?
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2016 F350 Crew Cab Dually Diesel King Ranch 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M Toy Hauler
Excessive Payload Capacity is a Wonderful Thing!
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12-13-2017, 08:20 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 178
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Father-in-law did the same thing and it took out the fridge and microwave. In his case the building was wired for 240 delta 3 phase, which means if you go common to all three hots, 2 will read 120 and one will read 208, yet when you read hot to hot they all read 240.
When he wired his RV plug, he used a 120V leg and the 208V leg, so basically half the RV got 208V. Fortunately his AC's were not getting 208.
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2005 Fleetwood Revolution 40C W/Cat C7 towing 2007 Jeep Wrangler, Demco Challenger Tow Bar, Blue Ox Patriot II Toad Brake
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12-13-2017, 08:23 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,799
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Good advice on the converter. Basically, anything that was powered at the time is suspect. After all, something tripped the main breaker!
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Scott Brownstein
Palm Island, Florida
2015 Georgetown 335DS
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12-13-2017, 09:13 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 392
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For future protection, I can highly recommend one of these. One of its features is 240V protection. Progressive Industries, Inc. | Rv Surge Protection
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2017 Timber Ridge 25RDS
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
Spokane Valley, WA
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12-13-2017, 10:06 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 855
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I wonder how often this happens? When I had my electrician wire my 30 amp plug in my garage he purchased an RV outlet kit. He was also well aware of the fact that it was a 120 volt outlet and had a 30 amp single pole breaker to go with it. Weird that your electrician argued with you and didn't do any research. What an expensive mistake.
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2019 Outdoors RV Timber Ridge 27 bhs
2017 Ram Cummins 2500
Soggy side of Oregon
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12-13-2017, 10:39 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: So Calif
Posts: 3,521
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A digital volt meter is your best friend if you own a RV.
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2020 Coachmen Leprechaun 270QB (COA Member)
Jeep Wrangler toad for the dirt
"Well done is better than well said"....Ben Franklin
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12-13-2017, 11:08 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Town of Beloit
Posts: 363
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Never ASSume
Funny how electricians look at an RV plug and wire it as a dryer or range outlet. Happened to me also, my cousin set up electric for us on her property, arrived late in evening, first time to plug in thought about checking before plugging in. ASSumed electrician knew what he was doing . Plugged in and POOF blew the cover right off the converter. Funny now and luckily it took the hit and nothing else was damaged . I still am pissed I didn't check before I plugged in .
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2016 Tiffin 34PA, 2018 Ford Edge toad, Blue OX rear track bar, Cheap handling fix, Konis, Super Steer retired Ford tech/service manager, No Worry, No Hurry. "Livin The Dream"
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12-13-2017, 11:13 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Warman, SK
Posts: 790
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My daughter had same thing happen this past spring. Took out AC, fridge, stereo, converter and battery. Electricians do that fairly regularly. As soon as they see that plug they get to thinkin 240. Repair shops say they get some every year. I’m thinking it could happen in campground too so I have a tester now.
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John & Linda
2023 Imagine 2970 RL
2019 Ram 3500 Bighorn 6.7L Cummins
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12-13-2017, 11:28 AM
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#12
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Registered User
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: La Verne, Calif
Posts: 3,649
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If it looks or smells burnt, it is. When the main opened everything was protected. I would run and inspect everything 120V. If it was turned off it is probably OK but check. Is there anything in any RV that uses 240V?
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12-13-2017, 03:49 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 2,091
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You just might be OK. If there was enough 120 volt stuff turned on , the overload on the circuit would be very high and the breaker would trip instantly before doing any damage. The main things to check would be the converter/inverter , electric water heater element , electric element in the fridge if is not a RF. Most electronic equipment monitors the voltage for a very short time before powering up so it should be OK.
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1993 Tiffin Allegro Bay 32'
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12-13-2017, 04:29 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,994
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Quote:
Originally Posted by R.B
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X10, I won't plug my RV, in a camp ground pole without one, and call me anal but I check the outlet with my volt tester first. Even though the above item does that for you I have never had a problem, but a few years ago I was at an RV repair shop, and there was a nice looking 5ver that was obviously having some extensive repairs being done. The shop owner said it had it's 50 amp cord plugged into at a old park, and suffered major electrical issues. Just my 2 penny's.
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2004 Montana 2955RL, 400 watt solar, 2000 watt inverter/charger, 4-Interstate 225AH 6volt golf cart batteries, All LED lights,Champion Remote start 3- fuel option 3100/3400 inverter/gen.- 2000 F-350 7.3 4x4 long bed crew cab SRW.
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