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09-03-2021, 03:55 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: Rockledge, Florida
Posts: 132
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Here's a good one for you....240 Volts!
I had an electrician friend come over and wire up a plug for the RV, so I could plug it in. He knows nothing about RV's. I wasn't thinking about electricity. He wired my new plug into my dryer circuit which is 240 volts. I was happy to have a plug outside for the RV. Neither of us thought about the voltage. We were just thinking about the 30 amp plug in. Plugged it in and nothing happened. Was plugged in for about 10 min. Unplugged and came in to computer and did some research. That's when I realized what had happened. I don't know what damage was done but from what I have read, the converter is most likely dead. I'm going to check it this weekend and see where I'm at. Do I feel like an idiot .
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09-03-2021, 04:20 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Alberta
Posts: 1,976
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No you shouldn't, but the electrician should.
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Jeff and Annette Smith. Sparky, lemon Beagle.
2022 Chevy Equinox RS.
2007 Dutch Star
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09-03-2021, 04:40 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FL
Posts: 11,403
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If you do a search this is one of the most common mistakes made besides dropping wires while installing new wires or connecting them incorrectly.
Sadly, you are not alone. If you are lucky fuses may have protected some things.
Don't panic yet. Just take it one step at a time. Your electrician friend is not the first "expert" to make this mistake.
Sometimes I just forgot to plug things in and I am an Electronic Technician. Sheesh. It happens. You both are paying for your learning. He must be quite embarrassed.
__________________
Certified Senior Electronic Technician, Telecommunications Engineer, Telecommunications repair Service Center Owner, Original owner HR 2008
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09-03-2021, 08:12 AM
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#4
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Moderator Emeritus
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,945
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This is a pretty common problem with electricians that do not know about RV wiring. You need to get a Progressive IND EMS for your power inlet to the RV. They are really cheap insurance for avoiding costly mistakes.
But your friend should accept some responsibility for the wiring mess up.
Ken
__________________
Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|No Longer Full-Time! - 2023 Cougar 22MLS toted by 2022 F150, 3.5L EcoBoost Tow Max FX4 Lariat Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot, retired mechanical engineer
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09-03-2021, 08:22 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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Ugh... at this point it's done. Get the power right and start troubleshooting through the RV.
And buy an EMS...
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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09-03-2021, 08:23 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: "Murvul", TN
Posts: 1,658
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Your biggest mistake........."Electrician Friend"!
Next Mistake........"He knows nothing about RVs"
I could go on, but you get the point hopefully. There are lots and lots of folks out there that do Electrical work, that call themselves "Electricians" and don't have much more than a clue...at best...about Electrical. Unfortunately, you found one to put in the RV plug....sorry that happened and I hope you learned from it.
__________________
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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09-03-2021, 08:51 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Capistrano Beach, California
Posts: 4,465
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vsheetz
Ugh... at this point it's done. Get the power right and start troubleshooting through the RV.
And buy an EMS...
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My sentiments, exactly^^.
I applaud you for your "confession" on a public forum, many would not do that. You have provided a clear warning to others who are thinking about adding an outlet but lack the knowledge of "electricity."
Please update us when you get the properly wired outlet installed and start to troubleshoot any damages to your RV.
__________________
Larry, Eileen, and Finley
2004 Alpine 36FDDS
Third motor home, first Alpine, no need for another.
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09-03-2021, 09:30 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Hoodsport Wa
Posts: 3,116
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This same thing happened to a neighbors fifth wheel. "Professional residential electrician" did the install. It wasn't pretty, sorry to say.
It let the smoke out of nearly everything.
__________________
2000 Alpine 36 FDS #74058
04 Jeep Wrangler TJ
"On the road to find out..."
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09-03-2021, 09:39 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,996
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__________________
TandW
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09-03-2021, 10:04 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Houston
Posts: 341
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I would not think anything was harmed as it is only 240 volts between the two 120 volt legs. These would just feed into each side of your breaker panel and nothing will work because there in no neutral wire for either leg which is just 120 volts. Any power coming thru a breaker on either leg to a device must have a neutral line to complete the circuit. All your breakers should be 120 volts just drawing power from one of the two 120 volt legs. A 240 volt circuit draws power thru a double breaker from each 120 volt leg, no neutral required.
I hope this explains the situation.
After thought, did he connect one of the 120 volt legs as a neutral?
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09-03-2021, 10:16 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,445
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ROUGHRIDER3
I would not think anything was harmed as it is only 240 volts between the two 120 volt legs. These would just feed into each side of your breaker panel and nothing will work because there in no neutral wire for either leg which is just 120 volts. Any power coming thru a breaker on either leg to a device must have a neutral line to complete the circuit. All your breakers should be 120 volts just drawing power from one of the two 120 volt legs. A 240 volt circuit draws power thru a double breaker from each 120 volt leg, no neutral required.
I hope this explains the situation.
After thought, did he connect one of the 120 volt legs as a neutral?
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If he wired a TT30 receptacle as 240 its toast.
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09-03-2021, 10:56 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: "Murvul", TN
Posts: 1,658
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ROUGHRIDER3
I would not think anything was harmed as it is only 240 volts between the two 120 volt legs. These would just feed into each side of your breaker panel and nothing will work because there in no neutral wire for either leg which is just 120 volts. Any power coming thru a breaker on either leg to a device must have a neutral line to complete the circuit. All your breakers should be 120 volts just drawing power from one of the two 120 volt legs. A 240 volt circuit draws power thru a double breaker from each 120 volt leg, no neutral required.
I hope this explains the situation.
After thought, did he connect one of the 120 volt legs as a neutral?
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Maybe you didn't catch the part about it being a 30A receptacle....which is strictly 120VAC......not like a NEMA 14-50 receptacle that has two hots (180 degrees out of phase with each other), a neutral, and a ground. I'd be willing to bet there's some stuff that is cooked all the way to slightly overdone.
__________________
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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09-03-2021, 11:15 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 7,870
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YUP, two hots (i.e.240 VAC) to anything designed for ONE hot and a neutral (i.e.120 VAC)-- you will have "let the smoke out".
__________________
Brett Wolfe
Ex: 2003 Alpine 38FDDS. Ex: 1997 Safari Sahara. Ex: 1993 Foretravel U240
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09-03-2021, 11:16 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 4,875
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpine36
This same thing happened to a neighbors fifth wheel. "Professional residential electrician" did the install. It wasn't pretty, sorry to say.
It let the smoke out of nearly everything.
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Yep, and getting that majik electrical smoke back in? Nope.
Most of this is a case of the installer (note I didn't say "electrician") hearing "30 amps" and installing a 120/240V circuit (like for the a clothes dryer).
Compounding some confusion is that until about 30 years ago, no neutral was required for 240V appliances with small 120V loads (lights and controls) and the neutral was "faked" via the equipment grounding conductor. No longer per Code but there are plenty of us who wired up dryers that way in 1988... so for someone whose thinking stopped after hearing "30 amps", having this happen is not far-fetched at all.
__________________
2005 Four Winds Majestic 23A
“To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.” - Dr Suess
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