electrical problems

[mbulriss]

As much as I dislike messing with electrical problems, especially 30
and 50 amp stuff, I agree with Gary on this one - there is only one
common wire in the cable, two hot, and one ground.

I just recently posted about losing my neutral connection in my power
cord plug that goes into the pedestal, so it is somewhat fresh in my
mind. The round or 'u' shaped lug is the ground wire (green
sheathing). The two spade lugs on either side are hot (black and red
sheaths) and the bottom spade lug opposite the rounded one is the
shared neutral (white wire). There is only one shared ground for both
legs and one shared neutral for both hot legs.

Given the recent problems for Don and myself, this should be an item
on everyone's to-do list to open their plugs and check to make sure
the wire connections are tight. I know, hard to do on a molded plug.
These plugs and cords get lots of play wiggling them in and out of
the pedestals and coaches. I replaced mine with the new style yellow
plug end that has a molded handle built into the back. That way I
have a better grip to firmly insert/remove the plug without having to
wiggle the cord also. (Just remember that I then had to replace my
50-30 dogbone converter since the heavy ground lug on the new plug
would not go into my old converter cord.)

This is the way I understand the plug wiring. And yes, I am
relatively happy that I lost the neutral rather than the ground. At
least I did not fry anything really important to me (like me, my wife,
friends, pets, bus) other than the pedestal outlet.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it - at least for this post!

TGIF! TGIF!

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Juergen"
wrote:
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gary Smith"
> wrote:
> >
> > While I have some minor disagreements with some of what Juergen said
> (there is only one common wire in the cable, two hot, and one ground),
> with loose wires, it is possible you crossed the two 120v hot lines,
> providing the high voltage he suggests. I believe the whole problem
> was caused by the poor connections, Don. Not sure how the ProSine
> should react to 240v hitting it, but could well weld some contacts, as
> you found.
> > Gary
> > SOB
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Juergen
> > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 8:27 AM
> > Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Electrical problems
> >
> >
> > All I do know is that if you put the 2 hot wires, or put the
> 2 hot spades into the socket and let only the third wire do the
> ground, you will get a 250V zap. The 4th wire is the ground for the
> other hot one. I don't know the details exactly, but whenever you let
> 2 hot and only 1 ground enter, you go BOOM. I know that you must have
> all 4 wires, contacts, firmly connected before you turn the breakers
on.
> Black=hot
> Red=Hot
> White = Ground,
> Bare wire = ground
> These four must be in solid contact.
> Juergen in PA
> 1991 WLSP 36
>