Electrical Electrical Weird Issue

[All4boefockers]

Hi All,

Here is a weird one for you all.

Today while getting our expanda ready for our xmas trip, i was crawling under the van and touched the chassis and got a little tickle. This happened to me about a month ago and i got an electrician to come around immediately checked it and it was all good, he said it was probably static and very go a reading.

This time i pulled out my multi-meter (after watching the electrician) and went from chassis to ground using a screwdriver, and it had a reading of 97volts AC to ground. i tried turning off each appliance one by one (ac, fridge, hotwater, cetec, microwave) and then back on with no change. I tried earthing the van with a jumperlead and still nothing. When i unplug the van from the wall goes back to 0, then back to 97 (or there abouts) again.

Whats even weird-er, i unplugged from the mains and left it unpluged for about 10mins. then plug it back in and now it reads 0.

I rang jayco and they need to see it asap. I need to now find some time between work over the next couple of weeks to get it down to Adelaide so they can have a looksee. Any hopefully get it fixed before we leave for Perth (with our van) before the 4th of december.

Any one ever seen this before?

Picture of multimeter:

 

[MDS69]

Scary stuff.
Do you have an RCD protecting the wall outlet.
Using your multi meter on 240V AC or greater do you get a reading when inserting the probes into the neutral and earth sockets on the end of your lead when plugged into the wall.
How old is your van.
Is there an RCD in the van. If so I think you have an issue between the AC inlet on the side of the van and the distribution panel in the van.
What is the condition of your extension lead like. Unplug it from the wall and pull it through your hand to feel for nicks or cuts.

 

[Drover]

With that same set up with 240 connected, turn off your RCD, does it stay the same ???? if it does, well either way I would say someone has put a screw thru a cable.

Unplug your 240, no power to van at all, turn off every power point, unplug everything..................... set your multi meter to ohms, on your 240 inlet plug ( where you plug in your 240 cable) check the continuity between each connection Active, Return, Earth, it shouldn't do anything, if it comes up 0000 then there is a short somewhere. Thats put the black/green connector to ground use earth on socket then van, the red connector on each terminal in turn, screen should be at 1 or no change except for earth it should show 000's

ALSO do the same check on your extension lead WHEN IT IS UNPLUGGED .
If unsure don't attempt any of the above, you could do some serious damage to yourself.

 

[All4boefockers]

Thanks @MDS69 and @Drover ,

Our Expanda is a 2014 20.63-1 outback.
I've tested the house RCD all good, and my power lead has just been tested and all a-o-k.

I'll test both your suggestions tomorrow and report back.

Thanks again.

 

[All4boefockers]

Just finished testing everything from top to bottom and there is no issues at all. Had an electrician come around and he did his checks and all good. Maybe it is static after all, doesn't make sense

 

[KevO]

I've had this on our old camper before at a caravan park, proved to be the supply from the caravan park. I tested the extn lead between the earth pin to ground and had around 40v from memory. I informed the park manager but they couldn't care less as the park was closing to make way for a new development. This is usually caused by a poor earth at the supply end. If i were you just double check the lead to the van between earth pin and ground

 

[icetechaus]

I was just thinking the same as KevO. Have you checked your household supply earth stake. Has it been really dry locally. You could try soaking the ground around your earth stake and check again.

 

[All4boefockers]

Wow @KevO that's terrible. You sparked me to investigate a little further.

I have been retesting all day and haven't had it happen again. Ive tried turning every thing on inside the house and van and still nothing all day.

Any way. when i was out side scratching around thinking what to do next, i noticed the van was plugged in the left GPO instead of the right GPO. Left electrician did all his testing on the Left one. Swapped them over and BAM it happened again. I defiantly have a fault with one of the GPO's, i will get the electrician out again tomorrow to test that.

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[Middo]

There is a 3 pin plug top you can get from electrical wholesalers that can fit on to your key ring. It has the electronics in it to let you know if the power point is wired up correctly etc. if all is ok then, a green light will be displayed. Handy to check if your circuit breaker has tripped as well. Still got a couple from my other life. Very handy.
Pete

 

[Drover]

Is it an external point you draw power from ??? If so shut down power and have a look inside for ants......my bore socket trips out every so often and it's bloody ants............they eat silastic I think.

Sounds like it doesn't go thru the RCB on house either, which is not uncommon.

 

[bigcol]

when I brought my Spa - I had a 15A socket put in out the back
Ba$tard cost me $1100.00 - because I needed new RCD's for some of the things that didnt need them legally when I built the house.....

when I brought the 16"...... I fitted another 15A socket on other side of house - with a new separate RCD for it - that was only $300

best money I have ever spent, on all 3 of them.........

 

[Cootay]

I've had exactly the same issue and did everything you did.....
Ended up being a crooked wire in the 10-15a converter, yes one the those red ones $200 (can't remember the name atm)