Reverse Polarity

aero3113

This is the first time I’m using shore power hooked up to my house. When I plugged in the red reverse polarity light came on. I turned on the main switch and the green light came on. Everything operates as it should with power on ( range, microwave and battery charger). Is it normal to see the reverse polarity light on when plugged into the house?

LaRea

Could be the outlet is mis-wired.  Try plugging into a different outlet somewhere else in the house (not on the same circuit).  

Might be a good time to buy one of these if you don't already have one:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Dawson-3-Wire-GFCI-Outlet-Tester-DET300/206375583 

aero3113

Thank @LaRea , if the outlet is wired wrong everything would still work normal?

LaRea

Yes.  There's a higher risk of shock injury if you are using, say a toaster or an AC-powered lamp, or something with defective wiring.  But stuff will still work.

Liberty44140

Happens to me sometimes in storage plugging in to a 110, I just make sure all connections are good and find a different outlet and it’s all good 

jhofmann

I had one outlet in my garage that would do that on my 242, it happened to be the one closest to the boat in the driveway. I shut off the breaker to the garage, pulled out the wall plug, switched the white and black wires. Since then, no issues. If you get a replacement male and female cord end, and a short piece of wire (12 -14 gauge 3-wire) and make a short extenion cord with the black and white wires switched on one end, you can use this to correct it, and be able to use it elswhere if needed. $10-$20 at a home improvment store.

LaRea

If there's an outlet or circuit with reversed polarity, it's dangerous.  Fix the problem.  

There's an easy way to remember.  The black wire is the hot (120 volt), and the white is the neutral (return to ground).  When you look at a 3-prong plug or outlet, one blade is wider than the other.  Just remember:  the length of the slot is like the length of the word.  

short = hot
long = neuuu-trallll 

reneechris14

And gound is round. Lol 

jhofmann

Ground is green.

jhofmann

Or the bare copper wire on most outlets.

GMSLITHO

also the white wire goes to the chrome screw the black wire to the brass or black screw 

Willhound

Yeah, that's the easiest way to remember. White to light and black to dark.

howardrams

Not normal.  Reverse polarity means probably your house outlet was wired wrong, or one of your extension cords someone cut the ground post off or is using a 2 wire to 3 adapter.  Not good.  Most devices work, but an old metal electric power tool you would have the "hot" in your bare hand.  Touch a ground with your other hand or step in water and you are dead.