Campground electrical problems WITHS PICS

Campground electrical problems WITHS PICS

Postby retiredhappy » Sat Jul 17, 2010 9:47 am

You all know that the CG I was workamping at was having low voltage problems. I've been thinking about it because when someone checked in for one or two nights, they certainly didn't tell them they were having problems. In the afternoons when the voltage dropped below 110 people's AC's would work BUT they could be burning out their compressor and the sad thing is they would get down the road - their AC would give out and they would have no idea that the CG caused their problems.

Years ago when I had a brown-out situation the RV repair person rigged up a tester for me that totally cost about $30. Its a simple voltage tester you can buy at Walmart, Home Depot, etc that plugs into your regular outlet inside the RV. He combined it with an adapter for 30amp. When I arrive at a CG, I plug this into the electrical box and it tells me if the box is grounded and wired properly as well as how much voltage is coming from the box. IF there are any problems I DON'T plug my rig into that box. When I'm plugged in at a CG I then take off the 30amp adapter and plug the tester into an outlet. If I have the AC on and then use the MW, I'll make sure the meter isn't dropping below 110. If it does, I'll turn off the AC while cooking. This meter has saved my rig numerous times and is sure cheaper than a new AC. Old parks especially often have low voltage situations and they NEVER warn campers. I do have a surge protector but it only protects against electrical surges not brown-outs. If I hadn't had this little gadget I would have been running weeks with low voltage.

This is the meter - check at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Much cheaper than CW. It shows "Polarity Check", Correct polarity, reversed polarity, open neutral and open ground; with a series of lights on the meter. At the bottom it shows "AC Voltage" and a series of numbers lights up. The magic number that you don't want to go below is 110.

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The back of the meter - plugs into normal inside outlet.
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Plugged into my inside outlet.
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30 amp adapter so you can check the electrical box outside. You could also use a 50amp adapter.

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Last edited by retiredhappy on Sat Jul 17, 2010 2:51 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Campground electrical problems

Postby avalen » Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:22 am

Karen, can you take a picture of this device and post it. I think I should seriously
consider looking into this since the power drops here alot.
The one I'm thinking of looks similiar to a screwdriver with a wire on it????
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Re: Campground electrical problems

Postby avalen » Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:30 am

ok, I did a little research..
campingworld shows these items, which one is the one I need?
http://www.campingworld.com/category/el ... esters/486
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Re: Campground electrical problems

Postby cpatinjones » Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:35 am

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Re: Campground electrical problems

Postby cpatinjones » Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:40 am

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Re: Campground electrical problems

Postby avalen » Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:51 am

very informative video, thank you
I also found this device at Harbor Freight, (love going to Harbor Freight as much as Home Depot) :D
http://www.harborfreight.com/general-me ... 32906.html
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Re: Campground electrical problems

Postby retiredhappy » Sat Jul 17, 2010 11:05 am

OK, posted pictures of device on edited post. My setup is really easy, just plug in, no wires to stick in holes, etc.
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Re: Campground electrical problems

Postby avalen » Sat Jul 17, 2010 11:09 am

thank you Karen, gonna have to pick one of those up, its similiar to the one I
listed at Harbor Freight but yours has the digital readout.
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Re: Campground electrical problems WITHS PICS

Postby AlmostThere » Sun Jul 18, 2010 1:32 am

I just bought the one Carolyn did from Camping World as I only wanted to see the voltage inside my rig but my surge protector that I plug into the CG box has all the other indicators on it.
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Re: Campground electrical problems WITHS PICS

Postby Bethers » Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:29 am

Here's one on Amazon that's a lot like what you have, Karen: http://www.amazon.com/Prime-Products-12 ... sbs_auto_3

And a more expensive one with an alarm: http://www.amazon.com/Prime-Products-12 ... sbs_auto_3

Then they have the simple, non-digital ones, also - like the one shown from camping world.

Just more options.
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Re: Campground electrical problems WITHS PICS

Postby mitch5252 » Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:36 am

Bethers wrote:Here's one on Amazon that's a lot like what you have, Karen: http://www.amazon.com/Prime-Products-12 ... sbs_auto_3

And a more expensive one with an alarm: http://www.amazon.com/Prime-Products-12 ... sbs_auto_3

Then they have the simple, non-digital ones, also - like the one shown from camping world.

Just more options.


Pssssst, Beth - they're both the same...

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Re: Campground electrical problems WITHS PICS

Postby mitch5252 » Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:41 am

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Re: Campground electrical problems WITHS PICS

Postby Bethers » Sun Jul 18, 2010 2:49 pm

That's it! I guess I didn't do a good job copying the 2nd link, eh? Thanks for noticing - and finding the other one.
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