Turning off breaker is dangerous?

[Jim]

I love it. Please change my official "who am I known as" from Texas Clodhopper to Clodzapper. It's an electrifying moniker.

Oh lord. . .

The name’s got spark, style, and a jolt of personality. Consider your electrifying moniker officially updated.

 

[GlampDaddy]

NIRVC's valets all have instructions to plug-in coaches when they park them. They usually do, but they NEVER check to see if the breaker is on. If all breakers are on all the time, the coaches are more likely to have power...so the customers' batteries don't die and the company will have to replace fewer of them.

 

[GlampDaddy]

I love it. Please change my official "who am I known as" from Texas Clodhopper to Clodzapper. It's an electrifying moniker.

...good for cow patties, too!

 

[Richpatty]

So the general consensus on this thread and the “other one” seem that although they could see why NIRVC would want to leave them on for some random reasons, it really is not best practice. And although they may save their breakers, they may ruin the outlets….

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

As an analyst who likes to understand the “why” …

It may be general consensus - but tradition (we’ve always done it this way) plays a very strong role in these types of discussions.

There are other ways to mitigate any electrical arcing when unplugging besides turning off the breaker and these other ways are better protection for items such as A/C units.

 

[Chuggs]

Two things I do every time.

1) Breaker OFF for making or breaking the connection.

2) No power on the line when repositioning the cord reel.

It’s a race…wear out a breaker or wear out a receptacle.

The receptacle wearing out ruins plugs. The resistance cause plugs to melt. Replacement cords for your coach are $$$.

No mater how many signs they post…valets are still going to screw up and ruin batteries. Just because you are plugged in and breaker ON…there are still a lot of ways the batteries could not be charging. Signs are not a replacement for education. Try a checklist…

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

As an analyst who likes to understand the “why” …

It may be general consensus - but tradition (we’ve always done it this way) plays a very strong role in these types of discussions.

There are other ways to mitigate any electrical arcing when unplugging besides turning off the breaker and these other ways are better protection for items such as A/C units.

I'm interested in learning about these "other ways".

 

[Chuggs]

IDK

For one…the Air Conditioner has a timer to prevent short cycling the compressor…it also staggers startup of multiple units.

So, that said… there are RVs that do not have an ATS. We do…so, I guess some feel there isn’t a demand until the connection is made and the ATS relay closes… and others may have a surge protector or watchdog, to delay further the load being applied until the wiring and acceptable power is detected. And then…if you wanted to go thru the hassle…tripping the main inside your distribution panel could remove all loads.

I guess it can be overthinked. Just my opinion…if you use the breaker, you are safe regardless of the rv. In rigs like ours with transfer switches, etc…the arcing probability is most likely going to be when unplugging. Most of us don’t run around and turn off the charger, or make sure the inverter isn’t in pass thru mode powering the residential fridge, etc…. I certainly don’t trip the main breaker. Using the pedastle Is one stop shop…and wear and tear is directed to an easily accessed and low cost item.

I would think everyone has seen the spark when you are vacuuming the carpet and reach the end of the cord. The plug comes out while the vacuum is drawing a substantial load. Normally, we plug and unplug appliances with the power switch OFF…so it is a non event.

I haven’t seen it first hand…but our ground crews hated when pilots gave them the signal to remove ground power, and haven’t switched over to APU first. I have heard the arc can shoot out 4-6 “… I’m sure that would get my attention. With galleys, lights, avionics, lighting, entertainment, etc…there is a significant load on the ground power, if it is carelessly left selected.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

Sign or no sign, I will continue to turn the breaker on and off when I'm connecting or disconnecting. I have enough to remember to do when arriving or leaving and making sure everything is turned off on my end will only add to the list.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

IDK

For one…the Air Conditioner has a timer to prevent short cycling the compressor…it also staggers startup of multiple units.

So, that said… there are RVs that do not have an ATS. We do…so, I guess some feel there isn’t a demand until the connection is made and the ATS relay closes… and others may have a surge protector or watchdog, to delay further the load being applied until the wiring and acceptable power is detected. And then…if you wanted to go thru the hassle…tripping the main inside your distribution panel could remove all loads.

I guess it can be overthinked. Just my opinion…if you use the breaker, you are safe regardless of the rv. In rigs like ours with transfer switches, etc…the arcing probability is most likely going to be when unplugging. Most of us don’t run around and turn off the charger, or make sure the inverter isn’t in pass thru mode powering the residential fridge, etc…. I certainly don’t trip the main breaker. Using the pedastle Is one stop shop…and wear and tear is directed to an easily accessed and low cost item.

I would think everyone has seen the spark when you are vacuuming the carpet and reach the end of the cord. The plug comes out while the vacuum is drawing a substantial load. Normally, we plug and unplug appliances with the power switch OFF…so it is a non event.

I haven’t seen it first hand…but our ground crews hated when pilots gave them the signal to remove ground power, and haven’t switched over to APU first. I have heard the arc can shoot out 4-6 “… I’m sure that would get my attention. With galleys, lights, avionics, lighting, entertainment, etc…there is a significant load on the ground power, if it is carelessly left selected.

As an added note.

Breakers/fuses/switches/relays, are designed with an air gap based on voltage. That gap is large enough to guarantee that an ark will discontinue. The contacts are of material and size that offers a reasonable life expectancy. And as chuggs has stated, the contacts in your plug are not designed to handle the ark when unplugging/plugging.

The solution is obvious!

 

[Wemustrv]

So unless they are using very inexpensive breakers they are meant to be exercised to keep all the mechanisms free. These breakers if UL/ CSA listed are required to go through cycling tests for certification. These tests are done with a load on and with no load. For details you can look at UL 489 standard. Smaller 15 and 20 amp breakers can be switching duty rated which means they can be operated as a switch.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

We stayed in a really nice park in the Kanab Reservation on our way to Zion. I guess there are two schools of thought.

 

[Neal]

One sign is created by a campground owner. The other by a valet.