Can you get a hot-skin shock even if your EMS checks okay?

Oh yes you can, and here’s how…

A question from the Heartland Owners Forum

I set the trailer up on the weekend and plugged it into the 30 amp at our site. Surge protector did it's thing and delayed while checking power. Finally clicked on and energized the trailer. Every time I touch the aluminum on the doors etc I get a shock. What should I be looking at? It's a 2011 Bighorn 3185.

Thanks - Rick

Hey Rick,

Yes you can, and here is what’s most likely happening. As you’re probably aware, an EMS (Electrical Management System) Surge Protector tests for High and Low Voltage, Reverse Hot/Neutral Polarity, and Open Ground. The big three manufacturers of these advanced surge protectors are Progressive Industries, Southwire Surge Guard, and Hughes Watchdog.

Here’s my video on how these Advanced (EMS) Surge Protectors work.

All three Surge Protector brands do a great job of monitoring the pedestal for an open ground conductor (technically called an EGC for Equipment Grounding Conductor). The job of the EGC is to connect the chassis (and skin) or your RV all the way back to the campground or home electrical service panel. That’s the big box with all the circuit breakers in your house or campground. And in that service panel that EGC (ground) wire must be bonded (connected) to the Neutral-Ground bonding point. See the diagram below.

You must have a broken ground wire between the Surge Protector and your RV chassis

If your EMS Surge Protector says the pedestal ground is okay, and you’re feeling a shock when touching your RV, then you must have a lost ground connection between your shore power cord and your RV chassis. Many times it’s caused by a broken ground connection in a dogbone adapter or extension cord.

The easiest way to check this is by using a Digital MultiMeter set on Continuity Mode to confirm you have a solid ground connection between your shore power cord’s ground pin and the chassis of your RV. And you also need to include any extension cords or dogbone adapters in your test. See below for how to do this.

Here’s my deep dive in RV ground testing

If you have a compromised ground connection between your RV and the campground service panel, than any leakage currents will turn into a hot-skin skin voltage. And if you get your body between the RV skin or chassis and the wet ground, then you can get shocked and possibly killed. So please correct this problem immediately. Read about how to troubleshoot it HERE.

Let’s play (and stay) safe out there… Mike