Open ground

[dutchduo1990]

I have an open ground in my camper, how do I go about finding where it is. The ground from the batteries I’ve checked and it is okay. I’m not very good when it comes to electricity.

 

[youngnretired]

What system has the open ground? You can always add another ground wire to chassis ground for that component.

 

[dutchduo1990]

it shows open ground when I plug the tester in a 120 volt outlet.

 

[booster]

it shows open ground when I plug the tester in a 120 volt outlet.

Are you on shore power or inverter?

Is it all the outlets, some, or just one?

 

[dutchduo1990]

It shows on all outlets and on shore power.

 

[booster]

On inverter also if you have one?

What model and year camper do you have?

 

[dutchduo1990]

It is a do your own build by my brother back in 2008. No inverter. Just a progressive dynamics charger. 2 lead batteries.

 

[Winston-ClassB]

Maybe the grounds were never wired? Open an outlet (with power off) and see if the ground terminal has a wire attached.

 

[booster]

Yep, like Winston said all you can do is start looking. After a quick check like he mentioned you would start at the power in point for shore power and look for ground wires. With a DIY, it could be a lot of stuff wrong.

 

[youngnretired]

I second the suggestion to physically check for a ground.

If none is present, you should label the triple prong outlets as not having a ground, or change them to the two prong style.

 

[booster]

I second the suggestion to physically check for a ground.

If none is present, you should label the triple prong outlets as not having a ground, or change them to the two prong style.

For safety reasons, you should never run a mobile system that can be plugged into shore power without properly wired grounding or you have the possibility of the body of the vehicle going "hot" if there is a s short to it from a bad wire or whatever. You can be electrocuted if you are on the ground and touch the skin if that happens.

The AC power and neutral should run to the power post without any chassis connection or neutral bonding in the the vehicle when on shore power and the ground should come from each outlet and the chassis to the power post. If there is an inverter you would want it to autobond neutral and ground when inverting and unbond them when on shore power. If your inverter doesn't do automatic bonding then it should be bonded but totally disconnected from the AC and grounds when on shore power.