Reverse Polarity
What is Reverse Polarity?
Reverse polarity is the term used to describe the condition where the hot (ungrounded) and neutral (grounded) electrical wires have been connected to the wrong terminals of a receptacle. It’s a fairly common electrical problem in households, businesses – and campground hookups.
Why is it so common? It’s an easy mistake to make during the electrical wiring process and usually the receptacles will work fine even when polarity is reversed.
Is Reverse Polarity Dangerous?
Although shock from the improperly wired receptacle itself is not likely, it can be dangerous for an RV connected to a power source with reverse polarity. If the power source is not correctly wired, your RV itself can become “hot,” which means you could become a conductor if you were to touch your coach while walking around the outside. Obviously this could cause serious injury or even death under certain circumstances.
Another risk is that the safety mechanism on an electrical device connected to a reverse polarity source of power may not kick in, which could cause serious injury. For example, a power tool may start automatically as soon as it’s plugged into the improperly wired receptacle – or it may not shut off when you try turning it off.
Before you hook up to any unknown power source, you should use a circuit tester to check for correct wiring. Plug the tester into all the receptacles – both top and bottom – for an accurate reading. You should always test the outlet before hooking up, but if you’ve already plugged in, unplug your RV and don’t use the outlet until it’s repaired. Make sure to report the problem to the campground owner at once.
To read more valuable articles on RV Maintenance Tips or how to keep your RV safe for travel, visit the Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service website, www.goodsamers.com
Tags: 5th wheel travel trailer, campground hookup, camping, electrical, fifth wheel travel trailer, improper wiring, motor home, motorhome, neutral, receptacle, recreational vehicle, reverse polarity, rv, shock, terminal, ungrounded, wires
