Great article Mike. I am a retired master electrical contractor. I worked camped last summer at a KOA campground. When doing the departures every morning I would check the pedestal to make sure the breakers were in the off position. I was amazed to find how many were left on. And yes, it was a constant job replacing the receptacles. Do to my career, I drove my manager crazy because he didn’t want to spend the money on replacement of what he thought were perfectly fine “outlets”. The 50a receptacles are $40 a piece. The 30a are less expensive.
Your articles are so well written for the non professional. Keep up the great work you do.
Great article Mike. BUT, the picture showing the power cord being disconnected with the persons' finger on the contact blade is scary. I never touch the contact blades when disconnecting... even if I think the power is 'supposedly off' because I see the breaker off. I have seen breakers appear to be off and as soon as I plug in my power cord the surge protector starts working.
This would be a great article or information sheet to give to every new RV owner when they pick up their new or new to them RV. We've been campground hosting for the past 5 years and the pedestals are on a forever list of check on every year. In Arizona a year ago at River Island SP I replaced several receptacles, especially 30 amp, due to worn out contact springs internally. Some showing signs of melting the plug around the contact openings. The 50amp receptacles fair a lot better due to heavier load capacity and the design of the prongs on the cable plug & receptacle provide better hold and support when plugged in. The 30amp design is fine in it's first few years of use but it starts loosing it's tension due to the load they sometimes carry repeatedly. Especially in Arizona during the summer. This is a subject I always go over when I'm assisting newbies or uninformed. And tell then to carry some emery cloth with them to shine up the contacts from time to time. Keep up the informative work!!!
Unfortunately there are many campgrounds that do not have a local breaker/disconnect at the pedestal, just left one in Florida with a questionable electrical service this past Saturday. My Surge Guard has a time delay after plugging In so it acts as a switch but disconnecting is another issue. I do advocate cleaning the blades with a rag and applying a thin coating of contact grease before plugging Into the pedestal and also into my Surge Guard. Every now and then I use an old green Scotch Brite pad and some Deoxit to clean the blades a little better. After assuring with my meter that the receptacle is de-energized I like to shoot a little Deoxit into the receptacle and wait a minute or two for the moisture to evaporate before plugging in.
Looking at that nice shiny pedestal with the label for turning the breaker off before plugging in or out is great. But I've not seem any of those labels, actually most pedestals boxes are so old that you can't read what position the breakers are in!
Wondering if there is a code that says that breakers must be installed a certain way, so one would know that if it was up it would be off or the or the other way around?
Thanks Mike for a very thought provoking article (as always). I must also say that I always learn something from your readers’ thoughtful comments as well. Here is a more subtle but equally important question I believe. What about plugging our RVs at home? I have no easy way to switch off the receptacle on the outside of my detached garage except to use the GFCI test button since the breaker is in the house and far away from the garage. I have assumed (possibly incorrectly) that plugging-in my surge protector which I’ve already connected to my RV will protect my RV, my surge protector plug, and my wall receptacle. This is because my Surge Guard surge protector (which Mike recommended) has a relay to isolate the input power while it tests for faults (such as an open neutral connection) before powering-on the RV after a few seconds delay. I’ll be interested to hear what you all think about this.
Thank you for your excellent and concise explanations. Many of he 30 amp receptacles we have run across are burned up so I always use 50 amp if they are available. Most 30 amp rigs are always run near the 30 amp limit without concern for the 20 percent derating requirement after 1 hour.
Thanks for all that you do to keep us safe! It's always as great read!
We are camp hosts. One of our "roles" is to confirm the "OFF" position of breakers at the pedestal once the camper has left the site. *MANY* (too many) campers leave the breakers in the ON position.
We are also educators..... and as such, when we get the opportunity, we try to help new campers (and some who have been camping for "longer than you've been alive, sonny" 😎 - with the proper setup/tear down process.
It's great to see the 'light bulb moment' when they "get it'!
Pet peeves (top 3)?
* Trash/food/stuff in the firepit.
* Cigarette butts not picked up or in the firepit.
* Dog poo not picked up.
It really doesn't take much effort for the camper to be considerate of the campground and camp hosts. Most of us are volunteers (not paid).
Again, I appreciate your posts and educating us on RV Electricity!
Maybe it would be a good idea (and investment), for campground owners to label pedestals with a "Please Turn Off Breaker before Plugging In or Unplugging" label.
Great article Mike. I am a retired master electrical contractor. I worked camped last summer at a KOA campground. When doing the departures every morning I would check the pedestal to make sure the breakers were in the off position. I was amazed to find how many were left on. And yes, it was a constant job replacing the receptacles. Do to my career, I drove my manager crazy because he didn’t want to spend the money on replacement of what he thought were perfectly fine “outlets”. The 50a receptacles are $40 a piece. The 30a are less expensive.
Your articles are so well written for the non professional. Keep up the great work you do.
Great article Mike. BUT, the picture showing the power cord being disconnected with the persons' finger on the contact blade is scary. I never touch the contact blades when disconnecting... even if I think the power is 'supposedly off' because I see the breaker off. I have seen breakers appear to be off and as soon as I plug in my power cord the surge protector starts working.
This would be a great article or information sheet to give to every new RV owner when they pick up their new or new to them RV. We've been campground hosting for the past 5 years and the pedestals are on a forever list of check on every year. In Arizona a year ago at River Island SP I replaced several receptacles, especially 30 amp, due to worn out contact springs internally. Some showing signs of melting the plug around the contact openings. The 50amp receptacles fair a lot better due to heavier load capacity and the design of the prongs on the cable plug & receptacle provide better hold and support when plugged in. The 30amp design is fine in it's first few years of use but it starts loosing it's tension due to the load they sometimes carry repeatedly. Especially in Arizona during the summer. This is a subject I always go over when I'm assisting newbies or uninformed. And tell then to carry some emery cloth with them to shine up the contacts from time to time. Keep up the informative work!!!
Unfortunately there are many campgrounds that do not have a local breaker/disconnect at the pedestal, just left one in Florida with a questionable electrical service this past Saturday. My Surge Guard has a time delay after plugging In so it acts as a switch but disconnecting is another issue. I do advocate cleaning the blades with a rag and applying a thin coating of contact grease before plugging Into the pedestal and also into my Surge Guard. Every now and then I use an old green Scotch Brite pad and some Deoxit to clean the blades a little better. After assuring with my meter that the receptacle is de-energized I like to shoot a little Deoxit into the receptacle and wait a minute or two for the moisture to evaporate before plugging in.
Looking at that nice shiny pedestal with the label for turning the breaker off before plugging in or out is great. But I've not seem any of those labels, actually most pedestals boxes are so old that you can't read what position the breakers are in!
Wondering if there is a code that says that breakers must be installed a certain way, so one would know that if it was up it would be off or the or the other way around?
Thanks for your information.
Snoopy?
Thanks Mike for a very thought provoking article (as always). I must also say that I always learn something from your readers’ thoughtful comments as well. Here is a more subtle but equally important question I believe. What about plugging our RVs at home? I have no easy way to switch off the receptacle on the outside of my detached garage except to use the GFCI test button since the breaker is in the house and far away from the garage. I have assumed (possibly incorrectly) that plugging-in my surge protector which I’ve already connected to my RV will protect my RV, my surge protector plug, and my wall receptacle. This is because my Surge Guard surge protector (which Mike recommended) has a relay to isolate the input power while it tests for faults (such as an open neutral connection) before powering-on the RV after a few seconds delay. I’ll be interested to hear what you all think about this.
Thank you for your excellent and concise explanations. Many of he 30 amp receptacles we have run across are burned up so I always use 50 amp if they are available. Most 30 amp rigs are always run near the 30 amp limit without concern for the 20 percent derating requirement after 1 hour.
Mike.
Thanks for all that you do to keep us safe! It's always as great read!
We are camp hosts. One of our "roles" is to confirm the "OFF" position of breakers at the pedestal once the camper has left the site. *MANY* (too many) campers leave the breakers in the ON position.
We are also educators..... and as such, when we get the opportunity, we try to help new campers (and some who have been camping for "longer than you've been alive, sonny" 😎 - with the proper setup/tear down process.
It's great to see the 'light bulb moment' when they "get it'!
Pet peeves (top 3)?
* Trash/food/stuff in the firepit.
* Cigarette butts not picked up or in the firepit.
* Dog poo not picked up.
It really doesn't take much effort for the camper to be considerate of the campground and camp hosts. Most of us are volunteers (not paid).
Again, I appreciate your posts and educating us on RV Electricity!
Mike,
As far as I am aware SWD breakers are only available in 15 and 20 amp single pole. Have you seen them in 30 & 50? Brian
Maybe it would be a good idea (and investment), for campground owners to label pedestals with a "Please Turn Off Breaker before Plugging In or Unplugging" label.
Could save money & lives!