...and also, what is "reversed polarity" ???

[Adria Haynes]

Thanks Geroge.

I guess I might know a little more than I thought. I just
remembered seeing those lights on one other time last year. The bus
was plugged into the house that time. I plugged it into the other
socket of the same outlet and they went off - so I forgot about it.
This year that outlet had to be swapped out from being fried
internally. I had a mini fridge plugged into it when it fried so I
just figured that THAT was the problem.

The water/electrical panel in the back of my bus actually had been
messed with - some of which by me when I bought it - since that
panel was out and needed being put back together. It worked fine
all last year at all the parks we stayed at without incident so I
grew to trust it. I currently am running a 50 amp line inside the
bus, but the extension cord I have is such that it lets me plug it
into a 30 amp outlet. I also have a 50amp service cord that I use
if I can get that level of hookup. My current setup is actually a
little embarassing as I have the 50/30 cord hooked to another long
extension 30 amp cord, then through a 110 outlet adapter - then
through a surge protector, THEN finally into the wall. Shame on me.

Thanks again and I'll start messing with the outlets as soon as I
get one of them checkers.

John

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, George Lowry
wrote:
> Hi John,
>
> Keep being a PITA if you need the info.... 8-) I would rather
spend
> time helping you and others than having to go to a funeral....
>
> I am not an expert on all models of the Wanderlodge but do have
some
> experience designing and building electrical systems. It seems
like
> you are speaking about the AC electrical system here.
>
> I believe that, in 1980, you only had 30 amp power available to
the
> coaches. The 30 amp power is a three wire system consisting of a
hot
> wire (normally black); A neutral (normally white); And a ground
> (normally green). If, for some reason the hot and neutral get
> reversed, it is called "reversed polarity". Now the cause can be
from
> several places. First is to check the outlet where you have the
coach
> plugged in. One of those pocket checkers with three lights is the
> easiest to use (about $10 at Home Depot). I am assuming that you
have
> your coach plugged into a normal 20 amp outlet in the garage.
That
> checker will tell you if your outlet is correctly wired. If not,
get a
> good electrician to correct it for you.
>
> If the outlet is correct, then you have a problem with the coach.
It
> could be the indicating system or the coach wiring could be
screwed
> up. Using that same pocket tester, plug it into various outlets in
the
> coach and see if you get a correct reading. If you do, then it
would
> appear that the indicating system is a problem and you would need
to
> contact PMMI (information in the contacts section of the files.).
If
> you have an indication of a reversed polarity from your pocket
tester,
> I suggest you get a knowledgeable technician/electrician to
> troubleshoot and correct the problem.
>
> If everything is wired correctly (House, coach, etc.), then it
takes
> at least two failures to create a shock hazard. The lights you
have
> indicate that you may have one failure. One more failure of the
fail
> safe design could be dangerous. BTW, this is if everything is
done in
> accordance with Section 551 of the National Electrical Code.
>
> Hope this is of some help. The code is designed to protect you if
you
> are not knowledgeable in electrical matters.
>
> George Lowry
> '95 WBDA 4203 & GM 4106 (for sale)
> Spearfish, SD
>
> Adria Haynes wrote:
>
> > Guys,
> >
> > I have an electrical issue with my bus. I need your help
because
> > I'm no good with electricity. The only thing I have ever been
able
> > to figure out about electricity in my 29 years is that it hurts
when
> > I touch it. Every single time - some more than others. 110
hurts
> > to the elbow. As expected, 220 goes twice as far and hurts
> > to/through the shoulder. Both continue to hurt even after you
are
> > able to let go. Again, as expected, 220 hurts twice as long
after
> > as the 110 does. I don't recommend making a habit of touching
> > either.
> >
> > Anyways,
> > On my '80, I noticed a few days ago that there were 2 red lights
on
> > in the galley above the toaster. They were some kind of
electrical
> > gauges and the red lights indicated that I had a "reversed
ploarity"
> > condition. Could somebody please help me out with information
about
> > this. I have a radio plugged into the same outlet as the bus
that
> > never skipped a beat. It's actually a garage radio that I have
left
> > on for about 2 years now. I only keep it plugged in to keep the
> > batteries up as they seem to love being dead if left alone.
Nothing
> > else is ever run like AC or fridges.
> >
> > Is there somethig wrong with my garage or is it with the bus?
Is it
> > bad?
> >
> > Please help if you can. I know I've been a pain in the ass
lately
> > taking much and offering very little in return but I assure you
all
> > that as soon as I can help anybody out I will be all over it.
> >
> > Thanks again, (and again, and again,)
> >
> > John
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >