While on shore power, voltage on motorhome body

[geantbrun]

Hello guys
While working on exterior body (I was touching the body with my shoulder while my hand rested on the ground), I noticed what seemed to be a small burn on my skin. I took a voltage measure at body : it was nearly 14 VAC! (I was on shore power). After disconnecting shore power, no more voltage. Did the same test with inverter set to OFF (inside and outside): same result (note: I *think* that the inverter was set to off but the inverter control panel inside bedroom closet still showed red lights, maybe it's normal). Does it indicate some bad contact somewhere? Did anybody experience such a thing at some time?
Thank you for your help
Patrick
Safari Sahara '96

[TDJohn]

Patrick,

This will happen when you lose ground on shore power. Check your cords and shore power outlet to make sure you have a good and proper ground. Also check for corroded and/or overheated connection on your shore power and where the shore power cord connects to the coach.

[wolfe10]

You need to VERIFY the shore power outlet for correct polarity and ground.

Let us know if this is a 50 amp or 30 amp outlet and with your voltmeter you can check it in 15 seconds.

Until then, UNPLUG!

[1Lotosrggp]

You have a hot skin voltage, in the words of Mike Spool over at rvtravel.com: if you feel ANY kind of shock from your RV, unplug from shore power immediately and find the problem. Remember, the next shock you get could be your last, so don’t ignore any electrical tingles you might feel, no matter how small they seem at first.

Starting point: https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-electricity ... wJs6ayEEfk

[geantbrun]

Thank you for your help John, Brett and Tom. After verification, my brother and I found that his garage is not grounded (I was connected to an outlet of his garage). Probably caused by squirrels, racoons or other rodents that swarm here in the country. Finally a problem that is not related to my motorhome!
Thanks again
Patrick
Safari Sahara '96

[wolfe10]

You will still want to verify the outlet for POLARITY as well as good ground.

Let us know if you are plugged into a 15,30 or 50 amp outlet AND if you have a voltmeter.

[Moonwink]

Do yourself and your brother a favor and buy a ground rod. Drive it into the ground where you CAN provide a ground for the garage. It could be deadly to continue the way you are. A good hardware store should be able to supply all you need to drive the rod below the surface and attach a wire to it running back over to the distribution box in the garage. While you're at it, check the panel in his house to verify it's properly grounded. It sounds like the ground wire somewhere the wires going to the garage did not have their ground wire connected. That's good way to kill someone who trusted outlets with the third "ground" prong were actually properly grounded. If you're RV had a GFI, you would never get it to work and there's a very good reason why is shouldn't.

[geantbrun]

Well I left this morning my brother's home with my Safari (with its new alternator) but for your info Brett, I was connected on 15A (standard electrical outlet). I will definitely let my brother know all you told me Brett, John, Tom and Don!
Thanks again to all of you
Patrick

[wolfe10]

Standard 15 amp outlet:

Short vertical= HOT
Long vertical= NEUTRAL
Round= Ground.

[Moonwink]

Good article on this website:

"No~Shock~Zone"
RV Electrical Safety: Part IV – Hot Skin
Understanding and Preventing RV Electrical Damage
http://noshockzone.org/rv-electrical-sa ... -hot-skin/

Are “Little” Shocks OK?
http://noshockzone.org/are-little-shocks-ok/

Hot Skin RV proximity test full scale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8h64X33aKg