Electrical wiring in mobile homes:

How to inspect mobile homes or manufactured housing electrical wiring, electrical panel, and other electrical components for defects: detailed procedures, defect lists, references to standards.

Electrical Hazards & Defects in Manufactured Homes, Trailers, Doublewides

Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was responsible for 12% of fires, or about 1,400 manufactured home fires in data from 2007-2011 (Hall 2013) - interestingly about the same as reported for one and two family homes.

Only fires caused by faulty heating equipment (19%) and cooking equipment (15%) were reported to be more frequent.

Really? well, it's not that simple. Civilian fire deaths are generally higher in manufactured homes than in one and two-family homes, possibly associated with high incidence of missing or faulty smoke detectors, blocked or locked secondary fire exits, and other differences in the condition and level of maintenance of homes.

Hall also notes that because of changes in the U.S. National Fire Incident Reporting System data coding,

Estimates of manufactured home fires and associated civilian injuries are underestimated in 1999 and later years. - (Hall 2013)

Common electrical defects and inspection points in mobile homes are discussed below.

Article Contents

• MOBILE HOME COMMON ELECTRICAL WIRING HAZARDS
• MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL GROUNDING HAZARDS
• MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL METER & MAIN SWITCH LOCATION
• MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL SERVICE WIRING MISTAKES
• MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL WORK - REPAIR ELECTRICIANS - find an electrician
• MANUFACTURED & MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL STANDARDS & CODES

Updated through May 2023 - Steve Vermilye, New Paltz NY and Daniel Friedman, Poughkeepsie NY, Hudson Valley ASHI Chapter Seminar, Newburgh NY, January 4, 2000, NY Metro ASHI Fall 99 Seminar, Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, White Plains NY, October 2, 1999. [Click to enlarge any image]

These mobile home or doublewide or manufactured home or trailer electrical system inspection suggestions are suitable procedures for most countries, including Australia, Canada, The U.K., the E.U., & New Zealand, though of course electrical codes and standards will vary among countries.

Common Defects in Mobile Home Electrical Wiring

Watch out: this list of mobile or manufactured home electrical problems is in alphabetical order, but any electrical problem can be quite dangerous, risking a fire or electrical shock, or in the worst case, death.

The immediate thing you can do if you think your home's wiring is unsafe or it is behaving strangely is to turn off the offending circuit by switching off its circuit breaker, or turning off all power at the main electrical switch.

If you don't see a main switch in your electrical panel, that switch is usually located in a separate box at the electric meter.

• Aluminum electrical wiring hazards in mobile homes
  
  See ALUMINUM WIRING HAZARDS
• Access to mobile home electrical panel blocked
  
  due to limited storage space, access to panel often blocked
• Abandoned electrical fixtures, boxes, wires in a mobile home
  
  or boxes left open to weather

• Electrical conduit joints
  
  outdoors must be weather tight - note the damaged electrical conduit, open connections, incomplete conduit, wiring exposed to weather and water at our mobile home electrical inspection photo shown below

• Electrical outlets (receptacles) not working in mobile home, including exterior electrical receptacles
  
  mis-wired, incompletely installed, or outdoors, missing GFCI protection, or missing weatherproof covers (below)

• Electrical panel hazards at mobile or manufactured homes
  
  such as caravan or trailer electrical panel location or rust/water damage, or the electrical panel not properly protected from weather or not rated for outdoor use, rusted, corroded, unsafe: fire and shock risks (photo below),
  
  or known unsafe brands of electrical panel, such as
  
  FEDERAL PACIFIC ELECTRIC (FPE) PANEL - Stab-Lok Circuit Breaker Panel Hazards Latent fire hazards
  
  ZINSCO ELECTRICAL PANEL & CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILURES - overheating, explosions, failure to trip, burn-ups
  

• Electrical service connection hazards at a mobile home,
  
  Such as improper electrical service connection to site, service entry, support, clearance over roofs
  
  See MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL SERVICE - electric meter hook-up etc.
• Electrical wiring defects in a mobile or manufactured home,
  
  Such as lots of do-it-yourself wiring, exposed splices, bad or no GFCI, lamp cord wiring
• Flickering lights in a mobile home
  
  See first the Q&A and diagnostic suggestions
  
  at MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL - FLICKERING LIGHTS
  
  then see
  
  the topic home page: ELECTRIC POWER LOSS / FLICKERING LIGHTS- causes of flickering or dimming lights
  
  Flickering lights may be due to use of aluminum wiring, (*above in this list), or due to do-it-yourself or amateur wiring or other defects.
  
• GFCI missing or tripped-off, can't reset
  
  at baths, kitchens, outside, or mis-wired;
  
  Our photo below illustrates a missing ground fault circuit interrupter in a mobile home bathroom.

See details at MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL GFCI DIAGNOSIS

• Loose, falling electrical boxes, wires, or electrical fittings
  
  and lights and fixtures inside and out (photo below)

• Loss of electrical power in part or all of a mobile or manufactured home
  
  in or along one side or in one half of the home
  
  See MANUFACTURED HOME CROSSOVER CONNECTORS
  
  Watch out: if your mobile home has aluminum wiring, that, too, can cause flickering lights or loss of power on some or all circuits:
  
  see ALUMINUM WIRING

Electrical Ground System Defects in Double Wides & Mobile Homes

• Neutral bond separated from Ground in panels wired as subs
• Often no metal water pipe entering the unit to serve as ground
• Metal shell & Frame & Panel MUST be grounded (electrocutions & fires common from this defect)
• See ELECTRICAL GROUND SYSTEM INSPECTION

Our photo (left) shows so much makeshift extension cord wiring in this mobile home that we considered it a red flag meriting a close inspection of all of the electrical system's components: grounding, panels, receptacles, switches, circuits, etc.

Mobile Home Electric Service Entry & Main Switch Location

...

Where is the main electrical switch for mobile homes?

At mobile homes and at many newer "manufactured homes", the home's electrical meter & main disconnect switch are found separate from the home itself.

In that case you'll find a main switch, often combined with, next to, or below the home's electric meter, either on a utility pole or on a standpost near the mobile home itself, like that in our photo just above.

In our photo, you see that a traditional heavy-duty electrical cord and plug connects the home's electrical power to the electric meter.

In newer mobile homes and manufactured homes, a conventional electrical wire (not a cord and plug) is connected inside the switch box and then routed underground or through conduit into the home where it finds the home's electrical panel where multiple circuit breakers (or fuses) will be installed to protect the individual circuits in the home.

See details at ELECTRIC METERS & METER BASES

 

Mobile Home Electrical Panel Location & Neutral-Ground Isolation Requirements

In the mobile home electrical sub-panel shown above, the installer did include a main switch, but as this panel is a sub-panel served by a main switch located outside the home, this panel should have been wired as a sub panel, keeping neutral and ground separated. They were not.

Power in from a separate outdoor main switch to the home's inside electrical panel will require a 4-wire conductor that provides:

• two hot wires
  
  each 120V, to offer 240V for circuits such as an electric clothes dryer or an electric stove
• a neutral wire
  
  returning to the main switch panel and electric meter
• a ground wire
  
  connected to a local grounding electrode at the main switch and meter, connected to the utility company's ground as well

Watch out: because the main switch and ground are outside the home at a separate electrical control box, its electrical panel inside the home must be wired like a sub panel.

That means that the installer has to isolate the ground from the neutral wire in the indoor electrical panel. If this detail is ignored, the building's electrical ground and anything connected to it can be carrying current. In a practical sense, that means that you could touch something that is normally electrically grounded, like a clothes dryer, and you could get a nasty shock. Or worse.

This sort of electric shock hazard is real, it really happens, but it's so technical that the risk is not apparent to many DIY wiring installers.

For an example of this sub-panel wiring error that had bad results

see LOST NEUTRAL SHOCKS HOMEOWNER.

Electrical Service Supply Defects in Mobile Homes

Mobile / Manufactured Home Electrical Service Hazards

Here are some inspection points for the the drop feeder service for mobile homes, mobile home electrical service wiring, electric meter, and main electric switch. These requirements apply to mobile homes, trailers, doublewides and often to newer manufactured homes.

• Appliance ground bonding screws in mobile homes
  
  Factory-installed electrical equipment will have the bonding screws removed (dryer, range). The same must be done with any owner-installed equipment.
• Cord and plug connected
  
  mobile home electrical service size is usually limited to 50A, sometimes 40A.
• Location of the main switch/service box
  
  Electrical service equipment must be in sight of and no more than 30 ft from the exterior wall of the home it serves.
• Main electrical switch located outside in cold climate
  
  It's common for the main breaker at mobile homes to be located at the electric meter on a utility pole or standard outdoors.
  
  Electrical codes require that the switch and box be designed for outdoor installation. Nevertheless, there are special dangers at such a main switch located outdoors:
  
  - In very cold weather, a significant portion of circuit breakers will not trip when they should in response to overcurrent (Aronstein 2019).
  
  - OPINION: should the home occupants need to turn off all electrical power, such as during an emergency, and during wet weather, standing on wet ground touching any electrical component, including the main switch, can be fatal if there is ANY defect such as a short circuit or exposed wire at the outside component.
• Overhead electric masthead
  
  for electrical wires entering overhead (not underground) must provide at least 8 ft vertical clearance from all points of all roofs over which conductors pass,
  
  with 2 exceptions:
  • 3-foot electrical wire clearance over the home's roof is OK if roof is 4 in 12 or more
  • 18" OK if no more than 4' of service drop conductors pass over the roof overhang and if terminate in a through-roof raceway
    
• Permanent electric feeders
  
  SEC adjacent to home or mounted in the home provided manufacturer installed; may enter underground via conduit. If overhead, look for 4 color coded conductors (Hot, Hot, Neutral, Ground);

See ELECTRIC METERS & METER BASES - our home page for this topic

Reader Question: where is the meter kit mounted for a mobile home?

2016/03/07 R.j. Morris said:

What qualifications must a manufactured home meet to allow the meter kit mounted on home instead of a pole

Reply:

RJ The following EXAMPLE is quoted from Mississippi Power. Your own local state or provincial government and codes contain the final and correct answer - that is it depends on where you live.

Meter Sockets and Service Equipment Mounted on Manufactured Homes

The 1993 National Electrical Code (NEC) has been modified to bring the NEC requirements for service to manufactured homes in line with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) manufactured home construction requirements.

The NEC and HUD now both permit the service equipment and the meter socket to be mounted on the manufactured home under certain conditions. Refer to the following Sections of the NEC for these conditions.

• Definitions Refer to NEC Section 550-2 Exceptions
• Refer to NEC Section 550-5a Exception No. 2
• Refer to NEC Section 550-23a Exception No. 2

HUD has interpreted the requirement for installation of the service equipment by the manufacturer as shown in NEC 550-23 to include field installation under the supervision of the manufacturer.

In areas where there is an electrical inspector, Mississippi Power will serve manufactured homes with the service equipment and meter socket mounted on the home, provided the inspector approves the installation, and the meter socket meets the MPC requirements for customer-furnished meter sockets.

In areas where there is not an electrical inspector, the following conditions must be met in order to serve a manufactured home with the service equipment and meter socket mounted on the home

• The NEC and HUD requirements must be met. 

Electrical Wiring References for Manufactured Homes, Campers, Mobile Homes, Doublewides

• Aronstein, Jesse. "Temperature Sensitivity of Residential Molded Case Circuit Breakers." IEEE Access 7 (2019): 38714-38720.
  
  This report can can be download as a PDF from IEEE at no cost at the following URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8669748 but may not be reproduced without IEEE permission - Ed.
  
  ABSTRACT
  
  The experimental results are presented for minimum trip current as a function of temperature for residential circuit breakers. These are often installed in enclosures that are exposed to seasonal temperature extremes.
  
  The trip current of these thermally actuated breakers is inversely related to temperature. The relationship is shown to be linear and it varies as much as 2:1 between brands.
  
  The trip current at extremely high and low temperatures can be estimated. At low outside ambient temperature the worst case 15A breakers will not trip at 25 A, which would be the current load of two 1500W portable heaters plugged into the same 15 A circuit.
  
  The diminished overcurrent protection at low temperature may be a factor that contributes to the elevated incidence of residential electrical fires during winter months.
• The National Electrical Code can be obtained at www.nfpa.org/‎
  • NEC Section 90-4 permits field installation on a manufactured home under certain conditions (including complying with Article 230).
  • NEC Article 230
  • NEC Section 550-2 - Definitions pertinent to manufactured homes, meter sockets
  • NEC Section 550-5a Exception No. 2
  • NEC Section 550-=23(1) Exception No. 2 - permits the manufacturer of a mobile home to install the electrical service equipment to the home.
• CO, ELECTRICAL WIRING GUIDE FOR MOBILE HOMES / MANUFACTURED HOMES [PDF] San Miguel County Colorado, (2005), Building Department, 333 W Colorado Avenue 3rd Floor Telluride, CO 81435 USA, Tel: 970-728-3923, retrieved 2020/11/07, original source: https://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/DocumentCenter/View/79/Modular-Mobile-Home-State-Electrical-PDF?bidId=
  Excerpt:
  For the purpose of this wiring guide, unless otherwise indicated, the term mobile home includes manufactured homes. Manufactured homes can be identified by the metal tags on the back of each section of the home stating that it is a manufactured home.
  
  Modular homes will not be on a metal chassis and will have a Colorado Division of Housing tag usually under the kitchen sink that indicates it is “Factory Built” to building code standards. This guide does not apply to “Factory Built” modular homes.
• "Electrical Service Requirements for Mobile Home Developments", PG&E Electric (2008), retrieved 4/28/2014, original source: http://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/mybusiness/customerservice/ startstop/newconstruction/greenbook/servicerequirements/052521.pdf
• Hall Jr, John R. MANUFACTURED HOME FIRES [PDF] (2013) Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association (2005 - 2013), retrieved 2019/05/20, original source: https://www.manufacturedhomelivingnews.com/ wp-content/uploads/2014/12/ National-Fire-Protection-Association-NFPA-Manufactured-Homes-Fires-Reportcredit-posted-manufacturedhomelivingnews-com-.pdf
• "Metering Installation for Mobile Homes or Mobile Home Parks", Mississippi Power, (1995), retrieved 4/29/2014, original source: http://www.mississippipower.com/commercial/pdf/Mobile_ManfHomes.pdf
• "Title 77: Public Health Chapter I: Department Of Public Health Subchapter Q: Mobile Homes Part 860 Manufactured Home Community Code", Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, Administrative Code, General Assembly of Illinois, Mobile Home Park Act [210 ILCS 115]. Retrieved 4/30/14, original source: http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/077/07700860sections.html
• "Electrical Safety Requirements For Manufactured Home Parks", State of Minnesota, Electrical Licensing & Inspection, 443 Lafayette Rd. N., St. Paul MN 55155, Tel: 651-284-5064, Website: www.electricity.state.mn.us, Retrieved 4/302014, original source: https://www.dli.mn.gov/ccld/PDF/eli_ManufacturedHomeParkBulletin.pdf"
• "Installation and Extension of Wiring in Manufactured Homes, Electrical Licensing & Inspection", op.cit. Minnesota, Retrieved 4/30/2014, original source: https://www.dli.mn.gov/ccld/PDF/eli_ExtensionOfWiringInMfgHomes.pdf
• "Manufactured home/mobile home service location", Minnesota op.cit., (1996), retrieved 4/30/14, original source: https://www.dli.mn.gov/ccld/ElectricalCodesBulletinManufactured.asp.
• MOBILE HOME CODES, STANDARDS & MANUALS - Full text of the manufactured and mobile home standards including electrical

Find an Electrician to Work on a Double Wide or Mobile Home - Financial Aid?

Question: how to find a South Carolina Electrician to Fix Wiring Hazards

I have been having problems in 1996 grand manor doublewide home. From breakers tripping to main Ac heat which is now completely useless and breaker is turned off. Anyway my issues are too numerous to list here.

My problem is finding a person qualified to diagnose and repair. I am on fixed income and a single mom to child fighting very rare and often times, fatal liver cancer. I add this info to say how easy ( and HAS previously been) it is to be ripped off when having to call repairmen blindly. Have lived here since home was first purchased and set up.

Had problems resulting in lawsuit from shoddy set up and just a mess in general. I am writing to you to see if you have a list or directory of qualified electricians to inspect and diagnose doublewide home issues. As is, my son and I live in a home with 3 main breakers turned off to protect against fire.

Our zip is 29842. When I do a search it will give me electricians in Augusta Ga. Nothing wrong with that but have been told the codes in Georgia and SC are different. We bought home from lot in Ga but live right over bridge in SC.

Need a SC familiar electrician. Just hoping you may have a referral or list for my electrical issues. People think I am crazy but my fear of fire is very real. I worked in a burn unit before my disability and my fears are grounded. Feeling unsafe in home is not fun. - Anonymous by private email 2017/01/05

Reply: sources for electricians & for financial aid for home repairs

Anon, you know better than I, but from looking at maps, it seems likely that electricians listed as working in "North Augusta" such as at

• http://www.yellowpages.com/north-augusta-sc/electricians are likely to include people licensed both in Georgia and in South Carolina. I'd give some of them a call and simply ask specifically, "are you licensed to work in my state?"

Take a look at this map:

• http://www.yellowpages.com/search-map/north-augusta-sc/electricians and see which of those is near to you.

You can certainly ask, up front, if an electrician is able to consider any form of economic aid or price break for low-income families.

You might also check with some of the South Carolina economic aid agencies at https://www.benefits.gov/benefits/browse-by-state/state/181 where perhaps one of the energy-assistance agencies could be of some use to you, for example the weatherization program at

• https://www.benefits.gov/benefits/benefit-details/1880 - though I don't know how much latitude they have in grants for other home repairs.

Unless it becomes de-funded by the federal government, the U.S. agency HUD also offers financial aid to families in your state, specifically for home repairs.

• See https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/states/south_carolina/homeownership/homerepairs

or contact the Columbia SC HUD field office directly at

• Columbia Field Office of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development - HUD, Strom Thurmond Federal Building 1835 Assembly Street, 13th Floor Columbia, SC 29201-2480 USA Field Office Director (803) 765-5592 Fax (803) 765-5925
  Email: SC_Webmanager@hud.gov

I can't tell if your electrical problems are due to improper original work or the use of a bad-performing product or something else.

If specific questions about diagnosing or repairing problems in your home come up you're welcome to search Inspectapedia.com for answers or to simply ask me by email.

Finally, before paying someone for an expensive repair, you might first ask them to be kind enough to explain to you, in simple lay-person's terms why the repair is needed and how it should work to solve the problem.

Then you should also feel free to tell me what you're being told. I can't be as smart as an on-site expert but I might be able to suggest some questions to ask or to serve as a sort-of reasonableness check.

 

 

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Question: Mobile Home Electric Pedestal Main Breaker Burn-Up + Aluminum Electrical Wiring Hazards

[These photos are] from the electric pedestal outside of my mobile home. 

It happened June 2nd after my husband and I had been experiencing extremely high Utility bills and redundant replacement of outlets porch lighting but resulting in loss of power to one side of the mobile home ultimately. As homeowners we attempted to solve the issue assuming it being a 1970 mobile home we were likely the cause snd at fault for an old electrical system.

After losing power everywhere but one room we had contacted the utility company to find it was the main breaker that had burned. Since then the  property manager had a random employee of a contracting companies do a simple swap with no inspection. Bills continued to rise, and the smell of burnt plastic or rubber was starting to happen at random times.

How can I get an inspection or a professional recommendation on what the cause may have been for this? I do have court coming. I unfortunately love where it is no ones jurisdiction but if I am wrong and the city council in independence missouri has one to answer to id love to take a lesson.

They want the land my trailer is on for free as it can't be moved and I got no offer so court is the process. I have had no electricity since october and finally found an attorney that is from legal aid and not interested in a shuffle with the utility company who has refused to allow me documented stating what work orders were done.

Anyhow, I hope these photos are helpful to you regardless it would just be nice to find a place that could recommend the proper process for these events and maybe a nation wide regulator.  - Anonymous by private email 2024/01/27

Moderator reply: un-trained electrical workers may increase the hazards at your home

Basically it's extremely dangerous to have someone untrained and proper electrical work or electrical inspection examining and pretending to fix electrical services in the circumstances that you described.

The risk is of course of a serious building fire with the losses but could then occur. The actual underlying cause of the burn up of the main breaker could be aluminum wiring, or other improper wiring or improper installation.

That's perhaps the most critical circuit breaker in the system since it's the one that provides all of the power to your home. It would be helpful to know the brand of electrical panel that's installed because some brands are known problems.

And it will be helpful to know whether you're building or service entrance includes aluminum wiring. Trained license and experience electrician should be able to inspect this installation and give you a reasonable opinion of the underlying cause as models of what repairs are necessary.

For example, if the connecting bus bars in that electrical panel are burned or damaged, or if there is evidence of overheating aluminum or other electrical wiring connections, simply swapping in another circuit breaker is inadequate and unsafe.

Watch out: But your message certainly suggests that simply swapping breakers when the breakers are burning up is an extremely dangerous thing to do and not only puts property and lives at risk but, as you might suggest that the property manager puts them at risk for assuming liability in such a case.

DF

Reader follow-up: aluminum wiring found - may contribute to this circuit breaker failure / fire

This is all I can see, I don't have any information of the age or installation date. They won't likely allow me to have it anyhow. I own a 1970 trailer and have an idea of the wiring inside of the trailer but they have been less then descriptive on any information.

Editor's note: Watch out: that ice on your electric meter may be pointing to water leaking into the meter enclosure - unsafe, risking more electrical failures or a fire.

I was told by an electrician that diagnosed the breaker needing to be replaced by the landlord that flickering lights and bad outlets being replaced time and time again were common with the bad breaker.

Also the high utilities were likely from the arching to the power box and you can actually see the burn hole on the front of the meter where the breaker switches are located on the outdoor panel.

Forgive me, I am trying to educate myself on terminology to prevent confusin you and myself. I was curious, he has these old meter don't have enough power for all the appliances. I thought the meter was a 200 amp service but there is only one sticker indicating that where the main breaker is.

The side that burned out had no sticker on it and we were told it was 100 amp. I was thinking maybe we were drawing to much power from all of the appliances and electronics opposed to the previous tenant who was an elderly woman who lived alone with a TV a fridge and a couple of air units. I don't have nearly enough education to dispute anything.

I just am trying to inform you best I can from what a electric technician a maintenance man and a journeyman electrician have stated about the high bill the arching the bad outlets and wiring and amperage. I have no idea what happened beyond this but I will try to gather any information I can. I do believe they have processes that they are legally supposed to follow for this kind of thing.

Thank you so much for your advice, I appreciate your help and will give you an update when I get to the root of the cause.

I wanted to tell you thank you once more for taking time out of your day to respond. When I initially sent the photos and message, I wasn't really expecting much so when you responded I took the time to look at your bio and resume and I was honestly shocked at the credentials you have and thought wow, no way.

I can't believe he actually responded. My husband was intrigued and I have to admit much more savy in the construction world then myself. This is all foreign to me, I have had no business tinkering with most trades especially electrical. I try , I try I do what I can if possible.

He told me it is aluminum wiring that branches and I said I would mention it to you and that you had been traveling but I think it best if there are any other questions and for accuracy sake he take over. We are both very appreciative you responded especially with a busy schedule.

It helps to have someone with proven credibility to give advice narrowing it down. At your earliest convenience and if you have an opportunity feel free to reach us anytime if you can.

We currently have gotten in a position to prove management neglected to send work orders or an electrician but the utility company has gone as far as to avoid me until I hounded long enough mentioned court dates coming, then continue to give me the run around about the name being under the wrong email and account and sent 8 other individuals an email to proceed to send the mayor an email.

They knew what happened and closed my account with in 30 days permanently with no notice sticking firm to finalized for non payment.

Now since it has been 90 days it can't be turned back on without an inspection but when it caught fire nobody wanted to look at it. Aside from already damaged wiring and smells of burnt plastic or rubber when it is actively powering the house we just couldn't afford the bill any longer and had no resolve at that point in time. Anyhow, thank you once again for responding. We appreciate your time.

Moderator reply: aluminum wiring hazards in mobile home electrical systems

Thank you for your kind and generous remarks. I'm always reluctant to say I'm an "expert" in anything because there's always someone who knows more.

In this case my teacher/mentor for this topic is one of the leading experts on aluminum electrical wiring hazards, Dr. Jess Aronstein, even older than I am but still, happily, alive. Bottom line: solid conductor aluminum wire branch circuits are a very serious fire hazard, repairable by pigtailing short lengths of copper wire to the aluminum wire using special connectors.

But watch out: the fire hazard might even be increased if improper repairs are made or if repair attempts are made using the wrong connector.

So to repair your home properly, from the electrical panel onwards throughout the home will require an electrician who is familiar with aluminum wire hazards AND with the only correct repairs. So you can tell, even as an amateur, if the electrician is NOT the right person if she or he wants to use "wire nuts" - a twist-on connector, to do the copper pigtailing.

The more you can stand to read about this topic the better you can judge if your repair electrician is the right person for the job. See at the very least: T

his page that summarizes the repair options, of which the current most-used is method #3 on this page, the AlumiConn

ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR METHODS

https://inspectapedia.com/aluminum/Aluminum_Wiring_Repair_Methods.php

To understand the issue, see Dr. Aronstein's article at https://inspectapedia.com/aluminum/Aluminum_Wire_Hazard_Reduce_2011.pdf Or this web page version of that information:

REDUCE THE AL WIRE RISK: DETAILS 

https://inspectapedia.com/aluminum/Aluminum_Wiring_Risk_Reduction.php

And if anyone tells you that your aluminum wired circuits, if they have not been "repaired" as described above are "safe" they're wrong - as we explain at

ALUMINUM WIRING SAFETY ASSESSMENT 

https://inspectapedia.com/aluminum/Aluminum_Wiring_Safety_Assessment.php

You are welcome to give all of these documents to your electrician.

My advice is DO NOT permit any other repair methods - as they're not safe. If there are other older mobile homes or trailers where your home is located, particularly homes built in the 1970s, you'd be doing your neighbors a very good service to advise them to have tiehri wiring checked too. Mobile home fires are among the most dangerous.

Watch out: IF FIRE OCCURS (from any cause) - homes with Aluminum Electrical Wiring or in Any Home KNOW WHAT TO DO IF FIRE OCCURS. HAVE A PLAN. DISCUSS IT WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY. SEE YOUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR GUIDANCE. INSTALL SMOKE and CO DETECTORS in your home. EARLY WARNING IS VERY IMPORTANT.

DF

Reader follow-up: electric company said the installation needed inspection but refused to inspect it

Thank you again for speaking with me, I feel a lot better now. I knew with the dangers involved especially in the older mobile homes that an inspection should have been necessary for at the least the power company.

I am more confident now to argue the matter and hopefully will succeed at finding an electrician they will have to allow to inspect it.

The light company and the property manager wouldn't inspect it after it caught fire but the light company stated in an email to the mayor that since it has been off for 90 days it needs an inspection.

How about that.  I'll try to keep you posted. Enjoy your day Mr.Friedman I hope it is a good one.

 

On 2023-08-26 by Sandy - 2007 Deervalley manufactured double wide home delay when turning on the fan/light combo

my father has a 2007 Deervalley manufactured double wide home. In the master bedroom there has always been a few seconds delay when turning on the fan/light combo. this does not occur when using the remote.

we've changed the switch but no difference. it's now delaying longer and we're concerned there is a bigger problem. the same fan/light combo is in both bedrooms at the opposite end of the home and they do not have this issue.

any help would be appreciated. thank you

This reader's Q&A were originally posted at HOW TO CONTACT InspectApedia.com 

On 2023-08-23 by InspectApedia Publisher

@ Sandy, I would suggest to first make sure that the same kind of bulb is in the delay fixture as in the others.

I've seen that some types of bulbs, especially some of the modern LEDs and certainly some fluorescents, have a delay before the bulb appears to light even though there may be no other electrical problem.

So if you tell us the identical bulb is in all of the fixtures, we'll need to look further.

On 2023-05-03 by Freddy - y and I need some assistance repairing my dads trailer/mobile home electrica

Hello 👋🏼, Grettings from California. My name is Freddy and I need some assistance repairing my dads trailer/mobile home electrical panel. He told me a part (circuit breaker, image attached to this post) to be replaced and he’s not sure which brand/kind/model to replace it with. It’s an older trailer so I’m sure they don’t make the same circuit breakers so I need help finding out which one is compatible and affordable.

Image 1: 🔵 (50) 🔴 (20)

Image 2: CURRENT INTERRUPTING RATING MAX. RMS SYM, AMPERES
10.000 A7 20/240 VOLTS AC

Image 3: USE ONLY IN LISTED ENCLOSURE 40C CTL PATENTS:
3.088.006 3.200.217 2.797.278
3.110.786 3.254.176 A MADE IN U.S.A.

Can anybody please give me a hand with this, Thank You!

On 2023-05-03 by InspectApedia Editor - 1960s Westinghouse Electric Corp. circuit breaker

@Freddy,

Sure, that's a 1960s Westinghouse Electric Corp. circuit breaker, identified by reviewing its patent numbers.

You can take the breaker to ANY electrical supplier or probably to one of the big-box building supply stores like Lowes or Home Depot and the electrical department clerk can fit you up with a replacement breaker that is compatible with the same connections in the electrical panel.

I think you'll see that your Westinghouse circuit breakers use the same connection methods as
Cutler Hammer circuit breakers
Eaton circuit breakers
Square D circuit breakers

You may also find actual Westinghouse circuit breakers for sale online, such as at eBay but in our OPINION it's safer to buy a new circuit breaker from a current vendor of electrical equipment.

It's a bit of a pig-in-a-poke betting the electrical and fire safety of your Dad's mobile home on what might be a used or "reconditioned" circuit breaker of unknown internal condition and safety. Below we include a photo of a USED Westinghouse circuit breaker still listed for sale on eBay. I wouldn't go that route. [DF]

Though your photos were great, they don't show the actual connection part of the circuit breaker, nor do they show the connection bus bars in the panel, so we're left with matching up the breaker at the store as I suggested, almost certainly finding a match among the brands we listed above.

(Do post those missing details in photos in high resolution if you can, one photo per comment but as many comments/photos as you wish).

but

Watch out: without seeing the condition of the electrical panel itself, I can't say that you should be looking for replacement breakers rather than having an electrician replace the whole panel.

For example if the panel bus bars or other parts are corroded or burned, the panel may not be safe even with new circuit breakers.

Watch out: if you are not trained in safe electrical work you should really consider hiring a licensed electrician. Touching something live in the panel can shock and kill you or your dad.

See more safety advice about DIY electrical wiring

at DO IT YOURSELF ELECTRICAL WORK

On 2023-05-01 by Monte - no voltage at outdoor receptacle on mobile home

Drilled a hole in my mobile home wall to outside, then ran a powered cord (plugged in to the wall outlet inside) and when I check voltage on the cord outside of the mobile home there is no voltage.

Have checked the power cord I am using by resistance (perfect 0) and for voltage (115 VAC fine). But running the cord thru the mobile homes wall to the outside of home there is ZERO volts!!

On 2023-05-01 by InspectApedia Editor - running power an extension cord or power cord through an opening in a wall to use outdoors risks fatal electric shock

@Monte,

Thanks that's interesting and puzzling. I don't think that simply passing an extension cord or power cord through an opening in a wall would explain its loss of power. More likely there is one of these faults:

- movement or tugging that's loosening the wall plug connection

- tripping a GFCI

- an intermittent (positional) failure in the power cord

Some experiments to try:

1. run the cord through a window instead of a hole in the wall

2. double check the cord plug security

3. try a different receptacle

Watch out: running power to use outdoors risks fatal electric shock: you want to power your extension cord through a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) protected breaker / receptacle.

Let me know what you find: it'll help other readers.

On 2023-03-31 by LAYLA - burned electrical outlet at mobile home

I recently bought a used mobile home and admittedly had little to no knowledge of them and the repair issues involved. I had a handyman here and I had him check to make sure the heat tape was working when the pipes froze for the first time. He told me that the electrical box where it plugs in had burned and showed me burn marks.

He ran it to the outside outlet which is just beside the crawl space but I'm concerned about that burned outlet. I've also had other issues where I will lose power without circuit tripping to only certain parts of the trailer and they don't seem to make sense to me. One example is all of the living room but one wall & only the overhead in the kitchen.

This type of thing seems to happen when I have an electric heater plugged in. ( Shortly after I bought the place the HVAC system failed and it's a very expensive fix). I did replace or had someone replace the circuit box and it looks old and either burned or rusted, he wasn't an electrician so he didn't know for sure.

I believe the first problem started with the overhead lighting closest to the fuse box if that's of any help. (Except for possibly the burned out outlet underneath) Any ideas of what could be wrong here? Any help would be greatly appreciated. It's a 1984 build if that matters.

On 2023-04-01 by InspectApedia Editor - Older mobile home, erratic power loss diagnostic suggestions

@LAYLA,

Older mobile home, erratic power loss diagnostic suggestions

First: Aluminum electrical wiring:

For a home made in 1984 we would not expect it to contain original electrical wiring that used aluminum conductors, so this isn't likely to be a concern for your home.

For other readers, if your home was built in the 1970s you should ask: is there aluminum electrical wiring? Your electrician can look inside of your electrical panel to answer the aluminum wiring question.

That wire, if it has not been properly repaired at every connection, is a fire hazard, and that type of wiring can explain loss of power at individual devices, receptacles, lights, switches, or circuits without tripping a circuit breaker.

Details: ALUMINUM WIRING

Second: unsafe electrical panel brands

Some brands of electrical panels and circuit breakers are unsafe and unreliable, and may fail to trip in response to an over-current - for example an overload due to plugging too many things in on an individual circuit.

Example: see FPE STAB-LOK PANEL IDENTIFICATIONS - is yours one of these?
or
see ZINSCO ELECTRICAL PANEL & CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILURES

Third: history of amateur, improper electrical wiring:

If your electrician finds evidence of improper electrical work: wrong connections, wrong wire sizes, damaged wiring due to external causes such as leaks or rodents, that needs to be surveyed and connected.

Watch out: Your comment that you lose power when there is an electric heater plugged-in suggests that you may be overloading individual circuits. If you do that, AND if a circuit breaker does not trip in response to the overload, the risk is that wires get hot enough to start a fire.

On 2023-02-25 by Adam - need a "wring out" of the electrical system: what's that?

Inspector is requesting a ring out on the electrical system how do you go about executing that

On 2023-02-26 by InspectApedia Editor - what does "wring out" the electrical system mean?

@Adam,

I can only guess, since "ring out of the electrical system" does not mean much to us, that the inspector meant "wring out" of the electrical system. That would mean that you need to hire a licensed electrician to examine your home's entire electrical system, from the electric meter hook-up, through to the main panel, main switch, circuit breakers, circuits, devices (receptacles and lights and switches), junction boxes, and any other wiring or controls, to see that everything is both working and wired "to code".

Just how detailed that inspection needs to be and how costly it will be depends on the age and condition of your home and its wiring and the quality of the electrical work that was done so far.

It would sure be helpful if your electrical inspector could tell us what she or he saw that raised a concern. Some specifics, while by no mean a promise that there are no other issues, would give us a clue about the sort of problem or defect seen by the inspector that in turn can help the electrician know where to start.

I would expect your electrician to say that the depth and thus cost of the inspection has to be guided by what's found. The more evidence of improper work we find, the more we need to dig deeper.

Watch out: in the past I've found it difficult to get ANY electrician to be willing to inspect another's work, and certainly not "on the cheap". The worry is that the electrician doesn't want to be held accountable for work done by someone else and that is not easily inspected for correctness. After all, there are hundreds of electrical connections at various devices, wire sizes, connectors, device types, splices, junction boxes, etc.

So press your first inspector for some help in deciding where to start and how far to go with this.

Let us know what you are told as that can let us comment further.

On 2022-10-29 by Tim - 3 mobile home switches and one receptacle not working

I have three switches and one rec not working

On 2022-10-29 by InspectApedia-911 (mod)

@Tim,

If they're all on the same circuit you may try turning that circuit breaker off and then back on to see if that makes a difference.

If not, there's an open electrical connection in the circuit ahead of the first "dead" component.

On 2022-04-10 by Jimmie - 3 wall plugs went out, replaced them, still don't work

Three wall plugs went out, replaced with new ones, they have power but won't turn on whatever plugged in it, what could be the problem

On 2022-04-10 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - wall plugs replaced but still no power

@Jimmie,

Start with an electric lamp that you know was working by having seen it lit at another location.

Then plug it in at the problem receptacle.

If it doesn't work then either there's no power at the receptacle or there's a wiring error.

Watch out: if you're not familiar with safe and proper electrical wiring you could be shocked or killed.

Also see

DANGERS OF ELECTRICAL WIRING REPAIR

On 2022-04-06 by Tammy - skyiline mobile circuits with no electrical power

We have a 1997 Skyline mobile home. Two bedrooms and bathroom have no power at all. Living room has some power but not all. The living room light still works and 2 outlets on the same side as the light switch work. All outlets on the other side of the living room do not work.

This all started after my running two electric heaters at the same time in the two bedrooms.

On 2022-04-06 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Tammy,

First try turning the circuit breaker fully off.

Unplug the 2 heaters.

Turn the breaker back on

Let me know if that restores power.

 

On 2022-03-02 by carrie wilhelm - low voltage wiring in manufactured home?

In a manufactured home (2021) is there supposed to be a low voltage box for the light switches and outlets( blue box) ? Because my home has NONE

On 2022-03-02 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - is there supposed to be a low voltage box in a manufactured home

@carrie wilhelm,

No. Most mobile homes use standard 120V lighting.

The most common low-voltage equipment you might find in a mobile home would be the wall thermostat that turns heating on and off.

On 2021-11-27 by Howard Chapman - mobile home electrical load calculations

For mobile home load calculations: For example 4 or 5 connected to the same feeder 4/0 4/0 2/0 Close to the unit substation then 3 mobile homes (Same feeder) further distance from Unit sub then 2 same feeder down to 1 further distance.

Are the loads calculated similar to multi apartment complexes, taking in consideration for possible electric water heaters, electric baseboard heaters and so on. Some mobile home parks were under engineered especially in very hot climates i.e. Arizona

On 2021-11-28 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - some mobile home complexes have under-designed electrical service provisions

@Howard Chapman,

Thank you for the comment and warning that some mobile home complexes have under-designed electrical service provisions; that that means, for renters or homeowners, is an increased risk of fire or loss of electrical power or perhaps of other unsafe conditions.

You're correct that the proper wire sizing for ANY electrical installation considers the total load or current measured in Amps and the wire distances involved. Those principles apply equally to apartments, mobile homes, and single family residences.

On 2023-01-16 by Tammy Oates - lost power to some ceiling lights in mobile home

I have a 1986 sterling 14x70 mobile home. I am not getting power to the kitchen ceiling, bathroom ceiling , back bedroom ceiling

the breakers were changed but is still tripping, I had an electrician come out and checked my outlets,, and we feel the issue is under the trailer, ( stuffed with 3 ft of insulation) and have no idea where to start to find it.

On 2023-01-17 by InspectApedia Publisher - the breakers were changed but are still tripping

@Tammy Oates,

As the circuit breaker keeps tripping, it sounds as if there is a short circuit somewhere on the lighting circuit.

Usually that is a separate circuit from the receptacles.

Your electrician might want to check 1st the light fixtures closest to the electrical panel or the 1st one in the circuit. Look for Hawaiian error or a burnt, damaged, or short of electrical wire

On 2022-12-29 by Debbie Richards - horrible mess of wires and trash and insulation and sewage? under mobile home

KEEP help bad, g/daughter rent/2buy "remodled Mobil home" everything is wrong with it. under trailer is no installation, can see pipes running every where, it's terrible ?'s

1. is what are the orange cords, electrical lines that's hanging like a clothes line?

2. And are they supposed 2 b up under installation Has elec baseboard heaters & e/thing else is electric.

Owners r trying 2 lock us in on rent 2 buy, 100% sure it was not inspected. Hoping red/orange is supposed 2 b under installation. I hope you can help us out, our Xmas was so messed up w/frozen pipes & no heat tapes.

On 2022-12-29 by InspectApedia Publisher - need thorough independent inspection to address safety concerns

@Debbie Richards,

I agree that there seem to be multiple safety and health hazards suggested by your photo:

If those orange lines are electrical wires, they are improperly-installed (un-supported) and risk an electrical shock or fire.

There is some sign of wet conditions (stains on wood) and a lot of fallen insulation, risking mold contamination.

A closer look at the debris on the dirt crawlspace floor and at piping, especially drains, might tell you whether or not there has been a sewage spill - if so that's another serious health hazard.

I'm unclear about what's up with the leaning board: is that junk, a prop, falling structure, or something else?

The supporting piers are not in full view but depending on building codes where you live, might be improper.

An independent inspection and help from your local building or heath department, if they're willing, would be in order.

On 2022-07-27 by Vetonica - where do I find replacement outdoor electrical receptacles for my mobile home?

Hello. I want to replace the wires (extension cords) on the back of my mobile home because they are worn and weathered. My question is where do I get these and how do I find the amps as they are so weathered I can't tell

On 2022-07-27 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - important to have weatherproof electrical receptacles for outdoor exposure

@Vetonica,

You need to follow those wires to see what they are feeding. That can tell us what's going on. From just your photo I can't say what those four wires are feeding.

You can also look in your electrical panel, find the circuit breaker(s) that switch off those receptacles, and from that you at least know the ampacity for which the circuit is intended.

Watch out: those electrical receptacles on an outdoor wall, are weather-resistant only when the cover is closed. When opened to plug in those electrical cords the connectors are exposed to the weather: a safety and reliability concern.

You should also ask your electrician to replace the receptacles or at least their covers with a modern weatherproof cover that will protect the connection when something is plugged-in - such as we'll illustrate below.

AND because those connectors are outdoors, the electrical receptacles themselves must be ground fault-protected (GFCI) devices. That can be achieved either by installing GFCI receptacles in each of those four boxes (plus the weatherproof cover) OR by installing GFCI circuit breakers in the electrical panel.

You'll need help from a licensed electrician.

On 2021-11-16 by Mike - lost part of power in mobile home

Power partially out in single wide mobile home..

On 2021-11-17 by (mod)

@Mike,

Your electrician will start right at the electrical panel, checking the incoming power lines, checking also the main breaker and panel bus bar conditions.

If the electric panel is in a safe, dry location, you can try yourself simply turning the main breaker OFF and then back on - that's a normal control intended for use by the homeowner.

On 2021-09-20 by Gary McMillion - lost power in mobile home after lightning strike

Lightning hit very close to my Palm Harbor double wide. Power went off in the front right hand corner of the home. The master bath half of master bedroom next to the master bath and half of the front living room next to the 2 master rooms, I disconnected all fixtures have opened up all affected

On 2021-09-21 by (mod)

@Gary McMillion,

Sounds like we didn't quite get to the question here; the power loss could be from outside the home - at the service entry or utility company's power lines or transformer;

If your neighbors off the same pole have power then I suspect your service entry wires or panel are damaged.

For safety you want to leave the system off and get help from an electrician who can start at the meter, checking there for live power on both legs of your service.

On 2021-08-11 by Danyeil Dunlap - who is qualified to fix mobile home electrical wiring?

Does the licensed electrician text to fix wiring for mobile home in order for it to be inspected electrical inspector

On 2021-08-11 by (mod)

@Danyeil Dunlap,

If I understand your question correctly, you are asking if in order to pass an electrical inspection, it has to be done by a licensed electrician. The answer is it depends on the country and city where you live as regulations vary. For example, in New York in the city of Poughkeepsie, work must be done by a licensed electrician.

But in the town of Poughkeepsie, may be possible for work to be done by other qualified workers and then OK'd and passed by the local electrical inspector.

On 2021-06-08 by Danny - can electricity be connected to a trailer?

Can service be connected to trailer

On 2021-06-08 by (mod)

@Danny,

If by trailer you mean mobile home, electrical service can be brought to the home but it's not usually connected directly to the home itself because it wouldn't be high enough. So it's going to be connected either to a standard routed underground or to a separate pole or Masthead

 

On 2021-04-06 by Anonymous - mice and varmints eating wiring?

Ok I really have a question..
On a house that was just built 3yrs ago I thought that all electric wire was supposed to be in the wall not underneath the trailer home for mice ar other varmints to eat. Plus you have steal beams. This is a 3br 2bathroom family trailer home

On 2021-04-06 by (mod) - how do I keep varmints out of my trailer home?

@Anonymous,

Not quite; it's permitted to route electrical wiring under buildings in crawl areas or basements;

Mobile homes are usually protected from rodents by a "belly wrap" or barrier; you'll want to look at yours to assure that it's intact.

See details and some options at MOBILE HOME INSULATION BELLY WRAP

IF your home is having a particular rodent problem you may want to

1. call an exterminator to both treat the home and to tell you the source of the trouble (e.g. petfood or food left out and accessible)

2. have the underbelly / wrap of the home inspected for damage and of course for damage to wiring, plumbing,etc.

3. consider adding rodent-resistant additional belly wrap products. An example is below.

On 2021-02-24 by walt in ventura CA - how to wire shed at a mobile home

have a 10yr mobile home, have a 12' x 10 work shed I want to put 115v into. am handy and know basic electricity.
want to do it to code but do not know how to get wiring to shed, approx 5' from coach, also can I come off of a 115v j wall box in the house.

On 2021-02-24 - by (mod) -

@walt in ventura CA,

I would start by checking with the local building department to find out if you're legally permitted to do electrical wiring where you live. In some jurisdictions you are but you will still be required to get a permit and you will be required to have inspections by the electrical inspector. You should walk on those as it helps ensure that the work is safe and that you don't later get shocked or burn the place down.

With that question answered you need to decide just what electrical service you need in your shed. If you are for example going to install lighting and also some electrical receptacles you need at least two circuits. And your electrical circuit these to have ground fault protection.

Then you need to decide whether your routing wire underground or through conduit or overhead as different types of wire are permitted for those applications. When you know the total number of circuits you will know what amperage you need to deliver to the shed and whether or not you need to have a sub panel in the shed or simply run one lighting circuit and one receptacle circuit out to it. Size of the wire depends on the amperage load. I would probably run a 20 amp receptacle circuit and a 15 amp lighting circuit. But I don't know what's available nor what your local building officials will permit. Start by asking your building departmenty what's permitted.

On 2020-12-29 by Vince - hoe many receptacles and switches can be on a single mobile home circuit?

I have a 15A circuit that feeds 11 duplex outlets and 3 switches in two adjoining rooms. Is this up to code/

On 2020-12-29 - by (mod) -

That loading may be OK Vince, though no one can be sure that a wiring installation is up to code from a text note alone.

As a general rule of thumb, we divide the circuit breaker amperage by 1.5 to get the allowed number of receptacles on that circuit.

That'd be 10 on a 15A circuit; an electrical inspector may well not make an issue of 11 instead of 10, particularly if those 2 switches are simply switching a couple of outlets.

If that circuit is also supporting 3 additional lighting circuits it's moderately overloaded as per our rule of thumb.

On 2020-12-13 by Valora - just 5 volts at the electrical panel in my mobile home?

Have lived in my single wide MH for 20 years and only recently have had an electrical problem. The circuit that goes to the 'back' of the house runs through the ceiling and feeds 5 ceiling lights (living room, 2 bedrooms, hallway, half bath) and 5 wall outlets (4 in center walls, 1 on back wall).

They seemed to be daisy-chained with the electric feeding one, then going on to the others. All outlets on the front and back outside walls are on a different breaker(s). The problem started with turning a bedroom light on, everything else on that circuit flashing, then going dead. Breaker does NOT trip. Turning breaker off, then on again, seemed to 'reset' it.

This happened about 4 times before the 'resetting' stopped working, and everything on that breaker is just dead. I've turned the breaker OFF for now.

Had an electrician come and check it out. First he checked the living room ceiling fan. (NO switches go to that fan/light - it must be turned on/off at the light.) He said the electric wire fed into that junction from the back of the house and it was the end of a ‘leg.’ I suggested checking the first bedroom next, which he did.

He said it seemed as if the wiring came from the breaker box to there, then continued on. He checked the voltage from the breaker box and said it was only 5v, meaning the problem was in that first 'leg' of wiring, directly from the box. (He checked all the outlets first, and they were all showing 5v also.)

Short of tearing our whole ceiling down to fix this problem, what can be done? The electrician suggested disconnecting the original main wire from the box to the ceiling light in that bedroom, and then running a new wire from the breaker box under the MH and coming up to one of the outlets.

In this way, he said it would then supply electricity back into that daisy-chained group of outlets and lights. Is that correct? It seems logical, but I thought I'd get a 'second opinion'! Thank you!

On 2020-12-13 - by (mod) -

Valora

I may not have correctly understood, but if the electrician is seeing only 5 Volts right in the electrical panel then the problem is a bad connection or bad breaker in the electrical panel itself or in the meter feeding the panel.

Before re-wiring the house to address a problem detected in the panel, let's see if we can ask for a more-clear explanation.

Maybe the electrician could disconnect the misbehaving circuit at the breaker in the panel, then check voltage at (and probably replace) the breaker.

What are the brand of electrical panel and circuit breaker?

On 2020-12-07 by Preston - which wires in the main breaker box can I disconnect?

Witch 2 wires in the breaker box can u unhook and have no electricity

On 2020-12-08 - by (mod) -

The entry mains, but

Watch out, don't try it as you're likely to be shocked or killed.

On 2020-11-29 by Gene - Oregon rule on tenant vs mobile home property owner responsibility for electric service entry repair

Is the repair of open wire between manufactured home circuit panel and the yard utility company's meter post the tenant's ownship and responsibility in the state of Oregon. The park's policy states the electrical supply will be provided to the point of connection at tenant's space.

On 2020-11-29 - by (mod) -

Gene

I'm embarrassed to say I just can't sort out a "for sure" answer to the question.

Often the utility company considers that their responsibility stops at the service drop which in your case is at the "meter post".

Now we're left with an argument with the home park's management: where is the "point of connection" to your home? Probably it's at the meter post according to the park.

But if there is an electrical stand-post with electrical hookup right at your mobile home or manufactured home, as is often is the case, then that surely is provided by the park management and is your "point of connection" - in which case they are on the hook to repair any defect between that standpost and the utility company's meter and pole.

On 2020-10-11 by Lisa - dead outlet at doublewide

My sister has a double wide trailer and 1 wall outlets will not work. What could be the issue?

On 2020-10-11 - by (mod) -

Lisa

Often the problem is a loose or broken wire right at that wall receptacle.

Watch out: I don't advise trying to do your own (or your sister's) electrical repairs if you're not trained in electrical work, as you could be shocked or killed.

On 2020-08-17 by JEFFREY L WRIGHT - How do I disconnect the power to my trailer

How do I disconnect the power to my trailer so I can replace the main breaker

On 2020-08-20 - by (mod) -

Jeffrey

The electric company can come to the site and drop power.

But watch out: if you are not trained in safe, proper electrical work, you could still be shocked or killed. I apologize in that I know it's far too easy to sit far away and say "hire an expert' but an electrician would probably know how to swap the breaker using proper safety gear and procedures and avoid the whole call to the power company.

On 2020-03-29 by Suzanne Thiele-Thornton - which modular homes have an electrical post outside the home?

Did modular homes of the 1980's have electrical on a post outside of house?

On 2020-03-29 - by (mod) - location of the electrical meter & main switch on a post outside mobile home

Suzane

The location of the electrical meter and main switch on a post outside the home is site-dependent, not year nor modular vs stick-built - dependent, so it's certainly possible that a 1980's modular home used such a system. Typically from the post there is an underground feeder to the home's main electrical panel.

On 2019-11-22 by African violets - can I convert an existing mobile home electrical service to my name?

I am looking into buying a piece of property in GA that has a 1968 mobile home on it.

The mobile home is currently connected to an electrical service that is active. Do you know of any problems I may have in converting the account into my name based on the age of the mobile home?

Will it require an inspection and can I be turned down for service? The answer to this question will determine my offer on said property.

On 2019-11-22 - by (mod) - convert the mobile electrical service to my name?

Afri

You would be smart to have an actual home inspection by someone who is familiar with mobile homes and mobile home inspections; it would be unusual if there were NOT multiple repair or safety improvements needed, among which the condition of the electrical service, panel, and wiring are included.

Typically the switch-over of electrical billing from one owner to another is done at the utility company office, not by an onsite field inspector.

However if the utility company's meter-reader employee sees something obviously improper or unsafe when she comes to check the meter reading in person (as may occur), then the company could leave power to your home shut down until that condition is corrected.

In my OPINION you are flying very dangerously to make your offer on the home contingent only on the condition of the electrical hookup. That is not likely to be the only repair needed and it may not be the most-expensive one nor even the most dangerous one. Have an inspection. The cost of the inspection will be trivial compared with the cost of surprises that otherwise may be in store for you.

On 2019-10-24 by Debbie - Does a mobile home require a permit to construct an interior wall

Does a mobile home require a permit to construct an interior wall with no electrical or plumbing encased?

On 2019-10-27 by (mod) - ok to build a mobile home partition wall with no electrical receptacles?

"No electrical" probably is not code compliant. In general, in occupied spaces, all homes require an electrical receptacle to be within 6 feet in either direction from any point on an interior wall.

Have you asked your local building department?

 

Question: aluminum wiring in an older singlewide trailer rental in Florida

2019/01/12 Doug Rudder

I am thinking about buying a 1972 singlewide trailer for a rental in Florida ive researched and get 3 different years 1971, 1973,1976.I wish that I could get a concrete answer for sure when aluminum wiring was stopped being used and copper began.

Reply:

Doug

I understand why putting a date on the aluminum electrical wiring can be tricky, because there were different hazards reported both with "old technology" aluminum wire that was installed up to 1972, and "new technology" aluminum wire that was installed later but at least some of which was equally hazardous.

Bottom line: Instead of searching theory, have the home, including its electrical wiring actually inspected, to include the identification of aluminum electrical wired circuits.

If you find solid conductor aluminum electrical wiring in your home and the wiring has not been properly repaired, then you should consider it unsafe.

In my OPINON it is dead wrong and a dangerous mistake to even try to rule in or rule out the presence of an aluminum wiring hazard at a home simply by looking at the home's manufacturing or construction date alone.

Instead one should actually inspect the wiring in the home for the presence of aluminum electrical wire. That step can rule in or out the aluminum wiring hazard based on fact, not speculation.

Why take the factual, inspection approach? Because aluminum wire branch circuit conductors were sometimes installed in homes built both before aluminum wire was in common use as well as after. For example a home wired entirely with copper and built in 1955 might have had circuits installed using aluminum wire in 1972.

Similarly a home built in 1973 may have had an aluminum wire circuit added by an electrician using "new old stock" aluminum wire.

So take a look at ALUMINUM WIRING IDENTIFICATION

and have your electrician or home inspector actually look at the wiring - it's easy to identify aluminum conductors.

Finally: IF a home has had aluminum wiring installed, that wiring is unsafe and is a fire hazard UNLESS the wiring has either been replaced entirely with copper OR has been repaired using the two US CPSC approved connectors for pigtailing to copper: the AMP COPALUM or the AlumiConn. Both of those are discussed at this website.

Reader follow-up:

Doug Rudder

Thank you daniel I really appreciate your expertise in your answer.I think that I will pass on the home.

Question: older single wide power in living room keeps fading then coming back

2019/08/12 Amanda Finch

Our older single wide power in living room keeps fading then coming back to full power and panel was getting warm on lower right breaker for living room on upper left any way lights will dimmer ac will make noises then power will return changed lower right breaker that was getting warm but power still fading or dimming

Reply:

That sounds dangerous to me, Amanda since it may be due to an overheating wire or connector - a fire risk.
I suggest turning off that circuit until you can get an electrician to trace the circuit to find the defect.

 

On 2019-06-10 1 by Anonymous - lost power after using extension cords

We had full power in our shop and the outside plug in outlet. Then my son ran extension cords from the outside outlet to have power in his place, then hours later the power went out in our shop. About a week or longer the outside plug in outlet stopped working . Please help what do I need to do to get the power back on in our shop and the outside plug in outlet.

On 2019-06-11 by (mod) - lost power after using extension cords

If we are lucky it's simply a matter of unplugging the improper extension cords that your son hooked up and then resetting a circuit breaker or replacing a blown fuse. It sounds as if your extension cord was being used to run too many things and you overloaded the circuit.

If we're not lucky then there was a problem with a breaker or fuse and you may actually have a damaged wire or receptacle. So if resetting a circuit breaker or replacing a blown fuse doesn't fix the problem you're going to need help from an on-site electrician.

On 2019-04-23 by Charles - All my outlets go out at once

What may be the problem?

All my outlets go out at once and sometimes it like a power drop. What's funny is you can turn stove on power to outlets come on and sometimes vice versa

On 2019-04-23 by (mod) - when all power drops in the home at once

Charles

Often when all power drops in the home at once

AND there are no local power outages (check with your neighbours)

THEN the problem is at the service entry wiring or at the electric meter or at the main breaker in the electrical panel - such as a loose, corroded, or burned connection.

Watch out: there are fire and life-safety worries in this situation. You need onsite help from a competent, trained, licensed electrician.

On 2019-04-11 by Justin - do I have to put in a new power pole for my single wide mobile home?

I am fixing to
Move a single wide mobile home to property I own out in the country. Was told I have to buy a meter pole from electric company at the price of 800.00 that is to be outside of the home. I believe they mean a disconnect box that is to be between the meter the electric company puts in and the interior breaker panel is this correct?

And can’t I just use a disconnect box and a 8 ft pole with four feet under ground four above?

On 2019-04-11 by (mod) - homeowner may be required to provide utility poles to bring in electrical service drop

Justin

Depending on the distance from the electric utility lines a homeowner can be required to also buy a pole - so that the company can bring overhead wires to the home.

The main disconnect for a mobile home is often an outdoor (weatherproof) box and switch mounted on the pole or if the service entry wires run underground, mounted on a shorter post or standard along with the electric meter.

So no just a short pole 4 ft above ground - suitable for mounting a disconnect and meter) won't do if the lines have to come to your property overhead - we need a safe clearance underneath those overhead wires.

See details and some explanatory sketches found at ELECTRICAL SERVICE DROP https://inspectapedia.com/electric/Electrical_Service_Drop.php

Question: electrical power surging in trailers

(Oct 20, 2015) Kevin said:
Several trailers in my row have power serging. could this be a break in the common/neutral wire in my row,and how do I test it

Reply:

Kevin there are power monitors that can be connected to track power surges; a spot-check using a VOM or DMM may not catch intermittent surges. If you think that there may be damage to the common neutral or any other wiring, because there are serious risks of death from electrocution, it would be appropriate to immediately notify the property management both orally and in writing.

I don't recommend DIY power testing - it's dangerous.

Question: closet circuit breaker in mobile home keeps tripping

(Nov 20, 2015) Emma Valenzuela said:

I live in a dbl wide mobile home.about 2 weeks ago the circuit breaker in my closet kept tripping, something it has done for several years
when too much electricity is being used at one time.

I usually unplug the extra power (say the vaccume) and switch the breaker on and things are back to normal. Almost 2 wks ago, the breaker tripped and I unplugged all the power supplies to that breaker but as soon as I tried to reset the breaker it flipped off again and again.

I was unaware but a visitor at the house pulled out or removed the breaker. I don't know what he did to take it out but I am now left with extension cords running thru my house.

I tried to buy a new one at Lowe's but they had none. Then I was told by someone who claims to have a small amount of knowledge that he doesn't think it's the breaker but one of the outlets. I have no clue what to do or where to do it. I have no income and am trying to make it day to day.

The breaker removed says 2 pole cil KP-77. 120/240 V.A.C UND LAB INC.CU 8-14 AL 8-12.please, ANY help or info will be so much appreciated. Thank you

Reply:

Emma

Usually if a circuit breaker is tripping it's doing its job of protecting your home from a fire that might be caused by a short circuit or an overheating electrical circuit.

I would leave the problem circuit turned OFF and ask for help from a licensed electrician who will examine the circuit that's giving you trouble.

Tell us the brand on the circuit breaker and electrical panel and I may have other suggestions.

Watch out: In the U.S. and other jurisdictions locating an electrical panel in a clothes closet is prohibited - that in turn means that your home has an extra fire hazard, violates electrical code, and may have other unsafe electrical wiring installation details installed by the same person who put the panel in the closet.

See details at ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION PANELS where we list locations where an electrical panel or fuse box should not be installed.

Question: find an open wire connection in a manufactured home

(Jan 18, 2016) brent said:
I have a manufactured home ap-rox 30 yrs old. I have an open in the wiring. is there a j box I need to look for. all wiring is overhead.

Reply:

Brent, your electrician will trace power from the panel along the bad circuit - junction box by box. In newer manufactured homes connectors may be used to join circuits when the home is assembled. Sometimes we find that a pair plug-receptacle type connectors were left disconnected - an easy repair.

Question: changed some circuit breakers, now fridge won't come on.

2016/03/03 Stephanie said:
Had to change some breakers fridge or stove won't come on what could be the problem

Reply:

I can't guess from so little information, Stephanie. I'd follow the circuit to see where power is dropped. Your electrician will start at the electrical panel. I do not recommend that homeowners swap out circuit breakers unless they're trained, as there is a risk of death by electrocution or a house fire or both.

...

Continue reading at ELECTRIC POWER LOSS / FLICKERING LIGHTS, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

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