Date:         Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:11:59 -0800
Reply-To:     Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Uh-oh: is this going to be a problem
Comments: To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <4d1b79350911110848q185ba856n6f747a30c5caa887@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

On Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 8:48 AM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:

>
> the stress broke of the ground prong in the outlet.
> Is it OK to use this the way it is?
>

Although your description is ambiguous I come to the conclusion that you
broke off the ground pin on the AC receptacle on the van itself.  And you
are asking if it is safe to use that way.  The simple answer is 'maybe' BUT
it will really depend on three things.  First, is all the 110 VAC wiring in
the van correct?  Second, is the power cord you will be using correct? And
third, and the really important part, is the power source you will be
plugging into correct?  Often, and I mean often, the wiring/power source in
campgrounds, both public and private, is bad.  If it is you can ruin
equipment connected to the 110 and in the worst case end up with real
hazards of getting shocked or even worse.  I was using a power cord without
the ground pin in it last spring at a campground in Oregon.  There were
indications that there was a problem with the shore power I was plugged into
bu I ignored them.  The result was a blown (and expensive) onboard battery
charger.  The charger has been replaced, the power cord fixed, and I now
carry a tester that I use before plugging into campground power and a second
tester that reads the voltage level.  I probably would have avoided this if
my power cord had had the ground pin in it.