Electrical Safety
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One subject we must always keep in mind when working on any RV system is safety. This is particularly true when working on the RV electrical system. Whenever you are working on any electrical component in your RV, you should be certain you know what you are doing, do it safely and do it correctly. There are many sources of help available, do not hesitate to ask for help. The down side of asking for help is admitting you don’t know something. The down side of not asking for help is potential injury, and damage to your RV.
One thing I always suggest when troubleshooting an electrical system is to first know what you are checking, and have some idea what you expect to find with that check. We will be talking a lot about how to make electrical test with a multimeter, and what you should expect when making those checks. This is a very important step to take in being safe around electricity.
In an RV there are two major and distinct electrical systems: first is the 12vdc system and the second is the 120vac system. In the future we will talk more about how these two systems work together to make your life in an RV more comfortable, but right now you need to be aware that each system presents it’s own, unique safety hazard. Knowing how these systems work and understanding the potential hazards is important to keeping you safe and your RV working properly.
In the electrical service industry right now there is an emphasis on arc flash safety. OSHA is requiring individuals who work around electrical equipment to be trained in arc flash safety and to use appropriate arc flash personal protection equipment, including safety glasses and other appropriate equipment. While there is no requirement that you use this type of equipment while working on your own RV, it really makes sense to at least use safety glasses as the potential for an arc certainly exists in both of the major electrical systems in your RV.
Summary: understand the electrical system you are working on and what you are checking. Use safe procedures while working, including appropriate safety equipment. Ask for help if you need it.
In our next post, we will start to talk about a working vocabulary we can use to discuss electrical issues. Hope to see you there.
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So….if I want to prevent arcing, I shouldn’t lick my fingers when I begin an electrical job? Nice job, Larry! Look forward to future editions of your blog.
People are usually properly wary of 120 V but many do not understand that 12 V can injure or in rare cases even kill.
The reason that 12 V kills so rarely is that the resistance of the skin is high enough to prevent a hazardous current (over 5 milliamps) to flow through the body. The current has to flow through skin twice.
However, if a wire, such as a single strand of stranded wire, punctures the skin, it may make contact with the interior of the body. Blood and interstitial fluid (about the same stuff as blood plasma) are electrolytes – conductive fluids. Now, the resistance is reduced to one layer of skin. Still, at 12 V, probably will do no harm. But if both conductors (like the aforementioned strand AND perhaps a burr on the car body) puncture the skin, the resistance goes to almost…nothing! Now, 12 V is enough to push a LOT of milliamps through the body. 10 ma is a strong shock and 25 ma may be fatal if it goes through the heart or brain.
Usually even in such a case as double penetration of the skin the current will not pass through a fatal area but will cause the victim to jerk violently and bang his head on something solid, sharp, or both.
Don’t be careless with any electricity!
Al, I don’t disagree with your point because you are correct. However, if I were to point out potential (no pun intended) safety hazards with 12 vdc sources, I would be more concerned with the possibility of an explosion of a battery due to arcing.
There are many issues with which to be concerned when dealing with electrical systems. If you are not certain, ask, or have someone who is qualified do the repair.
Our 12volt system is not working. Usually when we hook up, we can use the 12volt lights, fridge, etc. Now nothing is working. We have running lights but that is all. What could possible be wrong? Before we take it to get repaired, is there something we could do to fix it. Any information would be helpful. Thank you.
Tami, can you give us a bit more information? What kind of RV do you have as a start. Keep in mind that all of the 12 volt power in an RV originates at the battery or batteries which are the source of voltage and current. If the batteries are dead it would cause this particular problem, or possibly a blown fuse. Has the RV been in storage? If so, it is very possible the battery is dead and either needs charged or replaced. Give us some more information and we will try to save you the repair bill.
Larry
Larry, We have a Keystone Raptor 5th wheel trailer. We do store our RV outside and at a storage facility. We do feel the batteries are probably dead. They didn’t charge at all when hooked up to our Ford F350 dually truck. Since they are dead, can you recommend a good battery to buy? And if new batteries don’t work, what else beside a blown fuse could it be? The converter runs all the time, and sometimes sounds like its going to die. It will rev up and down at times. Thank you so much for all of your suggestions.
Tami