Mike, you posted an article several years ago suggesting testing the pedestal before hooking up with a 50 amp splitter and a 120 volt tester. ( 50 amp male plug that splits into (2) 15 amp female pigtails). This enables testing each leg with the 120 volt tester for voltage outputs as well as polarity.
I had a recent encounter at a campground that checked out okay with that method until I connected my Southwire Surgeguard SMS (34951). The EMS indicated there was an open neutral and would not allow the current to flow. The irony , that was newly installed pedestal at an old campground. Upon further checking with management it was installed by their handyman.
Always check first before assuming that it looks good it must be good!!!
Mike, appreciate the info. Since I have a 30A MH with a surge protector, is there any chance that a mis-wired or open neutral 50A outlet would cause an issue with the 30A circuit? I'm not an electrical expert ;-) Thanks!
Actually, an open neutral upstream of the pedestal can indeed cause an elevated voltage on the 30-amp outlet. But an open neutral at the 30-amp outlet itself or downstream (in your RV shore power cord) will drop the voltage at the RV to zero.
I just added a close-up pic of the burned neutral conductors with a circle and arrow pointing to the failure.
Mike, you posted an article several years ago suggesting testing the pedestal before hooking up with a 50 amp splitter and a 120 volt tester. ( 50 amp male plug that splits into (2) 15 amp female pigtails). This enables testing each leg with the 120 volt tester for voltage outputs as well as polarity.
I had a recent encounter at a campground that checked out okay with that method until I connected my Southwire Surgeguard SMS (34951). The EMS indicated there was an open neutral and would not allow the current to flow. The irony , that was newly installed pedestal at an old campground. Upon further checking with management it was installed by their handyman.
Always check first before assuming that it looks good it must be good!!!
I never trust a new pedestal box at an old campground. Too many DIY handyman installers!
Mike, appreciate the info. Since I have a 30A MH with a surge protector, is there any chance that a mis-wired or open neutral 50A outlet would cause an issue with the 30A circuit? I'm not an electrical expert ;-) Thanks!
Actually, an open neutral upstream of the pedestal can indeed cause an elevated voltage on the 30-amp outlet. But an open neutral at the 30-amp outlet itself or downstream (in your RV shore power cord) will drop the voltage at the RV to zero.
Mike-
I am trying to see what in the pedestal wiring photo would indicate a problem. Sadly, nothing is apparent to me.
It would help me to have labels with arrows or a detailed explanation of just what is shown in the photo.
Hope you can provide that.
Thanks for all your safety efforts.
Ken S
Great idea. I’ll mark up the photo to make it more obvious and repost it.