Lanier and all --
Got an in-line GFI at Builder's square for $32 and change. As reported,
camping world also has them, and my son tells me Wal-Mart does too.
To answer the question directly, in-line really describes it, you plug the
GFI (which is about a foot long) into the campground outlet and the GMC
plugs into the in-line GFI (this assumes you are only using 110V at the
campground.
Think of it as a short extension cord with a device in the middle of the
cord that keeps you safe.
I imagine these are also available for 220 volt circuits, but I really don't
know.
I have somewhat higher confidence in the 220 volt wiring at campgrounds
since there is a separate ground on the 50 amp plug on the GMC. I'm very
leery of the 110 wiring.
Anyway, go to:
http://www.campingworld.com/cgi-bin/cwbrowse?prod%sid=663630%uid=guest%sku=1
4640
or if this url is split in your browser, navigate from their home page:
http://www.campingworld.com
to shoponline | electrical & generators
| cords & adapters | GFI and surge suppressors
After I bought this unit and came back from lunch, my electrician showed me
some he'd been making for our service trucks.
I almost hesitate to pass this along, so I'll disclaim this statement by
saying if you don't get the mental image from my description, go by one
ready made.
Jim (my co-worker) uses a short pig's tail curly cord, which he cuts in two.
He puts cord clamps in a plastic outlet box, where he mounts a regular 'feed
through' duplex GFI outlet inside the box. The male end of the cord goes in
the top, and the female end goes in the bottom. The GFI outlet protects
whatever is plugged into it. I'd guess he's got maybe $10 in parts.
Again, I'd caution the reader: *if you decide to do this, make sure the GFI
outlet you get provides 'down stream' or feed through protection.* I
actually like Jim's in-line GFI better than the one I bought, I can fix it
if the GFI feed through outlet goes bad. The store bought one will have to
be sent back for repair.
Back to messages in other posts, the outlet tester mentioned is a good idea,
these are commonly available at Ace (really almost any hardware). They will
tell you if the 110 volt outlet is properly wired.
Based on what we see on job sites, I do know that an in-line GFI will work
anywhere, in any outlet, even if there is no third wire ground present.
Disclaimer: not having a good third wire ground isn't safe. Period.
The benefit of the GFI is that you won't get electrocuted. The GFI works by
measuring the micro-differential between the current flowing between the hot
and neutral conductors of the circuit.
Someone on the list asked about the GMC already having a GFI, and while I
didn't look this morning, I think its only on the outdoor outlet, so don't
assume your whole coach is protected. It simply isn't unless you've done it
yourself.
Rick Staples replied to my question on my dog-bone / 220 to 110
adapt-O-matic, and I think I may have mis-stated part of my original post,
or else Rick didn't catch how rinky-dink some of us (who know better) are
plugging in our GMCs.
| Unless someone has miswired it, there is no such thing as a "220 by 30
| amp" RV supply circuit. A 30 amp service is a 120 volt service by the
code.
| It includes one hot and one neutral wire with a potential of 120V across
them
| (the two angled flat terminals in the plug) and one ground wire (the round
| pin) which normally carries no current.
Rick, I've learned something that I didn't know. Thank you.
NEMA has so many amperage/voltage configurations I took it for granted that
the 30 amp service was 220 volts. I should have realized there was a round
pin on the dog bone, which would be ground.
My concern, though would still be true -- that is with my 50 to 30 to 15 amp
conglomeration, I've got big trouble if someone wired the 15/20 amp duplex
recept wrong.
So with all this said, I'm going to use an in-line GFI if I'm connected to a
15/20 amp duplex outlet. There's just too great a possibility of it being
mis-wired.
The potential consequences if it is have a risk factor that exceeds my
comfort level for the safety of my family. I'm sure we can agree on that.
Mark
| -----Original Message-----
| From: owner-gmcmotorhome
| [mailto
wner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of HLBF
| Sent: Friday, July 02, 1999 8:49 AM
| To: gmcmotorhome
| Subject: Re: GMC: GFI's
|
|
| In a message dated 7/2/99 7:32:46 AM Central Daylight Time,
| mgrady
|
|
Got an in-line GFI at Builder's square for $32 and change. As reported,
camping world also has them, and my son tells me Wal-Mart does too.
To answer the question directly, in-line really describes it, you plug the
GFI (which is about a foot long) into the campground outlet and the GMC
plugs into the in-line GFI (this assumes you are only using 110V at the
campground.
Think of it as a short extension cord with a device in the middle of the
cord that keeps you safe.
I imagine these are also available for 220 volt circuits, but I really don't
know.
I have somewhat higher confidence in the 220 volt wiring at campgrounds
since there is a separate ground on the 50 amp plug on the GMC. I'm very
leery of the 110 wiring.
Anyway, go to:
http://www.campingworld.com/cgi-bin/cwbrowse?prod%sid=663630%uid=guest%sku=1
4640
or if this url is split in your browser, navigate from their home page:
http://www.campingworld.com
to shoponline | electrical & generators
| cords & adapters | GFI and surge suppressors
After I bought this unit and came back from lunch, my electrician showed me
some he'd been making for our service trucks.
I almost hesitate to pass this along, so I'll disclaim this statement by
saying if you don't get the mental image from my description, go by one
ready made.
Jim (my co-worker) uses a short pig's tail curly cord, which he cuts in two.
He puts cord clamps in a plastic outlet box, where he mounts a regular 'feed
through' duplex GFI outlet inside the box. The male end of the cord goes in
the top, and the female end goes in the bottom. The GFI outlet protects
whatever is plugged into it. I'd guess he's got maybe $10 in parts.
Again, I'd caution the reader: *if you decide to do this, make sure the GFI
outlet you get provides 'down stream' or feed through protection.* I
actually like Jim's in-line GFI better than the one I bought, I can fix it
if the GFI feed through outlet goes bad. The store bought one will have to
be sent back for repair.
Back to messages in other posts, the outlet tester mentioned is a good idea,
these are commonly available at Ace (really almost any hardware). They will
tell you if the 110 volt outlet is properly wired.
Based on what we see on job sites, I do know that an in-line GFI will work
anywhere, in any outlet, even if there is no third wire ground present.
Disclaimer: not having a good third wire ground isn't safe. Period.
The benefit of the GFI is that you won't get electrocuted. The GFI works by
measuring the micro-differential between the current flowing between the hot
and neutral conductors of the circuit.
Someone on the list asked about the GMC already having a GFI, and while I
didn't look this morning, I think its only on the outdoor outlet, so don't
assume your whole coach is protected. It simply isn't unless you've done it
yourself.
Rick Staples replied to my question on my dog-bone / 220 to 110
adapt-O-matic, and I think I may have mis-stated part of my original post,
or else Rick didn't catch how rinky-dink some of us (who know better) are
plugging in our GMCs.
| Unless someone has miswired it, there is no such thing as a "220 by 30
| amp" RV supply circuit. A 30 amp service is a 120 volt service by the
code.
| It includes one hot and one neutral wire with a potential of 120V across
them
| (the two angled flat terminals in the plug) and one ground wire (the round
| pin) which normally carries no current.
Rick, I've learned something that I didn't know. Thank you.
NEMA has so many amperage/voltage configurations I took it for granted that
the 30 amp service was 220 volts. I should have realized there was a round
pin on the dog bone, which would be ground.
My concern, though would still be true -- that is with my 50 to 30 to 15 amp
conglomeration, I've got big trouble if someone wired the 15/20 amp duplex
recept wrong.
So with all this said, I'm going to use an in-line GFI if I'm connected to a
15/20 amp duplex outlet. There's just too great a possibility of it being
mis-wired.
The potential consequences if it is have a risk factor that exceeds my
comfort level for the safety of my family. I'm sure we can agree on that.
Mark
| -----Original Message-----
| From: owner-gmcmotorhome
| [mailto
wner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of HLBF| Sent: Friday, July 02, 1999 8:49 AM
| To: gmcmotorhome
| Subject: Re: GMC: GFI's
|
|
| In a message dated 7/2/99 7:32:46 AM Central Daylight Time,
| mgrady
|
|
