BajaNomad - Note of caution about Rice & Beans RV park

Note of caution about Rice & Beans RV park

Baja&Back - 2-21-2010 at 07:10 PM

In San Ignacio, Ricardo is concreting and redoing services on the RV spaces below the big wall. For some incomprehensible reason, they have wired the new electric with 220 VOLT outlets and 220 VOLT power!!!
Ricardo is not here (again) so we couldn't ask him what on earth that's all about, but it's very dangerous.
If you RVers stay at Rice & Beans, check those outlets that look somewhat like a 30 amp receptacle, but aren't.
Could cost you your rig's electrics, or even a fire!!!

[Edited on 2-22-2010 by Baja&Back]

torch - 2-21-2010 at 07:55 PM

I believe you ment to type 120 volt outlets and 220 volt power

Hook - 2-21-2010 at 08:14 PM

I think he's talking about the round, 30 amp plugs that are supposed to be 110v. It is not uncommon for Mexican construction workers to think those are 220v dryer connections and wire them as such. I had to let mine know several times. They just dont see the RV plugs much.

VERY DANGEROUS. Another good reason for anyone RVing anywhere (especially Mexico) to have a surge suppressor/power conditioner that will warn you about wrong voltage, lack of ground, reversed polarity, etc.

[Edited on 2-22-2010 by Hook]

torch - 2-21-2010 at 09:20 PM

yep exactly

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
I think he's talking about the round, 30 amp plugs that are supposed to be 110v. It is not uncommon for Mexican construction workers to think those are 220v dryer connections and wire them as such. I had to let mine know several times. They just dont see the RV plugs much.

VERY DANGEROUS. Another good reason for anyone RVing anywhere (especially Mexico) to have a surge suppressor/power conditioner that will warn you about wrong voltage, lack of ground, reversed polarity, etc.

[Edited on 2-22-2010 by Hook]

[Edited on 2-22-2010 by torch]

Baja&Back - 2-22-2010 at 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by torch
I believe you ment to type 120 volt outlets and 220 volt power

NOPE, these look like 30 amp receptacles, except the ground hole is L shaped instead of round. It IS the wrong plug.
We put a tester on - 220 volts.

I made them shut off the breakers & promise to call the electrician, but who knows what will happen after our caravan leaves. They'll probably just turn them on again.

Check carefully for yourselves!!

desertcpl - 2-22-2010 at 08:44 AM

what type of tester would one need to get

gnukid - 2-22-2010 at 10:22 AM

It seems that the receptacle is correct for 220v so the electrician performed his duty correctly, just not what you wanted.

David K - 2-22-2010 at 12:26 PM

Do any motorhomes want 220 volts??? :lol:

[Edited on 2-22-2010 by David K]

gnukid - 2-22-2010 at 12:35 PM

DK!# Do any racers need 220v? to weld frames? Does R&B cater to racers?

Can 220v outlets be easily adapted to 110V? Is a 220v to 110v adapter common and cheap?

Wouldn't it be best to support both racers and campers with 220v/110v which is clearly the motivation?

How's your reliable Toyota? Ever been below Ensenada?

vandenberg - 2-22-2010 at 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baja&Back

NOPE, these look like 30 amp receptacles, except the ground hole is L shaped instead of round. It IS the wrong plug.
We put a tester on - 220 volts.

Sounds like a dryer receptacle.
Could easily mickey mouse a stepdown to 110 receptacle, but that would be useless but for there. :no:

David K - 2-22-2010 at 12:46 PM

Did you even read what Barry posted?:

"In San Ignacio, Ricardo is concreting and redoing services on the RV spaces below the big wall. For some incomprehensible reason, they have wired the new electric with 220 VOLT outlets and 220 VOLT power!!!"

Here are the important words in that: "redoing services on the RV spaces"

Okay... not a pit team area, but in RV park spaces, for RVs to plug into!

The Baja 1000 goes through San Ignacio maybe once every 3 years... RVs can use the spaces every day of every year.

LancairDriver - 2-22-2010 at 02:09 PM

This 220vac receptacle thing can get seriously expensive. My own experience with a new garage I had built found ONE of six 110 vac receptacles wired for 220 and later found supposedly to have been installed by a trainee of the electrician. Three months later I of course picked that receptacle to plug my RV into.
Total damage:
2 Flat screen TV's
1 Invertor/charger
1 Hot water heater starter
1 DVD player
1 refrigerator control system
Labor for replacement of all of this.

Total cost- Don't ask,I want to forget
I carry a voltmeter along now and check before plugging in anywhere.

Hook - 2-22-2010 at 02:43 PM

Those 30amp, 110 volt plugs are not easy to find down here. I needed two for my lot and I ended up buying one at a gringo garage sale (whole box with breaker) and I found another whole box at a Home Depot in Hermosillo. It was the last one.

Really, if Ricardo wants to do it right, he should be putting in the 50 amp, 110 plugs. Most of the larger units need 50amp and the people with 30 amp rigs often have an adaptor.

gnukid - 2-22-2010 at 03:01 PM

They are trying to improve the services to provide both 220v and 110v to serve their customers.

The outlets are correctly wired and an improvement, just not what the Big RVers wanted at the moment, though most should be carrying a 220v to 110v adapter. The power to outlets is excellent just not wired for 110v with outlets yet in those spaces. It will be completed shortly.

The point is the electrician hasn't made an error he just isn't finished. The outlets are the correct outlets for 220v.

And by the way, it's common when putting in 30amp circuits to provide 220v, and its' not uncommon to simply plug in a simple 1.99 plug to make it 110v. I personally carry an adapter for 220v to 110v as do most RV/Boating locations since these circuits are often better than older crappy deteriorated outlets at 110v outlets.

What Barry said was incorrect. There was nothing incorrect or wrong in the layout or wiring just that there was no 110v outlet installed yet.

Admit though DK, you don't go camping much?

Hook - 2-22-2010 at 03:08 PM

Based on your responses, gnukid, he knows more about camping than you know about RV parks.

Unless, of course, Ricardo is hoping to appeal to caravans of welders over RVers. :rolleyes:

BajaBruno - 2-22-2010 at 03:42 PM

Some of the older three wire outlets are rated for either 120 V or 240 V, so it is hard to know what you are getting unless you ask, or better, test the circuit.

If you bring along any multimeter and stick the probes in the outlet, you can see what voltage the outlet has. This is also useful to discover if the outlet is slightly over or under voltage, say 135v, or 97v in a 120v circuit. That can be hard on electronics and some motors.

gnukid - 2-22-2010 at 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
Based on your responses, gnukid, he knows more about camping than you know about RV parks.

Unless, of course, Ricardo is hoping to appeal to caravans of welders over RVers. :rolleyes:

It's my impression that many gringos project their expectations on Mexico which leads to many misunderstandings and some disappointment.

I do carry a voltmeter and an adapter, my father suggested it, while it should be clear I am careful to check for good power.

In this case, I was responding to Baja and Back's post which misrepresented the circumstance, there was no electronic error or failure, more likely a misunderstanding. I was speaking out in support of the location's effort to modernize and I objected to Baja and Back's misstatement which I attribute to a lack of understanding and consideration of the project.

My fellow baja travelers do appreciate the effort at R&B and for that matter I find RVers too often fail to take time to understand the setup and use it properly with respect.

Instead of complaining, if I were Baja & Back I would have suggested, hey I learned something this trip, always bring a voltmeter and a simple 220v to 110v adapter, you'll likely need it. That's my camping 2 cents from 6 months a year in campgrounds. Learn to be understanding and considerate, unlike some big ol RVers who should learn to be more kind to others.

I meet lots of awesome RVers along the way, we work together and I have found many to be great neighbors, perhaps Barry can learn something this trip, an apology is in order to R&B and in the future better preparation to avoid misunderstandings in order to be welcome back.

[Edited on 2-23-2010 by gnukid]

capt. mike - 2-23-2010 at 07:59 AM

naw.....they blew it IMHO.
i have never seen an RVer carry a 220 to 110 conversion plug.
only the 30 amp round heavy duty 3 prong deal to simple std grounded male plug adapter.
many mexico RV stops have std receps - not the round type.

who in their right mind ever anticipates they will have to tie into 220 in mexico or US??

welders caravan? offroad dogs needing maintenance?
not realistic.

towing a elec clothes dryer? need to do some towels? yeah - that's it.

gnukid - 2-24-2010 at 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by capt. mike
naw.....they blew it IMHO.
i have never seen an RVer carry a 220 to 110 conversion plug.
only the 30 amp round heavy duty 3 prong deal to simple std grounded male plug adapter.
many mexico RV stops have std receps - not the round type.

who in their right mind ever anticipates they will have to tie into 220 in mexico or US??

welders caravan? offroad dogs needing maintenance?
not realistic.

towing a elec clothes dryer? need to do some towels? yeah - that's it.

I love it when people who never go off road or camping or visit Rice and Beans love to explain to others what they need.

I can suggest runways that are open and hotels that will accept you, but if you want to actually go offroading and RVing in baja then you will need to be prepared with plugs.

That said in every camp I visit we have no plug ins and we discourage generators. You need a simple solar panel and a conservative plan.

Obnoxious RVers need to watch their Ps & Qs and power down.

[Edited on 2-25-2010 by gnukid]

Hook - 2-24-2010 at 08:58 PM

I guess I needed a snare drum and cymbal crash after my welder's caravan comment.

Inattentive RV park owners better cross the T's and dot the I's or risk seeing photos of burning RVs on the Nomads board at their "upgraded" park.

That would tend to stick in the minds of travelers for a while.........

gnukid - 2-24-2010 at 09:11 PM

Maybe be nice and see if that helps to avoid trouble and confusion.

roundtuit - 2-25-2010 at 08:45 AM

I have wired two RV parks in the states. with electric boxes that have 110 gfi plugs, 30 amp three prong, and 50 amp 4 prong plugs. Have never ever seen a three prong except for dryers or wielders that match the one described. Stoves have 4 prongs athey don't match 50 amp RV plugs. They do not made a 3 prong that converts 220 to 110 volts.

David K - 2-25-2010 at 08:46 AM

What planet are you on gnu?

I camp all the time... most of my trips... I DO NOT have a motorhome however, as to me that is NOT camping, but instead is RV-ing...
Of course, you would actully need to read my trip reports and see the hundreds of photos I have posted, to know this.

However, we have friends and family with RVs and motorhomes who use RV parks, and have been with them when they plug in... Standard/ typical is a 110v source.

I have been to Rice and Beans several times, talked to Ricardo and stayed at his motel, so I know the place (a Viva Baja sticker placed in 2001 is still on the bar).

Hook, Capt. Mike, Bob H, are friends I have been with who were hooked up at RV parks... I think you should respect them. Baja & Back leads groups of motorhomes from Canada to Baja every year... I think he would know what is customary in RV parks.

The warning that Barry makes here is very important and helpfull...

That you have to try and tarnish Barry's amigo-like intentions with your off the wall ideas on what 'real Baja RVing' is about, and anyone else is just stupid gringo, doesn't fly here.

I bet everyone who has used electricty in Baja knows the voltage can be suspect... but in an RV park, at the post with the outlet for the motorhome to plug into, with every other RV park in North America having 110 volts... the warning was a GOOD ONE! :smug:

[Edited on 2-25-2010 by David K]

Baja&Back - 2-25-2010 at 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gnukid
Instead of complaining, if I were Baja & Back I would have suggested, hey I learned something this trip, always bring a voltmeter and a simple 220v to 110v adapter, you'll likely need it. That's my camping 2 cents from 6 months a year in campgrounds. Learn to be understanding and considerate, unlike some big ol RVers who should learn to be more kind to others.

I meet lots of awesome RVers along the way, we work together and I have found many to be great neighbors, perhaps Barry can learn something this trip, an apology is in order to R&B and in the future better preparation to avoid misunderstandings in order to be welcome back.[Edited on 2-23-2010 by gnukid]

Huh??? Is this guy for real??? His statement is so outer space.
I challenge him to find ANY RV park in North America that provides 220 Volt power to travelling RVers. It's obvious where the apology should be coming from - motormouth people. :fire:

BTW: Those particular plugs were wrong. An electrician from Guerrero Negro came down & misunderstood the instructions Ricardo left for him before going away. Ricardo had no intention to fry guests rigs.

Nuff said ...

David K - 2-25-2010 at 10:50 PM

Barry, there is more than one Nomad who got 'left behind' when the Mother Ship went back to Alpha Centauri!

gnukid - 2-26-2010 at 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baja&Back

Quote:

You misunderstand, again. I pointed out that you are wrong in suggesting that the electrician made an error, he did not, he wired the outlet correctly. Obviousyl it would be better served with 110v outlets, though that's quite simple. Yes, it is incomplete, in progress and likely fine now. No, no one would suggest the absurd notions you posted that RVs run 220v, only that the wiring was correct. Do you understand the difference? Apparently not.

In any case you seem a bit arrogant, unpleasant and impatient which is not a good match for traveling Baja. As I might remind you, we are quite well served at Rice and Beans and many camps without problems whatsoever. Your post is a poor promotion for yourself as a guide.

I think you should take back your insult to the staff as you were wrong, and I think you would benefit from being more polite.

Barry, You have many miles to pass and many camps, perhaps now is a good time to be more polite, patient and more prepared or you will find yourself not only without destinations but also without new and trusting clients.

Good night.

gnukid - 2-26-2010 at 12:26 AM

I spoke to Ricardo, he is pretty unhappy with Barry. It's probably too late to apologize.

If you are coming to LB, better bring flowers and keep your fancy-pants complaints to yourself.

[Edited on 2-26-2010 by gnukid]

Bob H - 2-26-2010 at 12:30 AM

What a thread... everyone disagrees!

who do you choose to believe?

Bob H

gnukid - 2-26-2010 at 12:41 AM

Definitely a misunderstanding, the thing is 30amp 220v is totally normal, which can also be wired as 30amp 110v, they just didn't have the 110v outlets installed yet. The problem is that Barry says 220v with proper outlet is an error which it is not. He stated the outlet was standard 220v. Does that make any sense to any reasonable person?

And, if Barry spoke to the electrician and came to an understanding why did he insist on insulting the guy in public after they spoke and after the issue was clear and being addressed to add the 110v outlets? Its quite arrogant on Barry's part which is not at all new and frankly unwarranted and unpleasant. If Barry thinks that having a big RV and some cash gives him a free pass to be rude he is mistaken. At this point I would suggest that Barry is on a short leash.

[Edited on 2-26-2010 by gnukid]

Diver - 2-26-2010 at 07:23 AM

Only appears to be ONE arrogant burro here ; GNU !!

1. 220 outlets do NOT belong at an RV connection at any time.
2. Barry was doing a good deed to others by letting us know.
3. Ricardo has no issue with Barry; should be with his electrician.
(Or he just wantes to make money and doesn't care about his client's RVs.)
4. If someone HAD burned up their RV with 220, do you think Ricardo would have paid ? NO !!
5. Barry is right; you must be from outer space.

mtgoat666 - 2-26-2010 at 07:46 AM

anywho, regardless of the electrical supply, i have never been too impressed with the rice and beans joint relative to the so many prettier and better places to stay in san ignacio.

i am still wondering, why do RVs need to stay at a hotel parking lot when they are surrounded by millions of acres of open space? what is the point of having an RV if you are going to park at some mediocre campground and be side by side with another RV?

newkid, like your style. tell the arm chair electricians how it is!!!!!

tripledigitken - 2-26-2010 at 08:55 AM

What a bunch of missinformation in this post.

Racers relying on 220v for their welding equip?

RV campgrounds having 220v?

vandenberg - 2-26-2010 at 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666
anywho, regardless of the electrical supply, i have never been too impressed with the rice and beans joint relative to the so many prettier and better places to stay in san ignacio.

i am still wondering, why do RVs need to stay at a hotel parking lot when they are surrounded by millions of acres of open space? what is the point of having an RV if you are going to park at some mediocre campground and be side by side with another RV?

newkid, like your style. tell the arm chair electricians how it is!!!!!

Goat,
Glad to see that you're feeling your regular self. :biggrin:

olallabay - 3-8-2010 at 08:14 AM

I've been out of the loop for a couple off weeks. Regardless of what the correct way is to wire an RV park, or who has good or bad manners, or what the best way to travel in Baja is;

does anyone know if there is now 110 service at Rice and Beans?