Hosspuller,

Thank you for your reply.  In the picture, it looks like the black wires are connected to where you say the white (yellow, actually) wires should be connected (I assume the silver screw on righthand side is what you're terming as the "white terminal of the inlet.")  As you can see, the white (yellow) wires are connected to a screw that is coated with rust.

I assume the rusted terminal is the brass terminal is the one with all the rust on it.  The black wires appear to be connected by stainless steel hardware.  Switch them to the place where the white/yellow wires are now?

Thanks again,

Mike

Mike ... Sounds like the screws aren't original.  Don't try to go by the color code anymore.  It assumes they are in the right place, and you know where that is going to lead you.  (Although, if it is reversed, it would be charging the trailer frame.  The a/c unit could be a source of your leakage.

Check and measure.

Good advice.  Now here's a thought (I'll still do your tests as described earlier)...  I did some research and found that in a household outlet, the bigger slot on the left side is the neutral slot, the one on the right is the hot one.  The ground is, of course, centered below the two.

If you notice, the green ground screw is at the top of the inlet.  Let's picture the wiring as it leaves the outlet from the barn/generator.  Big slot on left side, littler one on right, ground below.  Now when the extension cord reaches the inlet, we're reversed 180 degrees on the outside of the trailer (ground is top, so neutral slot is on right side and hot is on left side).  Well, if we wire things the "traditional way" inside the trailer to the inside electrical outlet, with this 180 degree rotation at the inlet outside the trailer, then my black wire in the picture is actually electrically neutral.  The yellow wire is hot.  SO... the trailer is most likely reverse-wired.

Again, I'll doublecheck with your test, but I think I've figured this one out.

A couple of grounding questions.  The green wire appears to run up to the A/C...  I don't know how A/C systems are installed, but do they typically have ground/hot/neutral wires?  Short of removing the ceiling, I want to take an educated guess as to where this green wire ends up.  I assume it is NOT screwed into the trailer frame somewhere else, but runs to the A/C.

Also... how can I connect the inlet ground to the frame, short of running a wire out of the box and connecting it to a hole I drill in the frame?  I'll look for other options within the box's mounting hardware... maybe that will reveal some options short of this...  Seems odd that Silver Star would leave this wire unconnected from the factory...

Thank you,

Mike

Mike ... The a/c unit will have ground/hot/neutral wires.   

For grounding: The best practice is to take a wire to a hole drilled into the frame.  Grind the paint off and dab a bit of anti-oxidant between the bare metal connectors. Steel rusts and aluminum oxidizes.. This is a safety point so you don't want it to fail.  AND you won't know it's failed until you need it.

Look at all the posts on this forum about trailer running lights, brakes, turn signals, etc.  Most are problems based on a poor electrical ground.  These are only the 12 volt connectio.  You might reconsider the quality of the ground connection your life is depending on instead of a short cut.

Very true!!!  Who knows what would have happened!?!?  I don't get how such a connection could have been overlooked.

I rewired things as I said I would and did some tests.  Everything is ops normal now.  No more voltage leaking through the trailer frame to the ground.  Much better.

This weekend, I am going to buy NEW wiring and a new inlet and re-do this entire circuit with wiring I believe is trustworthy.  Not happy with the workmanship the trailer came with.

I suppose my best option is to run a wire out of the box, drill a small hole in the frame, and use that as my main ground attachment for now.  I'm not familiar with the grounding bus or how to install one.  I assume this would be done by connecting a grounding strap to the frame from the box, then connecting all other grounds internally to the box (the bus would be tied to the frame via the grounding strap.)  I'll see if I can find a grounding box at Lowe's.

Thank you ALL...  Feel much safer now... glad I'm not without my horses or MY WIFE who just happens to be 3 months pregnant with our 2nd child!!