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Electrical Help! Humans and dogs electrocuted

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Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
Forum Discription: Perplexed/need help with a problem - ask here
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13765
Printed Date: 03 May 2024 at 11:57pm
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Topic: Electrical Help! Humans and dogs electrocuted
Posted By: Rpod26
Subject: Electrical Help! Humans and dogs electrocuted
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2020 at 8:25pm
I have a 2009 Rpod 171. Fridge/heater/AC/everything was working fine, until our last camping trip. We noticed our dogs were yelping when they entered/exited the camper. When the metal wheel hub was touched it caused electrocution that was strong enough to knock you on the ground. Electrical cords and breakers look fine. When testing we found that the breakers for the gen/converter (breaker 3), the AC unit (breaker 2) and one Unlabeled 15 amp (breaker 5 ) would trip the breaker in the house when plugged in. Either one of these three circuits would trip if on when we plugged it in. 12 volt system is working fine. Looked all over for any wiring that may have rubbed through, didn’t notice anything amiss. When plugged in to house power breakers 4 and 6 and oblivious the main number 1 all work.



Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2020 at 8:37pm
Get to an RV service location to get the wiring checked out ASAP! Looks can't tell whether one or more wires in the circuit have been abraded enough so the conductor(s) are making contact with the frame. For safety, keep it unplugged from shore power until you can get it checked out or you can trace the wiring and find out why it is doing this.


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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS


Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2020 at 8:45pm
Just trying to understand when things occurred. Did the electrical shocks occur at the campground only and the tripped circuit breakers at home only? Or did they both occur both places, or something else? 

+1 to ShephenH,. You will need someone with a voltmeter and a good knowledge of electrical circuits to troubleshoot this. If you don't have both of those things then take it to an expert before someone actually gets electrocuted rather than just shocked. 


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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold


Posted By: Rpod26
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2020 at 9:09pm
The shocking occurred at the camp ground and it has been unplugged since, we did the trouble shooting today and it tripped the breakers today


Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2020 at 9:29pm
And by today I would assume you were on your home circuit. 

Here's my guess: you have a short between one or more of your trailer  circuits and the trailer frame. There was an open ground on the campground electrical system. That caused the trailer frame to develop a high voltage to earth, so that when you touched it while standing on the ground you got shocked. When you got home you connected to a circuit with a good ground so the trailer frame stayed at a low voltage to earth, so no more shocks. Instead, you tripped some breakers which is what they should do to clear the original short condition. 

Based on recent reports from other owners, the most likely place for the short condition is the water heater element. You could pull that and take a look, but the trailer must be unplugged first.

Beyond that its going to be difficult and potentially unsafe to troubleshoot without a meter and some electrical knowledge base. Example: how are you going to know if its fixed? Touch it and see if you still get a shock or not? Not a good idea....

 


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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold


Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2020 at 12:35pm
I'm guessing the dogs wont go camping with you anymore.

Ouch


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r・pod 171 gone but not forgotten!


Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2020 at 11:49am
See the first post on this thread:  http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4748&PN=1&title=important-check-this-every-time-you-set-up%20 - http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4748&PN=1&title=important-check-this-every-time-you-set-up

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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual



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