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Baja&Back
Senior Nomad
Posts: 549
Registered: 9-10-2004
Location: Vancouver, Canada / todo de Baja
Member Is Offline
Mood: Rarin' to go South!
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Note of caution about Rice & Beans RV park
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]
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torch
Nomad
Posts: 295
Registered: 1-27-2010
Location: O.C. Calif. and BCN
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I believe you ment to type 120 volt outlets and 220 volt power
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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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]
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torch
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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]
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Baja&Back
Senior Nomad
Posts: 549
Registered: 9-10-2004
Location: Vancouver, Canada / todo de Baja
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Mood: Rarin' to go South!
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| 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!! 
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desertcpl
Super Nomad
Posts: 2396
Registered: 10-26-2008
Location: yuma,az
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what type of tester would one need to get
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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It seems that the receptacle is correct for 220v so the electrician performed his duty correctly, just not what you wanted.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Do any motorhomes want 220 volts???  
[Edited on 2-22-2010 by David K]
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
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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?
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
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| 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.
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Sounds like a dryer receptacle.
Could easily mickey mouse a stepdown to 110 receptacle, but that would be useless but for there. 
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David K
Honored Nomad
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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.
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LancairDriver
Super Nomad
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Registered: 2-22-2008
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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.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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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.
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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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?
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
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Location: Sonora
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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.
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BajaBruno
Super Nomad
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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.
Christopher Bruno, Elk Grove, CA.
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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| 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. |
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]
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
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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.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
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| 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]
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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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.........
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