Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 02-03-2012, 02:27 PM   #1
Bus Geek
 
lornaschinske's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Roswell, NM
Posts: 3,588
Year: 1986
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: 40 ft All American FE
Engine: 8.2LTA Fuel Pincher DD V8
Rated Cap: 89
Cautions: High Voltage Low Voltage

WARNING! THIS IS NOT FROM A SKOOLIE SITE! IT IS AN EVENT HANDOUT!

If you have a problem with information from non-skoolie sites, please do not read. Do not ask =me any questions about this handout as I will not respond. For those that do read it, this info pertains really to any campground you may use or any group gathering where you are maxing out the power supply or sharing generators. If you will be using a generator in a group setting, please either buy or build a genturi to get the exhausts above the roof lines and avoid killing your neighbours. There are several DIY plans are available online if you wish to make one.Thank you very much and have a downright peachy day.



Minimum electricity is furnished to participants at this event.
Electricity on the grounds will be shared through common hookups and branch circuits.
Basic precautions are essential for the benefit of all.

If you have been experiencing electrical problems do NOT plug into electricity until our electricians check your rig. Contact them through Registration, Information, parking or any staff member. Don't take a chance on injuring yourself, a neighbor or causing damage because of a careless mistake.

Electric circuits have been checked for proper wiring. If you are plugging into a set of receptacles with other rigs already plugged in, we encourage you to check the polarity for yourself since another rig may have caused a fault.

Minimum electricity means just that--minimum. The electrical system will NOT support air conditioners, electric heaters and other heavy users. BE CONSERVATIVE. Run your refrigerator on propane. Consider your neighbors. If everyone turns on coffee makers, toasters and hair dryers each morning, the resulting low voltage can damage sensitive electronics in many RVs. Experienced RVers run battery chargers and use 12V-powered appliances as much as possible.

HIGH VOLTAGE: An actual electric surge (lighting strike or power company catastrophe) is extremely unusual--but possible--and you should always use a surge protector. The vast majority of high voltage incidents are due to RVer carelessness and accidents that damage the electric system (yours and those on the same line). Be careful.

LOW VOLTAGE: A far more common problem than high voltage. Many electrical appliances can be damaged when operated at 104 Volts AC or less.

HIGH VOLTAGE SURGE
What is it? Lightning and failed power company equipment. Catastrophic in nature.
What can you do? Use a good surge protector. Unplug your RV from commercial power when storms threaten. If you see a "crackling/arcing' power transformer, unplug. If someone drives a vehicle into a power pole, unplug.

ARTIFICIAL SURGE
What is it? Similar in effect to the high voltage surge above, but caused by someone (you?) who interferes with the power system. Examples: • Tearing power connections apart with a vehicle or tripping over them. • Running a generator that isn't properly isolated from the commercial power system (Do NOT ever run a generator without disconnecting from commercial power when you're "sharing" power with others. Do NOT trust an automatic transfer switch to protect your RV or your neighbors.) • Running a faulty appliance in your RV that "melts down." • Plugging in faulty power adapters. All these may affect your neighbors on the same system.
What can you do? Pay attention to what you're doing. Artificial surges are the most common cause of severe damage (the kind that can wipe out your whole RV--and your neighbor's). DON'T BURN UP YOUR NEIGHBOR'S RV!

HIGHER THAN NORMAL VOLTAGE
What is it? Not a surge, but voltage in excess of 130VAC for an extended period.
What will it do? Burn out or cause premature failure of lights, refrigerator heating element, sensitive electronics in any number of appliances (including things like automatic coffee makers with timers).
What can you do? Every RVer should have a simple, cheap voltage monitor plugged into one of the easily-seen AC receptacles in their RV. If you don't have one, connect your multimeter.

LOWER THAN NORMAL VOLTAGE
What is it? The most common cause of damage to electrical items in an RV. It is any sustained voltage of 104VAC or less. Common at RV gatherings as well as at campgrounds with insufficient power to sites.


WHAT WILL IT DO
Electric Motors Low Voltage means higher amperage. That means more heat, slower running and early failure. LV also means that motors with a starting switch (see Air Conditioners below) like washing machines may not reach starter winding cutout speed and this will result in motor damage. Some motors, however, will just run slow and not be damaged. Do you want to risk yours to find out?
Air Conditioners Low Voltage = Motors die early as above. Also, compressors (constant horse power loads) will be severely stressed and burn out.
Fluorescent Lamps Low Voltage= Constant cycling of circuit board and ballast. That means premature failure.
TV/VCR/etc. Low Voltage = Heat = premature failure of components. (And see Power Supplies below.)
Refrigerator Low Voltage = Relays fail to operate properly; unit goes into search mode from 120VAC to LP to 12VDC constantly and thoroughly confuses circuit board that, in consequence, fails.
Furnace & Water Heater Low Voltage = Slow fan, which = too much heat in furnace enclosure, which destroys circuit board. Water heaters with auto ignition have circuit board that may fail or not operate properly.
Microwave Oven Low Voltage = Fan runs slow. Fan cools a magnetron (the cooking element). Hot magnetrons die if run too long in this condition.
Power Supplies Low Voltage = Some power supplies will run too hot (switching power supplies); some just won't regulate properly (linear type). Either, if not running properly, are components of and may damage, computer equipment, TVs, VCRs and the like.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Monitor your electrical system for Low Voltage as described above for High Voltage.
When at an RV gathering, like an Escapade, be considerate. Don't be an energy hog.

Some items won't necessarily be damaged by low voltage. They just won't work or won't work well. Examples: incandescent lamps, heaters, clocks, non-automatic coffee makers.

Some appliances are known to fail even, when turned off, and create disasters. Examples: toasters, automatic coffee makers and heating items which should not be plugged in when not in use, in your RV or at home.



More on "surges" and low power here WARNING! THIS LINK TAKES YOU TO A NON-SKOOLIE SITE! IF YOU OBJECT TO INFORMATION GLEANED FROM NON-SKOOLIE SITES, PLEASE DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK!

__________________
This post is my opinion. It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
Fulltime since 2006
The goal of life is living in agreement with nature. Zeno (335BC-264BC)
https://lorndavi.wordpress.com/blog/
https://i570.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps0340a6ff.jpg
lornaschinske is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2012, 04:11 PM   #2
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 143
Send a message via ICQ to mightybus
Re: Cautions: High Voltage Low Voltage

I for one am glad to see you back Lorna. Your posts and links offer so much more useful information than the "'atta boy, looks good" posts that one clicks on most of the time.(Everyone needs a pat on the back now and then though). Not having you post, makes much of this forum analogous to this guys post on how empty his bus feels.
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=11694
mightybus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2012, 01:56 AM   #3
Skoolie
 
thommassey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Eastern Washington
Posts: 234
Year: 1986
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE
Engine: 3208TA Cat 250HP
Rated Cap: 84
Re: Cautions: High Voltage Low Voltage

Great information share Lorna... Good to hear from you, And I will pass this on to my other RV friends...
__________________
TUMBLEWEED (AKA Rufus) build:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=11121
PICTURES : https://s1338.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... M-HP/Rufus
thommassey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2012, 10:15 AM   #4
Bus Crazy
 
gbstewart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,208
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: 3800 International
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 72
Re: Cautions: High Voltage Low Voltage

good info, I too was wondering if you your still around Lorna, as a matter of fact i was going to start a post and see if you where around, maybe you went to roswell and got tangeled up with a ufo

gbstewart
__________________
my bus build viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5931
gbstewart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2012, 12:13 PM   #5
Bus Nut
 
Skunky Bus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Huron, South Dakota
Posts: 422
Year: 1976
Coachwork: Wayne
Chassis: Dodge S-600
Engine: 360 V8
Rated Cap: 66
Re: Cautions: High Voltage Low Voltage

Thank you, Lorna; this is valuable information. It also reminds me that there is something I have to check on my Winnie's power system before I use it again.

Sucks that some people have had "problems" with either you personally or information you post. I've always felt like I've gained something by reading your contributions. As for those here who don't like information from "non-skoolie" sources, that's dumb prejudice. The principles of physics don't discriminate between Skoolies and "RV people."
__________________
Any action for which there is no logical explanation will be deemed "company policy."
- Akvol's Second Law of the Corporation
Skunky Bus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2012, 11:10 AM   #6
Skoolie
 
freakn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Southeast British Columbia
Posts: 106
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 72
Re: Cautions: High Voltage Low Voltage

Good info, thanks. I am going to buy a permanent volt meter for my wall now. Maybe a low and high voltage warning system.
__________________
Living the dream in the Kootenays
freakn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2012, 04:39 PM   #7
Skoolie
 
freakn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Southeast British Columbia
Posts: 106
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 72
Re: Cautions: High Voltage Low Voltage

I found this unit, has anyone used one of these?
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/it ... itor/24900
__________________
Living the dream in the Kootenays
freakn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2012, 02:07 AM   #8
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Oregon/Philippines
Posts: 1,660
Re: Cautions: High Voltage Low Voltage

That or a different brand would be a good idea. And i suppose you get a discount with the good sam/camping world card. Its has more functions than mine, and is cheap.
__________________
Jesus Christ... Conversion in progress.
chev49 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2012, 02:17 AM   #9
Skoolie
 
thommassey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Eastern Washington
Posts: 234
Year: 1986
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE
Engine: 3208TA Cat 250HP
Rated Cap: 84
Re: Cautions: High Voltage Low Voltage

Is there one that displays both AC and DC in the same unit ( with hazard potential alarm) ? I have only found them as separate units...
__________________
TUMBLEWEED (AKA Rufus) build:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=11121
PICTURES : https://s1338.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... M-HP/Rufus
thommassey is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Voltage regulator help!! Shortbus Nixon Short-Bus Conversion Projects 0 11-19-2010 05:55 PM
28 die as bus touches high-voltage wire crazycal School Bus News 5 06-15-2010 07:43 PM
Multi Voltage Alternator / Generator / Welder Papabear Conversion General Discussions 1 09-21-2009 01:20 PM
HELP! RV to high GoneCamping Conversion General Discussions 0 06-20-2009 09:20 PM
How high should I go? josetann Everything Else | General Skoolie Discussions 3 09-05-2008 03:47 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:33 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.