wolfwatcher
Houston
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Literally.
'99 30' Artic Fox. I am working on the big slide, rail area, and feel a slight shock, or buzz when I contact metal. Not bad, but there.
Like somewhere a wire is grounding out, and it doesn't do it when plugged in. I am laying on the ground, so I must be a good ground path, but deffinitly concerned. No fuses blowing, no curcuit breaker acting up. Felt on the slide rails but also around the rear underneath, bumper area.
I don't even know really where to start looking.
Any thoughts??
Thanks.
Tom.
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skylos
Columbus, OH
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You say its not plugged in. That makes it sound like the chassis is not linked to the earth ground at all. How are your legs positioned - on insulators or touching earth?
Is there an inverter powered up, perhaps?
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navybanker
West Tennessee
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Our 2011 Montana did something similar a while back and the dealer said "hot skin". You could touch metal just about anywhere on the rig and feel a shock. This can be a dangerous condition depending on the "gound" you make when touching it. Do a search on "hot skin". The dealer found the problem and fixed it. We purchased a surge protector to use in case the campground connection is the problem.
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HouseApe
Vancouver
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I had that once on my old stick and tin TT. Only happened when I stoped under some power lines. I could not open the door felt like someing bit me...so moved it down the road real quick once I fugured it out.
2007 Dodge Megacab Laramie 4x4 5.9 Cummins
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greende
Syracuse,NY
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Mike Sokol has alot of stuff online about "Hot Skin". He also posts here alot. Google "Hot Skin" & there will be alot of reading. My guess is this is what you are experiencing.
2011 Chevy 3500 HD LTZ Duramax/Allison Crew Cab Long Box DRW
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wolfwatcher
Houston
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I will have to research the "hot skin" issue.
As I think about this, and never had this happen before, it is plugged into my mother's house. It is a plug my dad added many years ago, and a really good chance he didn't do all three wires, hook up a ground.
Think that could be it?
Just thinking out loud but it helps to hear other thoughts to get my mind engaged.
Thanks.
Tom.
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Luke Porter
Not on the road :(
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I had that problem once. Was due to a bad extension cord.
Frequent topic here. Seems it a ground problem a lot of times.
Yep, actually drove to all of these places---in the last eight years. Missed Rhode Island and New Jersey.
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skylos
Columbus, OH
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You said...
wolfwatcher wrote:it doesn't do it when plugged in
then you said
wolfwatcher wrote:it is plugged into my mother's house
So... is it?
Certainly if it is plugged in, you could be feeling this if there is a wiring fault, particularly when there is significant power being used - definitely if an AC unit was blowing, but maybe just the 12V system, particularly if its charging teh batt actively or there are some lights on inside. The neutral/ground potential voltage of the chassis of your trailer to the ground will rise above zero by an amount quantifiable as the current amps flowing times the resistance of all the wires and connections between the electrical box in the trailer and the ground connection at the main box of the house.
I once measured this kind of potential to be almost 80 volts on my parent's house!
As for how to fix it?
Make sure that there is no connection between ground and neutral in the trailer while it is unplugged. Any such connection (bridge erroneously not removed in the main power box, or a miswiring on a socket or appliance somewhere, or failed insulation on operating appliance) would result in exactly that symptom.
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CA Traveler
The Western States
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wolfwatcher,
First post says it occurs when not plugged in. Last post when plugged into moms. Confusing.
You have 2 problems:
1: Moms plug is not grounded
2. You have a ground fault
Test moms plug with a standard household tester and get it fixed. Get this fixed as it could be a real shocker!
Plug into a known good GFCI plug to see if the ground fault exceeds 5ma (the maximum). If so find and fix the ground fault.
2009 Holiday Rambler 42 Scepter with ISL 400 Cummins
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Bob
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kampinguru
Ontario
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I get this on my trailer when using the dogbone to plug the trailer into a 15 amp recepticle. It does not do it when using the proper RV 30 amp recepticle. It also happens when I use the dogbone to plug into my genny, but again, not when I use the 30 amp plug. I think the adapter is causing the problem.
2000 F-250 S/B 4X4
2005 Cedar Creek 30RLBS
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