Help! AC Triped post 30A Breaker Ely, Minn

[tiby]

We just started on a trip things checked out at home after finding a non grounded outlet we used in our garage. We were showing Hot -Ground reversed with HOT SKIN.

After changing outlets we had no problems all RV outlets working fine

Now we are tripping 30 and 20Amp breakers at the post?????

The post actually the post to the left and right all show correct wiring with my tester.

Bad Shore Line?

Bad Wire junction box to fuse box or (electrical center )

We are looking ahead to Ely, Minnesota for a R V Service center, anybody information on R V service around Ely , Minn?

[Old-Biscuit]

I'm going to try and dissect what you posted

Originally Posted by tiby

We just started on a trip things checked out at home after finding a non grounded outlet we used in our garage. We were showing Hot -Ground reversed with HOT SKIN.

After changing outlets we had no problems all RV outlets working fine

Plugged RV into Standard outlet at home using Adapters. Outlet was NOT grounded causing HOT SKIN. Changed Outlet......All good with RV AC Power

Now we are tripping 30 and 20Amp breakers at the post?????

RV Plugged into CG Power Pedestal 30A Receptacle...Post 30A trips
RV Plugged into CG Power Pedestal 20A receptacle using adapter and 20A trips

The post actually the post to the left and right all show correct wiring with my tester.

CG site Power Pedestals to LEFT and to RIGHT 'test' OK using your 'tester'

What kind of 'tester' do you have????
Your CG Site Pedestal tests GOOD or BAD using your 'tester'???

Bad Shore Line?

Bad Wire junction box to fuse box or (electrical center )

We are looking ahead to Ely, Minnesota for a R V Service center, anybody information on R V service around Ely , Minn?

Need answers & more detail to help.............

[ArtJoyce]

Is this the only post that you failed at? You also mention post to left and right are good. Could it be you just got a bad post?

[Persistent]

Hot, neutral, and ground wiring codes are there for a reason. Make sure they correct.

That said, the hot skin condition when ground is missing means something is shorting to ground. Even without a proper ground, skin should not be hot. If every thing is working as expected there will be no voltage on the ground and no current through the ground wire. It is solely there in case of a malfunction.

Find the defect and correct it. It may be getting worse.

Shore power sources typically trip two different ways. The first and most obvious is over current. Circuit breakers and fuses trip. Test by turning all RV breakers "off". Next turn main breaker "on". Turn each branch breaker on one at a time.

The second is Ground Fault Interupters (GFI). GFI trip when the current in the hot wire is not identical to the current in the neutral wire. Hot skin means there will be current in the ground wire when it is connected. That means the neutral wire has less current than the hot wire. GFI trips.

Many malfunctions can cause a hot skin. One of the most frequent is an electric water heater element. Many will burn out and short to ground if turned on without water in the hot water tank.

Another is a short in an absorption refrigerator heat element. They sometimes fail just like hot water elements do.

Do the easy things first to trouble shoot. Unplug all 120 volt appliances that have plugs. Unplug the microwave, the refrigerator, the coffee pot, everything. If shore power stops tripping then plug things in one at a time. Wait a moment and add another.

Next trip all circuit breakers in main and sub panels in the RV. If shore power stops tripping then reset circuit breakers one at a time. Wait a moment and add another.

Only hot wires are switched in 120 volt circuits. Neutral wires remain connected at all times. A given circuit may trip a shore power GFI even if the hot wire circuit breaker is off. The only way to know for sure is to disconnect the neutral wire as well. This of course requires more skill and wiring knowledge.

If turning circuit breakers "off" does not indicate the problem, disconnect neutral wires one at a time. Many electric systems have a neutral buss in the service entrance circuit breaker box. The branch circuits can often be disconnected there.

There are other possibilities, this covers most likely causes.

I wish you good luck and happy trails ahead!

[OldWEB]

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f44/help...ns-444874.html


I am confused, three years ago you had the same problem.

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by OldWEB

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f44/help...ns-444874.html


I am confused, three years ago you had the same problem.

Hummmmmm???

And didn't get it into the RV shop

[jarwiebe]

Three years ago he asked about hot skin in his "2006 Cougar"

In his current ABOUT ME he list his RV as:

RV Manufacturer
thor
RV Model
travel lite
RV Length
27

If these are in fact 2 different RV's with the same problem, he needs to start looking at what is common to the two. ie Home power source, dog bones, extension cords etc.

It would be time to buy a lottery ticket if in fact 2 different RVs had the same issue for the same owner 3 years apart.

[bigb56]

Hot skin is often a mis-diagnosis. Plug into any ungrounded power source and the little pocket proximity testers will ring on the skin even though it is not energized. (same thing in an old, ungrounded house, the proximity tester will ring on metal fixtures and when an inch or so away from a wall outlet).
Another very common mis-diagnosis is hot-ground reversed on a 3 light tester. This just doesn't happen. What happens is an open neutral with a load on it puts a voltage potential on the neutral line and tricks the cheap 3 light tester which can't tell the difference.