RV Hot Skin Voltage

[UncleTim]

Wow! Interesting article about how a short circuit can lead to voltage traveling across an RV's skin. We don't have metal skins so this is not as much of a threat, but we still have metal frames the trailers are built on.

This is interesting reading and definitely something to be aware of. Put it in the F.Y.I. category.

https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-electric...t-skin-causes/

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by UncleTim

Wow! Interesting article about how a short circuit can lead to voltage traveling across an RV's skin. We don't have metal skins so this is not as much of a threat, but we still have metal frames the trailers are built on.

This is interesting reading and definitely something to be aware of. Put it in the F.Y.I. category.

https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-electric...t-skin-causes/

Hi: UncleTim... SHOCKING!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Perry Butler]

That's one reason you need to look at your EMS every time you hook up to a pedestal.

Since we purchased our 5.0 we've hooked up to pedestals with open ground situations. One was at a friends rental home where there is a huge shed built in the 60's with an outside outlet that hasn't been used in years and will never be repaired by the current owner. The second was at Thousand Lakes RV Park outside of Torry, Utah near Capital Reef National Park. When I told the owner about the reading on all the outlets in the pedestal he nonchalantly said a couple of others had told him the same thing. He was in no hurry to fix that pedestal! In both cases we just unhooked and used our solar.

When I first started farming we had a shop in an old chicken coop with nob and tube wiring. If it was wet outside you had to use welders gloves when playing with power tools. Occasionally you forgot! There were a few reasons nob an tube was replaced.

I've made it this far and really don't want to lose more brain cells, or die, because of electrocution.

Enjoy,

Perry

[cpaharley2008]

The EMS is probably a life saver, more than once,,,,,,,,

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by UncleTim

Wow! Interesting article about how a short circuit can lead to voltage traveling across an RV's skin. We don't have metal skins so this is not as much of a threat, but we still have metal frames the trailers are built on.

This is interesting reading and definitely something to be aware of. Put it in the F.Y.I. category.

https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-electric...t-skin-causes/

Read my post from a few years back. It is possible to electrify the frame on an Escape if water heater electric element fails hot-to-ground coupled with a bad ground prong on the power cord. No EMS at the time to hold out power for open ground condition so it created a dangerous situation.
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post145401

[gklott]

The 2020 National Electric Code added a new requirement for all RVs: 551.40(D) - requires a visual or audible alarm when there's an ungrounded (black) conductor and grounded (white) conductor reversal. This is to prevent the hot skin issue you mention.

The incident that finally prompted the 2020 NEC change was the death of 3-year-old Landyn Keener, who was electrocuted when he touched his family’s Airstream trailer in Amboy, Ill., when it was experiencing a “hot skin” condition.

73/gus

[gklott]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

The EMS is probably a life saver, more than once,,,,,,,,

Excellent point; well said. I hope that ETI makes EMS a standard on all units, specifically the UL-listed internally installed EMS.

73/gus