I got zapped site 1643

[stacktester]

Yesterday I was packing my 5th wheel up and after I put the power cord up I unhooked the cable tv line and bent down to twist it off the outlet. I put my left hand on the top of the box where the electrical cord plugs in and got a good zapping. I called the front desk and asked for a manager who finally came and she called for an electrician to immediately come over. Once he showed up he pulled the panel off and I saw a black line laying on the side touching the side of the box. The guy proceeded to completely strip the box of the breakers, wires, 50 amp, 30 amp and two 110 plugs and replace it all brand new. I guess it was a good thing I wasn't killed because if there was any evidence it was gone in a few minutes.

The electrician said nothing was wrong and said it had to be my camper. He came in and checked every wire and breaker and said my hot water heater was messing up. I guess I'll never know but if nothing was wrong why did he put that much stuff in there? I'm taking the camper to my dealer this week to make sure it wasn't me. I've hooked up at several different campgrounds without incident. I don't understand how something unplugged can be the fault. He said the cable tv wire was enough to cause this. I call BS but thought I'd see if there was any electricians on here that could offer some advice.

Hopefully this question is IMHO approved lol.

 

[clkelley]

Ouch!!!

 

[DaveInTN]

Glad you are ok Donnie. That's scary.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Well that sucks ! We still havn't hadda chance to formally meet the mayor.(it's only been a couple years )
Glad yer okay,

 

[big kahuna1]

I call BS too. It was not the TV Cable. It was the hose.

 

[3gr8kids]

So, when you got zapped, did you get a curlie like Carol?

edited to add.......by the way, glad you're okay

 

[clkelley]

So, when you got zapped, did you get a curlie like Carol?

edited to add.......by the way, glad you're okay

OMG!!!! (Hey, that may be a cheaper and quicker way to keep my curls!!!)

 

[3gr8kids]

OMG!!!! (Hey, that may be a cheaper and qucker way to keep my curls!!!)

It may be cheaper and quicker, but I don't think that's a "Cupcake approved" usage of your site's electricity.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

I call BS as well. The power came from somewhere? if your trailer wasnt connected to 110v then where could it have logically come from? the box is the only answer.
If your water heater was shorted it should have tripped the GFCI
and there was no power to it so how could he tell ?
IMHO the box had a wire shorted in it and you touching it grounded it to you and caused the shock.
The rest is a cover up.

 

[kampfirekim]

So, when you got zapped, did you get a curlie like Carol?

edited to add.......by the way, glad you're okay

Glad you're okay too Donnie! We can't lose our Mayor!

You didn't develop any weird ticks did ya?

 

[DaveInTN]

You didn't develop any weird ticks did ya?

You're assuming he didn't have any to begin with.

My biggest concern is also the unapproved use of electricity. Your site rental agreement allows you to utilize electric power to run the electical devices in your RV. It's debatable whether you should be using the electricity to power all those tacky lights and blowup doo dads. The jury is still out on that. But it CLEARLY is not allowable to use the site hookups to electrocute yourself.

Isn't there a nice state facility up the road in Starke for that?

 

[SCtigercock]

Isn't the black wire the hot wire? And if it was lose, dosen't that create a potential !@#% moment?

I have seen people hard wire into utility and race signs at NASCAR events. Could someone had tried to do this needing more power?

Maybe there was a portable lab or still on the site I was told to stay clear of the 1600 loop, scary place. JUST KIDDING!

 

[ftwildernessrick]

That will wake you up better than a cup of coffee.

The ground fault circuit only goes to the duplex outlet. The voltage could be leaking from different sources. The black hot wire against the side of the box would only be a problem if the insulation was worn or cracked. Other sources of the problem could be as simple as moisture in the box. However; the ground to the box should have been sufficient to carry the current away instead of using you as its path to ground.

They probably chose to replace all the components rather than try to trouble shoot each one.

 

[Robert6401]

Well, I just want to add my story for a safety lesson. When we were down for the 4th I was initially plugging in my 50a power cord and had gotten distracted. I usually turn all the circuit breakers in the box off before I plug in, but this time I forgot to do so. I inadvertantly allowed my index finger to get in between the plug and the receptacle just enough to get juiced. That amount of power is no joke, having been popped by a standard 110v outlet at home a few times, I can say that this one stung quite a bit more.

REMEMBER TO TURN OFF THE BREAKER SWITCH BEFORE PLUGGING IN!

Glad to hear you're alright Donnie~

 

[Memph1s]

Glad your OK. Did the box zap you when you very first touched it, or was it after you leaned over to unscrew the cable TV? If it was the later I bet the box bowed in just enough to touch a live wire right where it goes in the top of a switch or plug.

Good point Robert about turning the breaker off while plugging and unplugging those big 30, 50, or 100 amp plugs. Not only will it save you from getting a finger zapped but will eliminate any arching on your plug from still having something in your rig still on and pulling power.

 

[AuburnJen92]

Isn't there a nice state facility up the road in Starke for that?

Yes, it is called old sparky. They need to use it more IMHO.

 

[des1954]

Well, I just want to add my story for a safety lesson. When we were down for the 4th I was initially plugging in my 50a power cord and had gotten distracted. I usually turn all the circuit breakers in the box off before I plug in, but this time I forgot to do so. I inadvertantly allowed my index finger to get in between the plug and the receptacle just enough to get juiced. That amount of power is no joke, having been popped by a standard 110v outlet at home a few times, I can say that this one stung quite a bit more.

REMEMBER TO TURN OFF THE BREAKER SWITCH BEFORE PLUGGING IN!

Glad to hear you're alright Donnie~

Robert - Thank you for stating what should be the obvious! I don't think I or my DH have ever thought of throwing the breakers when plugging or unplugging. You can be certain I will do this henceforth!

 

[kampfirekim]

You're assuming he didn't have any to begin with.

But it CLEARLY is not allowable to use the site hookups to electrocute yourself.

Isn't there a nice state facility up the road in Starke for that?

I meant NEW ones!

You CAN'T electrocute yourself at the Fort ??? Is that expressly stated in the paperwork ???

Don't be a party pooper Dave.

 

[beagles7278]

After 2 pages of responses I still can't believe that nobody has figured this out yet, you people need to lay off the kungawhatever you are sipping. This was an obvious attempt on your life by Disney. They are not happy with your posts and have decided you need to be eliminated. I would be very worried that you allowed the electrician on your trailer. Did you keep an eye on him the whole time? Was the manager trying to distract you? You are in obvious danger my friend, keep your porch lights on, Jesse Ventura and the Conspiracy Theory team are on it.

 

[3gr8kids]

After 2 pages of responses I still can't believe that nobody has figured this out yet, you people need to lay off the kungawhatever you are sipping. This was an obvious attempt on your life by Disney. They are not happy with your posts and have decided you need to be eliminated. I would be very worried that you allowed the electrician on your trailer. Did you keep an eye on him the whole time? Was the manager trying to distract you? You are in obvious danger my friend, keep your porch lights on, Jesse Ventura and the Conspiracy Theory team are on it.

This TOTALLY makes sense ~ they went after the Mayor first, then they'll be moving on (I heard bus drivers, otterspotters, commando's, Auburn fans, and people's whose names start with a capital letter are next!)