Reverse polarity at the campground power pedestal

**Bill** · 10-19-2014, 10:41 AM

We all get reminded, repeatedly, about watching out for incorrect wiring at the campground power pedestal. I've done a lot of the reminding myself, in spite of the fact that over 14 or so years of TMing and hundreds of nights camping, I've never encountered it.

It finally happened. At a very nice KOA in Pennsylvania, we set up, plugged in, and settled down for a nice evening. As my wife was opening a bottle of wine for us, I happened to glance at the little 3-light tester that is permanently plugged into the outlet beside the refrigerator - and HOLY COW! - HOT and GROUND were reversed!

Reverse polarity is the wiring error that kills people, because the skin of the trailer becomes electrically hot, and you get a shock if you touch the trailer and the ground beneath your feet at the same time. Fortunately, our site had a base of nice dry gravel, so we didn't get even a tingle. The girl at the desk was skeptical when I went to the office to request another site, but the next moring the manager came to our new site, apologized, and comp'ed us for the previous night.

Point is, this can happen even in a well-established and high class campground. I have always kept that tester plugged into that particular outlet so that I can see it from outside the TM. And my rule is always to check it as soon as I connect power. And this time I violated my own rule. Not smart. IMO, everyone should spend $3 on this tester, plug it in permanently, and use it.

Bill

Padgett · 10-19-2014, 11:59 AM

Under $5 as an add-on, under $10 by itself. Requires reading the front of the plug.

**Bill** · 10-19-2014, 01:30 PM

About $4.50 (regular price) at Home Depot if you are near one, and almost always on sale somewhere. Whether $3 or $5, a worthwhile device.

Bill

scrubjaysnest · 10-19-2014, 02:14 PM

Before hooking up to shore power my DW always plugs in the 3 lite tester first

**ShrimpBurrito** · 10-19-2014, 03:08 PM

Great catch, Bill!

Dave

hillbillyhotel · 10-19-2014, 06:44 PM

bill ,
first of all ,thank goodness you and dw are ok,
and thank you for sharing , we must look out for ourselves, I really do not want to be a bad statistic, will stop on my way home tomorrow and get one, will not travel without from now on , and use

**hjbourge** · 10-22-2014, 08:50 AM

Bill, I have one of those but never thought of using it on the TM only at home. Thanks for the heads up. Where do you keep it plugged in so you can see it for outside of the TM before getting in?

Padgett · 10-22-2014, 09:05 AM

You could use an adapter to check the outlet before plugging in the TM. The surge protector I use has polarity indicators that do the same thing.

**Bill** · 10-22-2014, 10:09 AM

Hal -

In my TM, when you open the door you are looking directly across at the front of the refrigerator. The television connections, and a duplex outlet, are on the side of the refrig. If you plug the device into one of those outlets, it sticks straight out from the outlet, and is turned sideways so all the lights are visible.

I hated to dedicate one of the two outlets to this device, and I needed more than two outlets anyway, so I added a 6-outlet expander to the duplex. Be sure to get one with a retaining screw in the center.

Padgett -

That is a great idea, since you can test the power right at the pedestal, before opening the TM. Question - will you always remember to do it, or take the time to do it? I tend to be lazy, or hurried, and might skip it.

Bill

Padgett · 10-22-2014, 12:11 PM

I always connect the surge protector first so can check polarity, the TM plugs into that.

If I were going to add a multioutlet, might as well be one of these.