Woke up to this (burned 50 amp plug)

[sengli]

Re: Woke up to this

Had a similar issue last trip last season. It was cold so we were running the fireplace and a separate space heater in the coach. After a day or two the breaker on the post tripped. When I went out to see what was going on, the post smelled like burning insulation. And the HOT leg on my 30 amp cord was smoking hot. It actually melted the socket in the post. I reported it to the campground crew, and they havent done anything yet to fix it. Basically we were drawing excessive amounts of current for the connection to handle. The breaker should have tripped sooner in the post.

 

[mlpeloquin]

Re: Woke up to this

High contact resistance causing heat high enough to melt your connector can also be do to heavy oxidation. I use Deoxit on the 50A or 30A park connectors as well as my truck connection. The contacts on the truck seven pin trailer connector and harness connector. When I installed a inverter and two six volt batteries, the cord became hot to the touch. The heating was from high current flowing through oxidized contacts. Once cleaned with Deoxit the cable is always cool to the touch.

https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-D5S-6-D...ie=UTF8&qid=1522683750&sr=8-2&keywords=deoxit

 

[MikeR]

Re: Woke up to this

I also use DeOxit on my electrical connections. The connector that needs to be sprayed every time we hook up is the campground female connector. With the circuit breaker off, I will give the female connector a good spray of DeOxit. Then, with the power still off, I will plug in and remove my cable a few times. This will remove the oxidation from the park connector.

 

[WBG]

Re: Woke up to this

High contact resistance causing heat high enough to melt your connector can also be do to heavy oxidation. I use Deoxit on the 50A or 30A park connectors as well as my truck connection. The contacts on the truck seven pin trailer connector and harness connector. When I installed a inverter and two six volt batteries, the cord became hot to the touch. The heating was from high current flowing through oxidized contacts. Once cleaned with Deoxit the cable is always cool to the touch.

https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-D5S-6-D...ie=UTF8&qid=1522683750&sr=8-2&keywords=deoxit

Thanks for the tip. Will order some today.

 

[david-steph2018]

We had the same issue several years back in Terra Haute, Ind. Campground said "that is what happens when you plug a 50 amp into a 30 amp socket" My reply was our Loredo is just 30 amps. This is what happens when there is only 1 screw holding the plug to the post and the wires become loose. I actually had to pry our camper cable loose with a screwdriver to come home.

 

[itinerants]

Re: Woke up to this

Thanks for the tip. Will order some today.

I too appreciate the tip. I'm also placing a similar order before I have any issues

Sent from my SM-T377T using Tapatalk

 

[pjones1969]

Re: Woke up to this

High contact resistance causing heat high enough to melt your connector can also be do to heavy oxidation. I use Deoxit on the 50A or 30A park connectors as well as my truck connection. The contacts on the truck seven pin trailer connector and harness connector. When I installed a inverter and two six volt batteries, the cord became hot to the touch. The heating was from high current flowing through oxidized contacts. Once cleaned with Deoxit the cable is always cool to the touch.

https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-D5S-6-D...ie=UTF8&qid=1522683750&sr=8-2&keywords=deoxit

Thanks for this, ordered some yesterday, we’ve had one campground pedestal shut down on us, when I investigated the cord was very hot, never experienced that before.

 

[wdk450]

I'm glad everybody is getting on the clean electrical contacts with electrical contact cleaner/restorer (preferably Caig DeOxIt) preventative measure for the shorepower plugs/outlets.

Please don't forget the preventative measure for you and every RVer who plugs into that shore power socket after you, of MAKING SURE THE SHORE POWER BREAKER SWITCH IS TURNED OFF BEFORE PLUGGING IN AND AGAIN BEFORE UNPLUGGING YOUR SHOREPOWER CORD. The electrical arcs on the metal contact surfaces caused by plugging/unplugging with the shore power live is what starts this CONTACT DEGENERATIVE COMMUNICABLE DISEASE, and the heat and resulting corrosion under electrical loads is what SPREADS this VIRUS to other RVers. Your brand new shorepower plug prongs can be corroded by just 1 night plugged into a poor outlet and pulling electrical loads; and a brand new shorepower outlet installed by the RV park owner can be corroded by just 1 night of electrical loads connected to a corroded shorepower plug. I have seen this happen in my own experience.

 

[porthole]

And - as long as you are going to add a contact cleaner to your toolbox - something else to consider is adding a non contact voltage tester.

Check your steps after plugging in.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EJ332O/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[mlpeloquin]

If you do not know much about electricity, then get the book RV Electrical Safety. https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=RV+electrical+safety

Along with a decent multimeter. https://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-...3032069&sr=8-3&keywords=klein+tool+multimeter

And a circuit tester https://www.amazon.com/Greenlee-GT-...qid=1523032201&sr=1-21&keywords=socket+tester

I did not need the book, but I have seen it recommended on the FORM so I got it. It is an inexpensive easy read. Follow the testing described in the book and all will be fine. By the way, I don't like the cheep socket testers. I had one show a good socket when I had an open ground and another slightly flicker the light and then go out on an open ground.

 

[david-steph2018]

I used my Simpson 260. I also have a Fluke and a clamp-on amp meter. All of my meters are at least 30+ years old, but they still work just fine. The book may give me a hand so I think I will go ahead and get one.

 

[mlpeloquin]

The Simpson 260 will out last our grandchildren.

 

[porthole]

My Simpson came from my Dad, who got it from his Dad. I've had it over 40 years. Has to be 60+ years old.