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Old 08-28-2016, 09:31 PM   #1
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If you want something done right...

Do it yourself! Or at least be around to supervise. I'm so aggrevated right now I could chew nails.

Long story short, my brother in law was coming down for a visit and asked if he paid to have a 30 amp plug put in at the house if he could stay in my camper while he was here for a week. I was out of town but my wife was here so I agreed. Who wouldn't be happy with a free outlet installed? He has an electrician friend here local that came and did the work...one time during the week he was here the breaker in the house for the plug tripped and I wasn't told until later.

I got home and can you guess what I found? His "electrician" friend had put in a regular 20 amp household style outlet, a 20 amp breaker, and had one of those little puck style adapters that let the 30 amp plug go into a 20 amp outlet! Also, when he cut a hole in the drywall to install the outlet box he didn't use one of the plastic ones with the tabs that fold out and hold it tight in the wall...like you are supposed to...he used a metal box designed for conduit and the only thing holding it in the wall was the wires running through the wall! When I tried to unplug the cord I had to hold the box into the wall so I didn't pull it out! What!?! It's a wonder that thing didn't melt and burn my house down or destroy my A/C running the whole trailer in 100 degree weather for a week.

I just finished changing the breaker out to a 30 amp and swapping the correct outlet box and plug in. The only thing he did that I didn't replace was the 4' of wire he ran from the breaker box to where the plug is at in the garage.

I'm just in awe of how horrible of a job he did!
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Old 08-28-2016, 10:12 PM   #2
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Be thankful that this "electrician" didn't install a 30a, 220v outlet, and fry your 110v system! There's been multiple reports of that over the years on various RV forums.
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Old 08-28-2016, 10:26 PM   #3
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Ouch, that really would have sucked!
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Old 08-28-2016, 11:32 PM   #4
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Do it yourself! Or at least be around to supervise. I'm so aggrevated right now I could chew nails.


I just finished changing the breaker out to a 30 amp and swapping the correct outlet box and plug in. The only thing he did that I didn't replace was the 4' of wire he ran from the breaker box to where the plug is at in the garage.

I'm just in awe of how horrible of a job he did!
Wow, so he ran #10 wire but only put in a 20 amp breaker and std outlet. You can add hangers on both sides of the box to attach it to the drywall.. As said, be happy he didn't put in a 220 line. Unless the electrician is familiar with RV's it's easy to do.

Good luck...
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Old 08-29-2016, 01:33 AM   #5
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Make sure he put in large enough gauge wire to support 30 amps.... Hate to see you have electrical fire.
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Old 08-29-2016, 04:32 AM   #6
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When we did mine, I had a licensed electrician, who is a close friend come over and do the electrical work. I dug the trench and had the conduit on hand.

I learned from watching.
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Old 08-29-2016, 04:35 AM   #7
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That's exactly why I do all my own work! I agree with your post title 100%. There are way too many folks out there that pass themselves off as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, etc. etc. etc. Glad you got home in time to fix it before any major damage was done.
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Old 08-29-2016, 05:59 AM   #8
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Make sure he put in large enough gauge wire to support 30 amps.... Hate to see you have electrical fire.

It's 10 gauge. 👍
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Old 08-29-2016, 08:40 AM   #9
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This is just another example of why no one works on my house unless I am there. Mostly I do the work myself.
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Old 08-29-2016, 09:53 AM   #10
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I like to do my own work, so I know it is done right, even thought I know, I don't know everything about everything. Regarding to construction, usually those items are far and few now.

sounds like it was not hard to get it fixed right.
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Old 08-29-2016, 10:00 AM   #11
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Possibly the only thing that saved your AC was the short run of wire and the fact he did use 10 gauge. I think if the run had been long you would have had low voltage. I`ve tried turning on my AC (for experimental purposes only as I knew there would be inadequate juice) on a 20 amp breaker with a 12 wire extension cord and I did not like what I was seeing on the voltmeter. So I just use it for lights etc. and keeping the batt charged.
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Old 08-29-2016, 10:02 AM   #12
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I am VERY much into DIY, just to make sure it is done right.


Of late, however, I have discovered that some tasks are best left to paid professionals.


I have done the maintenance and repairs on my cars since I earned my driver's license. Right now my 2003 F-350 is in the hands of a trusted shop getting the other exhaust manifold replaced. I did the first one myself in 2013. It'll be worth the $1,000+ not to crouch on the concrete for 5 or 6 evenings working with a cutting torch and an impact wrench. Then the drilling and installing heli-coils.
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Old 08-29-2016, 10:19 AM   #13
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I am VERY much into DIY, just to make sure it is done right.


Of late, however, I have discovered that some tasks are best left to paid professionals.


I have done the maintenance and repairs on my cars since I earned my driver's license. Right now my 2003 F-350 is in the hands of a trusted shop getting the other exhaust manifold replaced. I did the first one myself in 2013. It'll be worth the $1,000+ not to crouch on the concrete for 5 or 6 evenings working with a cutting torch and an impact wrench. Then the drilling and installing heli-coils.
Mike - Just an FYI - I have a 9,000 lb 2 post lift in my garage - We are close enough where if you needed to do some work you would be more than welcome to do it here. I have torches and a welder so almost anything is possible. Beer is alot cheaper than $1,000
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Old 08-29-2016, 10:32 AM   #14
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Mike - Just an FYI - I have a 9,000 lb 2 post lift in my garage - We are close enough where if you needed to do some work you would be more than welcome to do it here. I have torches and a welder so almost anything is possible. Beer is alot cheaper than $1,000
Thanks for the offer!

My lift is rated at 5500, so gotta use the floor jack & safety stands. But the real issue is the 4-5 evenings, laying the beastie up for a week, the pressure to get it done, trying to drill all the steel out of the aluminum heads, etc., ad nausium.

The first one took me two weeks. This second side includes the EGR plumbing. I've been putting it off for three years. It's not that I can't do it, it's that I don't want to do it. And I am willing to pay good money to know how much somebody else is going to suffer and cuss!
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Old 08-29-2016, 10:36 AM   #15
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Thanks for the offer!

My lift is rated at 5500, so gotta use the floor jack & safety stands. But the real issue is the 4-5 evenings, laying the beastie up for a week, the pressure to get it done, trying to drill all the steel out of the aluminum heads, etc., ad nausium.

The first one took me two weeks. This second side includes the EGR plumbing. I've been putting it off for three years. It's not that I can't do it, it's that I don't want to do it. And I am willing to pay good money to know how much somebody else is going to suffer and cuss!
Agreed! There are times I send stuff out too - Especially as I get older....
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Old 08-29-2016, 10:44 AM   #16
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Agreed! There are times I send stuff out too - Especially as I get older....
Don't mention the evil 'o' word ever again!
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Old 08-30-2016, 03:43 PM   #17
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I know little about electricity, and I know what I don't know. So when I had my 50A outlet installed on the side of my garage for the trailer, I had a licensed electrician come out and do it for me. He's a long-time client, and we talked about the work before he came out. He even clarified that it was for an RV, so no confusion about the 240 vs 120 issue. I also tested the outlet with a volt meter before I plugged in to be sure it was wired correctly.

I've been electrocuted before, and do not wish to repeat the experience. For this type of thing, I'll pay the professionals. I love DIY as much as the next guy, but I have NO problems paying for something to be done right.
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Old 08-30-2016, 04:17 PM   #18
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This was a licensed electrician that did the original install...he's been doing electrical for 10 or 15 years...he has had medical issues and has been out of work for a year or so but that's no excuse for the work performed.
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