Weird electrical ?. getting shocked when I fill up my tires

[glamisbound]

Long term RV owner here. Many different makes, models, and classes. I've done many of my own repairs over the years and am fairly mechanically inclined. But electrical stuff is my nemesis. So I've come here to ask the electrical experts.

2016 Jayco Greyhawk 31 FS.

When I fill up my tires with air, I get a mild electrical shock when I push the air chuck against the valve stem and am touching the wheel at the same time. I'm sitting on the ground when I top of my tires so I'm thinking there is some ground fault or something. No breakers are GFI have been tripped and everything is working fine.

Any ideas, comments, questions???

[Grumpy]

Are you home or a CG? Could be a receptacle that's wired wrong.

[kurv]

I was shocked last year doing the same exact thing, same model motorhome. Nothing bad, just an unexpected sensation. I figured just a static electricity thing.

[glamisbound]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Are you home or a CG? Could be a receptacle that's wired wrong.

At home. RV plugged in to standard 110v /15 amp outlet to prep for trip.

[glamisbound]

Originally Posted by kurv

I was shocked last year doing the same exact thing, same model motorhome. Nothing bad, just an unexpected sensation. I figured just a static electricity thing.

Interesting. Definitely not a static problem though. I believe it's a ground problem...just have no idea where to start looking.

[wabirch]

Do you have it plugged into a gfi outlet by chance? Can you test the ground at that outlet?

[wags999]

Hot skin is a real issue... read this to understand.


RV Electrical Safety: Part IV – Hot Skin | No~Shock~Zone

[RoyBraddy]

I would definitely have one of these aboard with you to check your 120VAc Receptacles. (BOTH at the SOURCE and at the TRAILER)

Normally the only 'SKIN' frame ground your trailer gets is through the GREEN WIRE coming from the Shore Power Connection. The house receptacle you are are using may not have a good ground on it. Sometimes folks are using an extension cord with the GREEN wire disconnected for some reason...

Pick up one of these from WALMART - LOWES and hopefully your bottom two lights are ON for CORRECT (NORMAL) when plugged into your trailer receptacles...

A small tingle shock to you may be a whole other story for someone else...


Google Image

Roy Ken

[us71na]

Originally Posted by RoyBraddy

I would definitely have one of these aboard with you to check your 120VAc Receptacles. (BOTH at the SOURCE and at the TRAILER)

Normally the only 'SKIN' frame ground your trailer gets is through the GREEN WIRE coming from the Shore Power Connection. The house receptacle you are are using may not have a good ground on it. Sometimes folks are using an extension cord with the GREEN wire disconnected for some reason...

Pick up one of these from WALMART - LOWES and hopefully your bottom two lights are ON for CORRECT (NORMAL) when plugged into your trailer receptacles...

A small tingle shock to you may be a whole other story for someone else...


Google Image

Roy Ken

A tingle of relatively dry ground could turn into a big shock on wet ground or if you happen to touch the RV and the pedestal at the same time. I would also check every 120 volt outlet in the camper to insure they are all wired correctly. If you get a fault in the camper it could be your power cable connections or plug.

[Hivoltage98]

You might have a floating ground. It could be the electrical in your home or in the rv. If your not comfortable with electrical then take it to a professional.
It’s possible that the grounding system is not properly functioning. The current is following the path of least resistance and is finding you To help complete the circuit. If you live in an older home I would have an electrician check your home’s grounding system first. That would be the neutral (grounded conductor) and the grounding conductor ( ground rod and cold water ground). I’ve found many bad grounding system that send voltages all over various things.

[Cosmik Debris]

Is it by design to keep male dogs from soiling the tires?

[glamisbound]

Thanks for all the input, gentlemen. I just ordered the tester Roy suggested. Will be good to have on board for sure. I'll start checking for ground issues when I get home from my short trip.

[WeRJuliian]

If it's a continuous "tingle", then it's not static. Static would give you a single jolt, after which it's discharged until the next time.

An obvious question, maybe, but... can you measure a voltage between the frame, or the wheel, and the ground? By which, I mean the actual dirt ground that you were sitting on when you checked the tyres (with a meter, please... using yourself as a voltage detector is not a good move!)

If you can, then you have a bad electrical bond somewhere. If you can check that at home, and get a voltage, do the same thing at a campground.. same thing, then you have a break somewhere on board. If it doesn't happen when you're plugged in elsewhere, then the issue is with your home supply. (assuming that you can trust the CG supply wiring...)

If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, have an electrician check the ground bonding at your house.

[glamisbound]

UPDATE...problem solved. Thanks again to everyone.

I picked up the tester Roy suggested and found that the extension cord I was using had a ground fault. I don't know why, but it does. The GFI tested fine but when I plugged the extension cord into the GFI and tested the other end, it showed a ground fault on the tester...so in the trash it went. On to the next issue...Thanks

[us71na]

Originally Posted by glamisbound

I picked up the tester Roy suggested and found that the extension cord I was using had a ground fault. I don't know why, but it does. The GFI tested fine but when I plugged the extension cord into the GFI and tested the other end, it showed a ground fault on the tester...so in the trash it went. On to the next issue...Thanks

You didn't have a ground fault you had an open ground in your extension cord which is what the tester shows when only the center light glows. An open ground will not trip a GFI.

[WeRJuliian]

I'm glad it was that simple... easier and cheaper than rewiring your house, or your camper !

[glamisbound]

Originally Posted by us71na

You didn't have a ground fault you had an open ground in your extension cord which is what the tester shows when only the center light glows. An open ground will not trip a GFI.

Ok