Date:         Sun, 16 May 2004 22:26:46 -0400
Reply-To:     David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Subject:      Re: Conversion to 240 Volt from 110 Volt external Elect hookup
In-Reply-To:  <40A7CB5F.B5DF45B1@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Sun, 16 May 2004, mark drillock wrote:

> The Westy outside utility hookup has a 3 prong plug. Each prong has a
> separate color wire that connects from there to the various places in
> the camping interior. The ground wire also connects the the vehicle
> chassis. Whatever is done must be done such that the chassis NEVER gets
> any voltage feed to it.

This would be a good time to pass on a safety tip:

In RV wiring, you absolutely MUST NOT connect the neutral wire to the
chassis.  Yes, I know in your house the two are bonded together in the
service panel, but this should never be done in an RV.  Think of the RV's
electrical system as an extension cord -- the ground and neutral stay
seperate.  Otherwise, if you plug into a miswired outlet that has the
neutral and hot reversed, the chassis will be hot!

When installing inverters or generators, you have to make sure that the
ground and neutral aren't connected together.  Sometimes they are,
especially in equipment designed to be used in houses.


David Brodbeck, N8SRE
'86 Volvo 240DL wagon
'82 VW Vanagon Westfalia Diesel