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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Alarms, Phones, Aerials, CCTV & Datacomms >> Caravan aerial electric shock https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1249075811 Message started by macca101 on Jul 31^st, 2009, 10:30pm

Title: Caravan aerial electric shock
Post by macca101 on Jul 31^st, 2009, 10:30pm

Hi

Is it normal to feel a very mild tingling electric shock from a TV aerial ? I have just installed a new one to the side of a static caravan. Everything was OK until my wife made me take my shoes off (making a mess in and out of the van!) when I touched the aerial i could feel a mild tingle with my shoes on I could feel nothing.

I am worried there my be something wrong with the wiring in the caravan.

Title: Re: Caravan aerial electric shock
Post by Lectrician on Aug 1^st, 2009, 10:20am

Al electric shocks, however small, should be taken seriously, TV aerials can have a floaty voltage on them when connected to a double insulated TV or VCR etc (which all are these days). This is nothing to worry about, HOWEVER....

If this aerial was well fixed to the metal of the caravan and the caravan was correctly earthed, this voltage would vanish, and you would not percieve a shock.

I do hope that your caravan has not been connected to a PME earthing system. If it has, you could percieve a small shock due to the difference in potential of the PME earth and the earth you stand on. This potential could rise to full mains voltage if ever there was a fault on the neutral supply to the site.

You could use a multimeter to measure the voltage between the aerial/van chassis, and mother earth (poke one of the probes into the soil).

I suggest you get a spark out to take a look.

Title: Re: Caravan aerial electric shock
Post by macca101 on Aug 1^st, 2009, 1:42pm

Thanks for the reply, I have just phoned the campsite and they are going to check out the van.

Title: Re: Caravan aerial electric shock
Post by CWatters on Aug 1^st, 2009, 2:00pm

Most likely a double insulated TV as Lectrician suggests. As it's a static caravan it's probably mostly wood? Is the aerial mounted on wood or metal?

Title: Re: Caravan aerial electric shock
Post by Lectrician on Aug 1^st, 2009, 2:04pm

Most static vans have a stel chassis, main steel uprights, timber stud infill, hardboard walls, steel outside cladding?

Title: Re: Caravan aerial electric shock
Post by macca101 on Aug 1^st, 2009, 2:39pm

The aerial is attached to the metal exterior, It is in the correct place as there is a sticker that states "fix TV antenna here" and the holes from the previous owners aerial are there.