The Vintage Airstream E-mail ListDigest Archive Files
VAL Digest V2 #32
VAL Digest Sunday, October 10 2004 Volume 02 : Number 032
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Topics in Today's Digest:
[VAL] Re: VAL Digest V2 #31
[VAL] Blasting off
[VAL] polarity light
[VAL] fuse box / grounding questions
Re: [VAL] fuse box / grounding questions
Re: [VAL] polarity light
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Date: Fri, 08 Oct 2004 23:33:35 -0700
From: "Debbie Rogers" <drogers@xxxxxxxxxx.k12.ca.us>
Subject: [VAL] Re: VAL Digest V2 #31
I will be out of the office for the week of October 4th through the 8th.
I will not have access to email until October 11th. Please contact me via
cell phone (707) 489-9986 or Sharon Malarich at (707) 467-5170 in the
event of an emergency.
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Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2004 09:03:32 -0700
From: "Tricia & Conrad Holsomback" <triconholsomback@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: [VAL] Blasting off
Daisy,
To where will you be blasting off?
Tricia & Conrad
Daisy (6 more days until blast off!)
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Date: Sat, 09 Oct 2004 15:49:24 -0400
From: joepatwink@xxxxxxxxxx.net (Joe Winkler)
Subject: [VAL] polarity light
Yesterday my wife and I finally took our 1964 Tradewind out camping. We have owned it
for about a year and have been cleaning and fixing it since buying it last October.
When I pluged it into the generator (we boondock) the polarity light came on, it says
that we should turn the plug over if it lights us, but thats not possible with a three
prong plug. Will it damage the transformers for the water pump and furnace? Even if we
don't run either (the pump is unplugged and the water system blown out, the blower type
furnace doesnt work and we use a thermocouple style furnace instead). Should I just
ignore the light because I plan on putting in a intellepower system in next summer? Or
will it catch fire and burn us up like white bread in a toaster? Oh, by the way, we saw
over 40 elk and plenty of deer, and even one cow moose.
Joe in Wyoming
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------------------------------
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2004 14:34:41 -0700
From: "MK / JS" <sn2244@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: [VAL] fuse box / grounding questions
RE: 1971 LY Safari 23 - rear bath, twin beds
I am new to Airstreams (as I have said many times over ... ) but I do know
where the 110 fuse box is (rear port-side closet)
Question #1 - I sort of know what the GFI in my HOUSE does (it makes sure
the patio outlets and bath outlets "break" in case of dampness/water) ... so
what is the purpose of the GFI in my Airstream? Assuming it functions
correctly, does it protect me from shock in case of damp/wet conditions
where my trailer's "shore power cord" connects to the land outlet? (or where
there might be any damage to the cord itself)
Question #2 - how do I tell if I have a GFI breaker? How do I know it works?
Question #3 - how do I know what size any of the breakers are and how do I
confirm that rating?
Question #4 - when somebody refers to an electrical outlet/switch as being
grounded, is that the same as GFI?
I notice that dust etc. sticks via static electricity to the hard plastic
housing on my compact vacuum cleaner. Is this necessarily indicative of lack
of grounding? Or is it indicative of the climate (dry, 12" rain per year)?
OR ??? (It is not unusual to experience static shock when wearing rubber
soled shoes and touching car door, for example, in this same climate.)
Clearly, I am a novice when it comes to BOTH Airstreams AND electricity.
Scarey thought.
Marg in the Pac NW
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Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2004 19:16:34 -0400
From: Rick Kunath <k9ao@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: Re: [VAL] fuse box / grounding questions
On Saturday 09 October 2004 05:34 pm, MK / JS wrote:
> I am new to Airstreams (as I have said many times over ... ) but I do know
> where the 110 fuse box is (rear port-side closet)
>
> Question #1 - I sort of know what the GFI in my HOUSE does (it makes sure
> the patio outlets and bath outlets "break" in case of dampness/water) ...
> so what is the purpose of the GFI in my Airstream?
A GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) monitors the current coming in the
hot side of the protected circuit and checks to make sure the same amount is
returning via the neutral wire (common electrical nomenclature not
withstanding, the fact is that the 60 Hz AC current reverses direction 120
times per second .) If it isn't there is either some leakage somewhere or
someone is getting a shock. At this point, in a very short time, sometimes so
short that you won't actually feel a shock, the GFCI opens the circuit,
thereby saving your life.
> Assuming it functions
> correctly, does it protect me from shock in case of damp/wet conditions
> where my trailer's "shore power cord" connects to the land outlet? (or
> where there might be any damage to the cord itself)
>
No. To protect you from shocks at land outlet, the land outlet would need to
have GFCI protection on it. Any leakage or shock currents would be flowing
prior to the breaker panel in your trailer and would be undetectable by any
GFCI circuit breaker in your trailer's breaker panel. A GFCI device can only
protect downstream from itself. The land outlet is upstream from the
trailer's breaker panel.
> Question #2 - how do I tell if I have a GFI breaker? How do I know it
> works?
>
GFCI breakers and receptacles have a test button on them. Press it to cause a
trip and then reset the device. If you have a GFCI breaker in a circuit,
there won't be GFCI receptacle on the circuit. You use one or the other on a
given circuit. And a GFCI receptacle protects other receptacles downstream
from it.
> Question #3 - how do I know what size any of the breakers are and how do I
> confirm that rating?
>
Circuit breaker current ratings are marked on the breaker trip lever. If you
had access to a clamp-on AC ammeter and a series of loads you might attempt
to check breaker calibration. This is not an exact trip point in most
breakers and is almost always above the marked rating. Common circuit
breakers are of the eutectic type and respond to heat generated by some
circuit element in the breaker. Some melt small assemblies filled with solder
and allow a rod to rotate to cause the trip, some are of bimetallic strips
and springs, the best (I'd bet that you don't have these) are magnetic
breakers and actually measure the current, then cause an electrically
operated forced circuit trip (these are very accurate.)
If you are unsure about the safety and effectiveness of your breakers, it
might be safer to just replace them with new units and be sure. There are
breakers that offer GFCI protection that can probably be placed in your
existing breaker panel. These then protect every outlet wired off of that
circuit breaker. Breakers do need replacement with age, and repeated trips
shorten their life.
> Question #4 - when somebody refers to an electrical outlet/switch as being
> grounded, is that the same as GFI?
>
No.
> I notice that dust etc. sticks via static electricity to the hard plastic
> housing on my compact vacuum cleaner. Is this necessarily indicative of
> lack of grounding? Or is it indicative of the climate (dry, 12" rain per
> year)? OR ??? (It is not unusual to experience static shock when wearing
> rubber soled shoes and touching car door, for example, in this same
> climate.)
>
You are seeing the effects of static electricity. The presence of static
electricity on the *plastic* portions of your vacuum cleaner would not be
affected by grounding the vacuum. Your cleaner may not have a three-prong
plug on it. Most I have seen have a polarized plug with one blade wider than
the other, insuring that the plug will be inserted with the correct prong
connected to the receptacle's neutral wire.
> Clearly, I am a novice when it comes to BOTH Airstreams AND electricity.
> Scarey thought.
>
Electricity is one of those things that can be a lot more dangerous that one
might think when it runs amok. If you have any doubts, professional advice
and repairs are really a bargain. After all, your life is priceless, isn't
it?
Ask away if you have more questions.
Rick Kunath
WBCCI #3060
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 2004 01:44:43 -0400
From: "Tom" <thomm@xxxxxxxxxx.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [VAL] polarity light
Joe,
IF the polarity light in your Airstream has NEVER come on EXCEPT for when
you plug it into a generator -- you are OK.
OK?
The revolving field of the generator does this to your polarity light --
IF -- this is the kind that has 3 lights on it indicating any problems with
the campground wiring.
I had the same thing happen to me and it was due go the source of power --
my generator -- that caused this.
IF this does not happen to you when you are plugged into *regular* house or
campground current versus being plugged into your generator -- you are OK.
OK?
Tom
WBCCI 5303
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Winkler" <joepatwink@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
To: <valist@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2004 3:49 PM
Subject: [VAL] polarity light
> Yesterday my wife and I finally took our 1964 Tradewind out camping. We
> have owned it for about a year and have been cleaning and fixing it since
> buying it last October. When I pluged it into the generator (we boondock)
> the polarity light came on, it says that we should turn the plug over if
> it lights us, but thats not possible with a three prong plug. Will it
> damage the transformers for the water pump and furnace? Even if we don't
> run either (the pump is unplugged and the water system blown out, the
> blower type furnace doesnt work and we use a thermocouple style furnace
> instead). Should I just ignore the light because I plan on putting in a
> intellepower system in next summer? Or will it catch fire and burn us up
> like white bread in a toaster? Oh, by the way, we saw over 40 elk and
> plenty of deer, and even one cow moose.
> Joe in Wyoming
>
> __________________________________________________________________
> Switch to Netscape Internet Service.
> As low as $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at
> http://isp.netscape.com/register
>
> Netscape. Just the Net You Need.
>
> New! Netscape Toolbar for Internet Explorer
> Search from anywhere on the Web and block those annoying pop-ups.
> Download now at http://channels.netscape.com/ns/search/install.jsp
>
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> When replying to a message. please delete all unnecessary original text
>
> To unsubscribe or change to a digest format, please go to
> http://www.tompatterson.com/VAC/VAList/listoffice.html
------------------------------
End of VAL Digest V2 #32
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