Hot skin safety test time

[Ralph L. Fullenwider]

Hello everyone:

It has been a warm summer for most of us and the A/C's have been running
leaving the heaters and other things at rest.

I have been doing up grades and some R&R on some of the systems in Ruff
Diamond. And with winter coming up I decided it was time to do a hot skin
test as it is on my PM list every 6 months.

What your checking for is any rise in AC voltage from a ground/ground
source with the negative lead on your meter attached to that and the red
lead to probe several spots around the door frame metal. What you should
see when first hooking up the meter is .0001 plus or minus 0. If you see a
reading of .0201 reading then you have a hot skin with 1/4 volts AC (it can
be as much as 1/2 volt AC), and need to find the source of the voltage.
What will a hot skin do? It will send a tingling through your body if you
touch any metal part of the Coach while standing in a rain puddle or if
your sweaty and hot skin has been known to send enough voltage via amperage
through your hand to ground to knock you off the step and yes, deaths have
occurred. Is it serious, darn right it is.

If you don't have a deviation great, fold it up your done and you and your
Family are safe. If you do have voltage then use a clip lead and connect
the red lead to a point around the door and go to the main breaker box and
starting with one breaker (either leg) switch it off and check the meter
for change, do this on both legs until you find a change and what ever
breaker you switch off the difference is noted then that is the AC
electrical circuit you need to find the problem on.

If, when you first do the check and the meter range is un stable try
pouring a glass of water on the ground rod you drove into the ground for
your ground /ground. If the meter is still ranging up and down then more
than likely you do not have a hot skin but dirty contacts on the change
over switch, automatic or manual it does not matter.

Oh for my ground I use a copper tool I made for doing this. You can take an
18inch length of rebar, sharpen one end and drive it into the ground just
out side the door way so you can attach the black meter lead to it.

The whold think take less and 10 minutes to do and you know if your safe or
that you need to find the problem.

Safe travels,

Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
84FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
Duncan, Oklahoma

[Scott Forman]

Ralph, thanks for this, I have "hot skin" and also had it on my old
FC. I have a question...

One question...my coach is plugged into a non-grounded (the old 2-pin
type) outlet when parked at home. I am no electrician, but I had
convinced myself that this non-grounded outlet was the source of
my "hot skin". The "hot skin" isn't there when on generator power.
Is there any logic to that theory?

Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ralph L. Fullenwider"
wrote:
>
> Hello everyone:
>
> It has been a warm summer for most of us and the A/C's have been
running
> leaving the heaters and other things at rest.
>
> I have been doing up grades and some R&R on some of the systems in
Ruff
> Diamond. And with winter coming up I decided it was time to do a
hot skin
> test as it is on my PM list every 6 months.
>
> What your checking for is any rise in AC voltage from a
ground/ground
> source with the negative lead on your meter attached to that and
the red
> lead to probe several spots around the door frame metal. What you
should
> see when first hooking up the meter is .0001 plus or minus 0. If
you see a
> reading of .0201 reading then you have a hot skin with 1/4 volts AC
(it can
> be as much as 1/2 volt AC), and need to find the source of the
voltage.
> What will a hot skin do? It will send a tingling through your body
if you
> touch any metal part of the Coach while standing in a rain puddle
or if
> your sweaty and hot skin has been known to send enough voltage via
amperage
> through your hand to ground to knock you off the step and yes,
deaths have
> occurred. Is it serious, darn right it is.
>
> If you don't have a deviation great, fold it up your done and you
and your
> Family are safe. If you do have voltage then use a clip lead and
connect
> the red lead to a point around the door and go to the main breaker
box and
> starting with one breaker (either leg) switch it off and check the
meter
> for change, do this on both legs until you find a change and what
ever
> breaker you switch off the difference is noted then that is the AC
> electrical circuit you need to find the problem on.
>
> If, when you first do the check and the meter range is un stable
try
> pouring a glass of water on the ground rod you drove into the
ground for
> your ground /ground. If the meter is still ranging up and down then
more
> than likely you do not have a hot skin but dirty contacts on the
change
> over switch, automatic or manual it does not matter.
>
> Oh for my ground I use a copper tool I made for doing this. You can
take an
> 18inch length of rebar, sharpen one end and drive it into the
ground just
> out side the door way so you can attach the black meter lead to it.
>
> The whold think take less and 10 minutes to do and you know if your
safe or
> that you need to find the problem.
>
> Safe travels,
>
> Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
> 84FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
> Duncan, Oklahoma
>

[Ralph L. Fullenwider]

Yes there is logic to that because the ground and neutral tie is not
present so there is only a path back to neutral and not ground, but still
go through the switching each breaker off and check. You will or should not
have a hot skin when plugged into campground shore power, or gen set, and
the hot skin is more prevalent when plugged into a 110 vac source vs 220 vac.

In recent posts, we learned that the only place that the neutral and ground
are to be bonded together is at the source only and not the coach. I have
seen the neutral and ground bonded in the heater in the bath where the
wiring got hot and melted through the wire nuts because the wire nuts were
not tight and taped and this was causing the hot skin test to fail. I also
found much the same thing in a 4x4 electrical box in route to the water heater.

I needed to mention the adapter to 110vac should be used for this test.

Safe travels,

Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
84FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
Duncan, Oklahoma

At 10:16 PM 9/3/2008 +0000, you wrote:
>Ralph, thanks for this, I have "hot skin" and also had it on my old
>FC. I have a question...
>
>One question...my coach is plugged into a non-grounded (the old 2-pin
>type) outlet when parked at home. I am no electrician, but I had
>convinced myself that this non-grounded outlet was the source of
>my "hot skin". The "hot skin" isn't there when on generator power.
>Is there any logic to that theory?
>
>Scott Forman
>86 PT38
>Memphis
>
>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ralph L. Fullenwider"
> wrote:
> >
> > Hello everyone:
> >
> > It has been a warm summer for most of us and the A/C's have been
>running
> > leaving the heaters and other things at rest.
> >
> > I have been doing up grades and some R&R on some of the systems in
>Ruff
> > Diamond. And with winter coming up I decided it was time to do a
>hot skin
> > test as it is on my PM list every 6 months.
> >
> > What your checking for is any rise in AC voltage from a
>ground/ground
> > source with the negative lead on your meter attached to that and
>the red
> > lead to probe several spots around the door frame metal. What you
>should
> > see when first hooking up the meter is .0001 plus or minus 0. If
>you see a
> > reading of .0201 reading then you have a hot skin with 1/4 volts AC
>(it can
> > be as much as 1/2 volt AC), and need to find the source of the
>voltage.
> > What will a hot skin do? It will send a tingling through your body
>if you
> > touch any metal part of the Coach while standing in a rain puddle
>or if
> > your sweaty and hot skin has been known to send enough voltage via
>amperage
> > through your hand to ground to knock you off the step and yes,
>deaths have
> > occurred. Is it serious, darn right it is.
> >
> > If you don't have a deviation great, fold it up your done and you
>and your
> > Family are safe. If you do have voltage then use a clip lead and
>connect
> > the red lead to a point around the door and go to the main breaker
>box and
> > starting with one breaker (either leg) switch it off and check the
>meter
> > for change, do this on both legs until you find a change and what
>ever
> > breaker you switch off the difference is noted then that is the AC
> > electrical circuit you need to find the problem on.
> >
> > If, when you first do the check and the meter range is un stable
>try
> > pouring a glass of water on the ground rod you drove into the
>ground for
> > your ground /ground. If the meter is still ranging up and down then
>more
> > than likely you do not have a hot skin but dirty contacts on the
>change
> > over switch, automatic or manual it does not matter.
> >
> > Oh for my ground I use a copper tool I made for doing this. You can
>take an
> > 18inch length of rebar, sharpen one end and drive it into the
>ground just
> > out side the door way so you can attach the black meter lead to it.
> >
> > The whold think take less and 10 minutes to do and you know if your
>safe or
> > that you need to find the problem.
> >
> > Safe travels,
> >
> > Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
> > 84FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
> > Duncan, Oklahoma
> >
>

[Kurt Horvath]

Ralph,

Does this apply to the coaches that have 50 amp service?
If so, and I plug into a 30 amp. outlet only one leg of the two leg
system is hot, the other side has no power, Do I run the test as
first decribed or is there an alternative proceedure?
I have on rare occasions felt that tingling on the coach.

Thanks,

Kurt Horvath
95 PT-42
10AC

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ralph L. Fullenwider"
wrote:
>
> Yes there is logic to that because the ground and neutral tie is
not
> present so there is only a path back to neutral and not ground, but
still
> go through the switching each breaker off and check. You will or
should not
> have a hot skin when plugged into campground shore power, or gen
set, and
> the hot skin is more prevalent when plugged into a 110 vac source
vs 220 vac.
>
> In recent posts, we learned that the only place that the neutral
and ground
> are to be bonded together is at the source only and not the coach.
I have
> seen the neutral and ground bonded in the heater in the bath where
the
> wiring got hot and melted through the wire nuts because the wire
nuts were
> not tight and taped and this was causing the hot skin test to fail.
I also
> found much the same thing in a 4x4 electrical box in route to the
water heater.
>
> I needed to mention the adapter to 110vac should be used for this
test.
>
> Safe travels,
>
> Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
> 84FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
> Duncan, Oklahoma
>
> At 10:16 PM 9/3/2008 +0000, you wrote:
> >Ralph, thanks for this, I have "hot skin" and also had it on my old
> >FC. I have a question...
> >
> >One question...my coach is plugged into a non-grounded (the old 2-
pin
> >type) outlet when parked at home. I am no electrician, but I had
> >convinced myself that this non-grounded outlet was the source of
> >my "hot skin". The "hot skin" isn't there when on generator power.
> >Is there any logic to that theory?
> >
> >Scott Forman
> >86 PT38
> >Memphis
> >
> >--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ralph L. Fullenwider"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Hello everyone:
> > >
> > > It has been a warm summer for most of us and the A/C's have been
> >running
> > > leaving the heaters and other things at rest.
> > >
> > > I have been doing up grades and some R&R on some of the systems
in
> >Ruff
> > > Diamond. And with winter coming up I decided it was time to do a
> >hot skin
> > > test as it is on my PM list every 6 months.
> > >
> > > What your checking for is any rise in AC voltage from a
> >ground/ground
> > > source with the negative lead on your meter attached to that and
> >the red
> > > lead to probe several spots around the door frame metal. What
you
> >should
> > > see when first hooking up the meter is .0001 plus or minus 0. If
> >you see a
> > > reading of .0201 reading then you have a hot skin with 1/4
volts AC
> >(it can
> > > be as much as 1/2 volt AC), and need to find the source of the
> >voltage.
> > > What will a hot skin do? It will send a tingling through your
body
> >if you
> > > touch any metal part of the Coach while standing in a rain
puddle
> >or if
> > > your sweaty and hot skin has been known to send enough voltage
via
> >amperage
> > > through your hand to ground to knock you off the step and yes,
> >deaths have
> > > occurred. Is it serious, darn right it is.
> > >
> > > If you don't have a deviation great, fold it up your done and
you
> >and your
> > > Family are safe. If you do have voltage then use a clip lead and
> >connect
> > > the red lead to a point around the door and go to the main
breaker
> >box and
> > > starting with one breaker (either leg) switch it off and check
the
> >meter
> > > for change, do this on both legs until you find a change and
what
> >ever
> > > breaker you switch off the difference is noted then that is the
AC
> > > electrical circuit you need to find the problem on.
> > >
> > > If, when you first do the check and the meter range is un stable
> >try
> > > pouring a glass of water on the ground rod you drove into the
> >ground for
> > > your ground /ground. If the meter is still ranging up and down
then
> >more
> > > than likely you do not have a hot skin but dirty contacts on the
> >change
> > > over switch, automatic or manual it does not matter.
> > >
> > > Oh for my ground I use a copper tool I made for doing this. You
can
> >take an
> > > 18inch length of rebar, sharpen one end and drive it into the
> >ground just
> > > out side the door way so you can attach the black meter lead to
it.
> > >
> > > The whold think take less and 10 minutes to do and you know if
your
> >safe or
> > > that you need to find the problem.
> > >
> > > Safe travels,
> > >
> > > Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
> > > 84FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
> > > Duncan, Oklahoma
> > >
> >
>

[Ralph L. Fullenwider]

Kurt:

You can use an adapter for the 50 amp to 20 amp and 110vac will be on both
legs. You won't be running and major items while doing this test but it
will suffice to do the test and check.

Ralph

At 10:46 PM 9/3/2008 +0000, you wrote:
>Ralph,
>
>Does this apply to the coaches that have 50 amp service?
>If so, and I plug into a 30 amp. outlet only one leg of the two leg
>system is hot, the other side has no power, Do I run the test as
>first decribed or is there an alternative proceedure?
>I have on rare occasions felt that tingling on the coach.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Kurt Horvath
>95 PT-42
>10AC
>
>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ralph L. Fullenwider"
> wrote:
> >
> > Yes there is logic to that because the ground and neutral tie is
>not
> > present so there is only a path back to neutral and not ground, but
>still
> > go through the switching each breaker off and check. You will or
>should not
> > have a hot skin when plugged into campground shore power, or gen
>set, and
> > the hot skin is more prevalent when plugged into a 110 vac source
>vs 220 vac.
> >
> > In recent posts, we learned that the only place that the neutral
>and ground
> > are to be bonded together is at the source only and not the coach.
>I have
> > seen the neutral and ground bonded in the heater in the bath where
>the
> > wiring got hot and melted through the wire nuts because the wire
>nuts were
> > not tight and taped and this was causing the hot skin test to fail.
>I also
> > found much the same thing in a 4x4 electrical box in route to the
>water heater.
> >
> > I needed to mention the adapter to 110vac should be used for this
>test.
> >
> > Safe travels,
> >
> > Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
> > 84FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
> > Duncan, Oklahoma
> >
> > At 10:16 PM 9/3/2008 +0000, you wrote:
> > >Ralph, thanks for this, I have "hot skin" and also had it on my old
> > >FC. I have a question...
> > >
> > >One question...my coach is plugged into a non-grounded (the old 2-
>pin
> > >type) outlet when parked at home. I am no electrician, but I had
> > >convinced myself that this non-grounded outlet was the source of
> > >my "hot skin". The "hot skin" isn't there when on generator power.
> > >Is there any logic to that theory?
> > >
> > >Scott Forman
> > >86 PT38
> > >Memphis
> > >
> > >--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ralph L. Fullenwider"
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hello everyone:
> > > >
> > > > It has been a warm summer for most of us and the A/C's have been
> > >running
> > > > leaving the heaters and other things at rest.
> > > >
> > > > I have been doing up grades and some R&R on some of the systems
>in
> > >Ruff
> > > > Diamond. And with winter coming up I decided it was time to do a
> > >hot skin
> > > > test as it is on my PM list every 6 months.
> > > >
> > > > What your checking for is any rise in AC voltage from a
> > >ground/ground
> > > > source with the negative lead on your meter attached to that and
> > >the red
> > > > lead to probe several spots around the door frame metal. What
>you
> > >should
> > > > see when first hooking up the meter is .0001 plus or minus 0. If
> > >you see a
> > > > reading of .0201 reading then you have a hot skin with 1/4
>volts AC
> > >(it can
> > > > be as much as 1/2 volt AC), and need to find the source of the
> > >voltage.
> > > > What will a hot skin do? It will send a tingling through your
>body
> > >if you
> > > > touch any metal part of the Coach while standing in a rain
>puddle
> > >or if
> > > > your sweaty and hot skin has been known to send enough voltage
>via
> > >amperage
> > > > through your hand to ground to knock you off the step and yes,
> > >deaths have
> > > > occurred. Is it serious, darn right it is.
> > > >
> > > > If you don't have a deviation great, fold it up your done and
>you
> > >and your
> > > > Family are safe. If you do have voltage then use a clip lead and
> > >connect
> > > > the red lead to a point around the door and go to the main
>breaker
> > >box and
> > > > starting with one breaker (either leg) switch it off and check
>the
> > >meter
> > > > for change, do this on both legs until you find a change and
>what
> > >ever
> > > > breaker you switch off the difference is noted then that is the
>AC
> > > > electrical circuit you need to find the problem on.
> > > >
> > > > If, when you first do the check and the meter range is un stable
> > >try
> > > > pouring a glass of water on the ground rod you drove into the
> > >ground for
> > > > your ground /ground. If the meter is still ranging up and down
>then
> > >more
> > > > than likely you do not have a hot skin but dirty contacts on the
> > >change
> > > > over switch, automatic or manual it does not matter.
> > > >
> > > > Oh for my ground I use a copper tool I made for doing this. You
>can
> > >take an
> > > > 18inch length of rebar, sharpen one end and drive it into the
> > >ground just
> > > > out side the door way so you can attach the black meter lead to
>it.
> > > >
> > > > The whold think take less and 10 minutes to do and you know if
>your
> > >safe or
> > > > that you need to find the problem.
> > > >
> > > > Safe travels,
> > > >
> > > > Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
> > > > 84FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
> > > > Duncan, Oklahoma
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
Safe travels,

Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
84FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
Duncan, Oklahoma

[Kurt Horvath]

Thanks Ralph,

I should have read your first post twice.

Kurt

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ralph L. Fullenwider"
wrote:
>
> Kurt:
>
> You can use an adapter for the 50 amp to 20 amp and 110vac will be
on both
> legs. You won't be running and major items while doing this test
but it
> will suffice to do the test and check.
>
> Ralph
>
> At 10:46 PM 9/3/2008 +0000, you wrote:
> >Ralph,
> >
> >Does this apply to the coaches that have 50 amp service?
> >If so, and I plug into a 30 amp. outlet only one leg of the two leg
> >system is hot, the other side has no power, Do I run the test as
> >first decribed or is there an alternative proceedure?
> >I have on rare occasions felt that tingling on the coach.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Kurt Horvath
> >95 PT-42
> >10AC
> >
> >--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ralph L. Fullenwider"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Yes there is logic to that because the ground and neutral tie is
> >not
> > > present so there is only a path back to neutral and not ground,
but
> >still
> > > go through the switching each breaker off and check. You will or
> >should not
> > > have a hot skin when plugged into campground shore power, or gen
> >set, and
> > > the hot skin is more prevalent when plugged into a 110 vac
source
> >vs 220 vac.
> > >
> > > In recent posts, we learned that the only place that the neutral
> >and ground
> > > are to be bonded together is at the source only and not the
coach.
> >I have
> > > seen the neutral and ground bonded in the heater in the bath
where
> >the
> > > wiring got hot and melted through the wire nuts because the wire
> >nuts were
> > > not tight and taped and this was causing the hot skin test to
fail.
> >I also
> > > found much the same thing in a 4x4 electrical box in route to
the
> >water heater.
> > >
> > > I needed to mention the adapter to 110vac should be used for
this
> >test.
> > >
> > > Safe travels,
> > >
> > > Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
> > > 84FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
> > > Duncan, Oklahoma
> > >
> > > At 10:16 PM 9/3/2008 +0000, you wrote:
> > > >Ralph, thanks for this, I have "hot skin" and also had it on
my old
> > > >FC. I have a question...
> > > >
> > > >One question...my coach is plugged into a non-grounded (the
old 2-
> >pin
> > > >type) outlet when parked at home. I am no electrician, but I
had
> > > >convinced myself that this non-grounded outlet was the source
of
> > > >my "hot skin". The "hot skin" isn't there when on generator
power.
> > > >Is there any logic to that theory?
> > > >
> > > >Scott Forman
> > > >86 PT38
> > > >Memphis
> > > >
> > > >--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ralph L. Fullenwider"
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Hello everyone:
> > > > >
> > > > > It has been a warm summer for most of us and the A/C's have
been
> > > >running
> > > > > leaving the heaters and other things at rest.
> > > > >
> > > > > I have been doing up grades and some R&R on some of the
systems
> >in
> > > >Ruff
> > > > > Diamond. And with winter coming up I decided it was time to
do a
> > > >hot skin
> > > > > test as it is on my PM list every 6 months.
> > > > >
> > > > > What your checking for is any rise in AC voltage from a
> > > >ground/ground
> > > > > source with the negative lead on your meter attached to
that and
> > > >the red
> > > > > lead to probe several spots around the door frame metal.
What
> >you
> > > >should
> > > > > see when first hooking up the meter is .0001 plus or minus
0. If
> > > >you see a
> > > > > reading of .0201 reading then you have a hot skin with 1/4
> >volts AC
> > > >(it can
> > > > > be as much as 1/2 volt AC), and need to find the source of
the
> > > >voltage.
> > > > > What will a hot skin do? It will send a tingling through
your
> >body
> > > >if you
> > > > > touch any metal part of the Coach while standing in a rain
> >puddle
> > > >or if
> > > > > your sweaty and hot skin has been known to send enough
voltage
> >via
> > > >amperage
> > > > > through your hand to ground to knock you off the step and
yes,
> > > >deaths have
> > > > > occurred. Is it serious, darn right it is.
> > > > >
> > > > > If you don't have a deviation great, fold it up your done
and
> >you
> > > >and your
> > > > > Family are safe. If you do have voltage then use a clip
lead and
> > > >connect
> > > > > the red lead to a point around the door and go to the main
> >breaker
> > > >box and
> > > > > starting with one breaker (either leg) switch it off and
check
> >the
> > > >meter
> > > > > for change, do this on both legs until you find a change and
> >what
> > > >ever
> > > > > breaker you switch off the difference is noted then that is
the
> >AC
> > > > > electrical circuit you need to find the problem on.
> > > > >
> > > > > If, when you first do the check and the meter range is un
stable
> > > >try
> > > > > pouring a glass of water on the ground rod you drove into
the
> > > >ground for
> > > > > your ground /ground. If the meter is still ranging up and
down
> >then
> > > >more
> > > > > than likely you do not have a hot skin but dirty contacts
on the
> > > >change
> > > > > over switch, automatic or manual it does not matter.
> > > > >
> > > > > Oh for my ground I use a copper tool I made for doing this.
You
> >can
> > > >take an
> > > > > 18inch length of rebar, sharpen one end and drive it into
the
> > > >ground just
> > > > > out side the door way so you can attach the black meter
lead to
> >it.
> > > > >
> > > > > The whold think take less and 10 minutes to do and you know
if
> >your
> > > >safe or
> > > > > that you need to find the problem.
> > > > >
> > > > > Safe travels,
> > > > >
> > > > > Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
> > > > > 84FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
> > > > > Duncan, Oklahoma
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >------------------------------------
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> Safe travels,
>
> Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
> 84FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
> Duncan, Oklahoma
>

[Gregory OConnor]

Turning on a breaker does not a load make. electricians have ways to
pump the wires and test the path or use Ohms to test resistance and
possible path. Your test will prove some issues but $150 with a
Marine specific electrical tech will prove all.

I droped the bus off at a Marina for a safety check once purchased.
There are big issues with boats shored at docks and these techs have
more experience with issues typical to our bus. I am cheap and like
to learn by doing but the study of electric is a practice with many
if-then synarios.

I test my pool light with a tennis ball but it is hard to encourage a
dog to turn on the Bus microwave and water heater. hire this one out
only gotta do it once and maintain it there after.

GregoryO'Connor
94ptRomoland

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ralph L. Fullenwider"
wrote:
>
> Hello everyone:
>
> It has been a warm summer for most of us and the A/C's have been
running
> leaving the heaters and other things at rest.
>
> I have been doing up grades and some R&R on some of the systems in
Ruff
> Diamond. And with winter coming up I decided it was time to do a
hot skin
> test as it is on my PM list every 6 months.
>
> What your checking for is any rise in AC voltage from a
ground/ground
> source with the negative lead on your meter attached to that and
the red
> lead to probe several spots around the door frame metal. What you
should
> see when first hooking up the meter is .0001 plus or minus 0. If
you see a
> reading of .0201 reading then you have a hot skin with 1/4 volts AC
(it can
> be as much as 1/2 volt AC), and need to find the source of the
voltage.
> What will a hot skin do? It will send a tingling through your body
if you
> touch any metal part of the Coach while standing in a rain puddle
or if
> your sweaty and hot skin has been known to send enough voltage via
amperage
> through your hand to ground to knock you off the step and yes,
deaths have
> occurred. Is it serious, darn right it is.
>
> If you don't have a deviation great, fold it up your done and you
and your
> Family are safe. If you do have voltage then use a clip lead and
connect
> the red lead to a point around the door and go to the main breaker
box and
> starting with one breaker (either leg) switch it off and check the
meter
> for change, do this on both legs until you find a change and what
ever
> breaker you switch off the difference is noted then that is the AC
> electrical circuit you need to find the problem on.
>
> If, when you first do the check and the meter range is un stable
try
> pouring a glass of water on the ground rod you drove into the
ground for
> your ground /ground. If the meter is still ranging up and down then
more
> than likely you do not have a hot skin but dirty contacts on the
change
> over switch, automatic or manual it does not matter.
>
> Oh for my ground I use a copper tool I made for doing this. You can
take an
> 18inch length of rebar, sharpen one end and drive it into the
ground just
> out side the door way so you can attach the black meter lead to it.
>
> The whold think take less and 10 minutes to do and you know if your
safe or
> that you need to find the problem.
>
> Safe travels,
>
> Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
> 84FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
> Duncan, Oklahoma
>

[Ralph L. Fullenwider]

John:

It is possible of course. Check the ground and neutral in that outlet back
to the main breaker box. The neutral should only be tied to ground in the
main. Still, in Rv's it can be an easy thing to have a hot skin on other
units as well if the neutral is touching the ground in one or more of any
appliance or wiring junction boxes that were used.

Yes you need a multimeter, and there are some meters on the market that has
an IR built into them for checking hot spots like on tires rims or what ever.

Do the checks on the Coach and if there is no change in the meter readings
when you go through the shut off of the breakers in the main control box
then it is a good bet you have a problem with the source.

Safe travels,

Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
84FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
Duncan, Oklahoma

At 02:12 AM 9/5/2008 +0000, you wrote:
>This is rather timely. I was sitting on the ground at the back of my
>coach and touched the exhaust pipe from the genny. My first thought
>was the pipe was hot (like in temperature) but after considering it
>was hot like in electric. I fear I must reseach this. I guess I am
>going to have to get one of them there meters and learn how to use
>it. The only clue I have on this is that I have had that happen
>before with trailers and such parked in the same place. Now this is
>a real stupid question is there anyway this could be house related
>and not RV related? The bus is parked over the electrical line that
>leads from the "box" underground into the meter and then the house.
>Just seems odd to have had so similar a situation with two RV's and
>no other indications of trouble. I guess I do need a meter don't I?
>The bus was plugged into the AC outlet I am pretty certain.
>John Heckman
>central Pa
>1973 FC
>