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 04-18-2014, 11:49 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oceanside, CA
Posts: 29
"hot skin" when plugged in

I recently purchased a used SMB and am trying to chase down some electrical gremlins.
1. chassis becomes "hot" (electrical, not temp) when plugged in
2. smoke detector beeps when plugged in and for a while after I unplug
3. power inverter has red error light next to "overload"

Other than that everything seems to work. I only get about a day of camping with the refrigerator running before it runs out of juice. Not sure how long it should go. Would love to know where to find the fuse to the smoke alarm. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Saltydog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2014, 12:03 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
carringb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 5,300
Re: "hot skin" when plugged in

Have you checked the "hot skin" problem at other outlets? Any possibility of the outlet being faulty?

Power inverter error could also be caused by switched leads in the outlet (or maybe even in the shore power wiring). Another common fault is an open Neutral wire.
__________________
2000 E450 dually V10 wagon
carringb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2014, 07:49 AM   #3
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oceanside, CA
Posts: 29
Re: "hot skin" when plugged in

I'm not sure what you mean by checking the other outlets. The problem occurs when I plug into shore power. the entire chassis becomes electrified. I've felt the charge when I was turning a wrench on the bumper bolts and when grabbing the door handle. Thanks for the input, I don't have a clue where to start.
Saltydog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2014, 08:51 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Tapatio's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: California
Posts: 1,012
Garage
Re: "hot skin" when plugged in

One of your AC wires is shorting out on the metal of the van. It either came loose or was rubbing and broke through the insulation. Unplug the van from shore power and turn off the inverter. Take it to mechanic before someone gets hurt.
__________________
2006 E350 6.0PSD 5R110, SMB 4X4, RB-50, ARB lockers front/rear, Aluminess galore, AMP steps.
Callsign KK6GIY
Tapatio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2014, 09:31 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
LenS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,220
Re: "hot skin" when plugged in

Ditto the above. You have two problems. One the short that is making the "skin" electrically hot. And two the skin should be grounded via the three wire power cord you are using (?) to plug the van in with.
__________________
Len & Joanne

The Green TARDIS
LenS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2014, 10:15 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
carringb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 5,300
Re: "hot skin" when plugged in

Quote:
Originally Posted by Saltydog
I'm not sure what you mean by checking the other outlets. The problem occurs when I plug into shore power.
I mean your shore power source. Does this happen anywhere you plug into shore power? Campgrounds are pretty notorious for faulty pedestal wiring.
__________________
2000 E450 dually V10 wagon
carringb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2014, 11:54 AM   #7
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: "hot skin" when plugged in

AC has polarity so before jumping into a bunch of troubleshooting go buy one of those inexpensive power quality testers and make sure the shore power, home made extension cord if you have one and any of the plugs have reverse polarity.


These will test for a variety of problems.




That's where I'd start. After that what the other members posted should be looked over. Even a screw through a hot leg might cause your problem if the ground is poor.
Attached Thumbnails
circuit tester.gif  
Attached Images
 
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2014, 11:59 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Ford_6L_E350's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
Re: "hot skin" when plugged in

It sounds like either your power source or your cord or your van have the hot and ground reversed. My first guess would be the cord.

Get an ohmmeter and check the grounds. What you describe is potentially very serious. If you don't have the tools or skills to check it, find someone who can, even if you have to pay an electrician.

Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
Ford_6L_E350 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2014, 10:12 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
dhally's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: SE Washington
Posts: 1,023
Garage
Re: "hot skin" when plugged in

Not to hijack, but...

Some of the above posts talk about reversed polarity of the 120v causing a hot chassis? If everything is correct inside the van, why would a reversed polarity shore power cause the chassis to be electrified?
__________________
---------------------
2009 E250 RB 5.4L "SilVan"
dhally is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2014, 12:44 PM   #10
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: "hot skin" when plugged in

It shouldn't if the ground is good in the van and at the shore panel. But grounds can be compromised and reversing the polarity makes the neutral hot which is tied to the vans ground. If you stand on earth ground there can be potential between the vans body and earth ground and you become the conductor. If one of the wires on a plug has come loose it's also possible as well if the shore power ground is poor. Stray voltage can also come from the source voltage and energize the ground going into the van and produce the same results when nothing is wrong with the vans wiring.
I'll admit potential between the bumper and the door is strange as most of anything bolted to the van should be somewhat in continuity with each other. It might not even be an AC problem. Not sure but I think some of those high tech headlights might produce higher voltages.

First step would be to test between the shock points then disconnect from shore power and see if it goes away. After that the hunt is on. Dust and moisture can even allow tracking between neutral and hot legs. It can happen at a plug or the breaker panel. Same with a crushed wire, loose wire or screw through a wire.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb 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

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:47 AM.


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