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Old 08-18-2013, 04:06 PM   #1
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Help 30 amp cord melted

Has any one ever had this happen to them.I went to disconnect my detachable power cord today to go home and I couldn't get it off .So after twisting and pulling for a half hour I just wrapped it around the bumper and went home . When I got home I took it all apart and found that the white wire had heated up and melted the prong to the receptacal. I dint experience any electrical problems all weekend . Even when I got home I plugged it in and everything worked fine.I now have to replace both the plug on the cord and the receptacle on the rv . Any help or suggestions would be appreciated . Thanks in advance
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Old 08-18-2013, 04:29 PM   #2
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Has any one ever had this happen to them.I went to disconnect my detachable power cord today to go home and I couldn't get it off .So after twisting and pulling for a half hour I just wrapped it around the bumper and went home . When I got home I took it all apart and found that the white wire had heated up and melted the prong to the receptacal. I dint experience any electrical problems all weekend . Even when I got home I plugged it in and everything worked fine.I now have to replace both the plug on the cord and the receptacle on the rv . Any help or suggestions would be appreciated . Thanks in advance
It makes you wonder if the cord and the trailer outlet didn't connect correct and there was arcing.
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Old 08-18-2013, 04:39 PM   #3
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It makes you wonder if the cord and the trailer outlet didn't connect correct and there was arcing.
Thanks for the reply, would that cause any interruption in power because we never lost power all weekend
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Old 08-18-2013, 04:54 PM   #4
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would that cause any interruption in power
Not necessarily. If you had a slightly bad/loose connection.......and was getting electrical arcing across the connection between the trailers outlet terminal(s) and the cord terminal(s).......it could still provide power ........up to the point something burned all the way thru. Sounds like your connection melted to the point of being fused together between them.

You usually hear about this kind of thing happening at the other end...where you plug your RV's cord into the campground's outlet.........due to bad/loose/worn out connectors in the campgrounds outlet.
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Old 08-18-2013, 06:08 PM   #5
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How much of a load were you pulling and for how long a time, i.e. A/C & Microwave: Microwave & hair driers; Hair driers & curling iron; Coffee pot & any of the previous. If you were pulling close to 30amps for and extended time this will melt a cord/plug connection too.
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Old 08-18-2013, 06:59 PM   #6
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I had that happen to me in my previous TT I did not have a EMS installed. It melted the Male end at the pedestal found out the park was low on power in my area and I was drawing to many amps. Had to run to Walmart and get a new cord for the rest of my trip. Now I have a EMS also check connections seen some melted.
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Old 08-18-2013, 07:07 PM   #7
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this use usually caused by a old plugin at the campground. People plugin and unplug without turning the breaker off.
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Old 08-23-2013, 07:08 PM   #8
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I fixed my melted cord ends and tested my power. After doing so, i wondered if the problem might be my breakers. I ran the air conditioner, toaster, hair dryer, and microwave all at the same time and never popped a breaker in the camper or the 30 amp at my house. I'm thinking this could be why i fried my cord. Any advise or help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
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Old 08-23-2013, 08:36 PM   #9
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Ok lets try this does any one know why a breaker wont trip when you purposely over load it .and could this melt my power cord
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Old 08-23-2013, 08:46 PM   #10
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I fixed my melted cord ends and tested my power. After doing so, i wondered if the problem might be my breakers. I ran the air conditioner, toaster, hair dryer, and microwave all at the same time and never popped a breaker in the camper or the 30 amp at my house. I'm thinking this could be why i fried my cord. Any advise or help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
WOW!. What do you have it plugged into at your house?
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Old 08-23-2013, 08:49 PM   #11
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its plugged into a 30 amp plug thats what is driving me crazy you would think one of the breakers would trip
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Old 08-23-2013, 11:24 PM   #12
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I would suspect that the connection that caused the melting was a poor connection. When there is a poor connection it causes high resistance at the connection. High resistance causes heat, as the connection heats up, more resistance is created until it is hot enough to cause the melting. At some point in time the connection probably corrected itself so you didn't see the problem in the usage of the powered items in the trailer. Since you are not overloading the circuit, the breaker won't trip. With the replacement of the melted plugs you probably won't have a problem, but I would occasionally carefully check the connection for heating up.

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Old 08-23-2013, 11:46 PM   #13
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I am going to correct 09grizzly1 a little. Not high resistance just some resistance. With as little as one ohm and 30 amp you are generating 90 watts off heat. Ever touch a 100 watt light bulb. Here the math ohm law voltage = amp x ohm. watts = amp x voltage.
Now that you are dropping 30 volts at the connection you are now trying to run the AC on 90 volts it is going to even try to pull more amps.
Now you can see how just a little corrosion/dirt could cause a problem.
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Old 08-23-2013, 11:50 PM   #14
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My bad and I know it only needs to be a small amount of resistance to cause a problem.

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Old 08-24-2013, 06:03 AM   #15
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Thank all of you for your replies I understand why the plug may have melted . My new ? is why wont any breakers trip when i intentionally over load them to test it. I had the AC ,toaster,hair dryer,and micro on and never tripped a breaker . I can remember when the AC was on and the wife dried her hair the breaker tripped every time before . So I was wondering if this is a problem and what it my be? Could it be the converter?Every thing is working fine and I'am not having any other issues with any thing else 12 v or 110. THanks again everyone hope someone can give me a answer.
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Old 08-24-2013, 07:16 AM   #16
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A loose or weak connection can and often will over heat.
Even a brand new power cord and a brand new male connection on your
trailer can do this. MY power cord plugs onto the trailer very easy.
It's not melted anything--yet but if it did, I would not be surprised.
Sometimes when they mold those cord ends they can get just a tiny bit
of plastic in between the contacts in the female end and it can cause
a weak connection and result in over heating.

Don't freak out on not tripping your breakers until/unless you use an
actual clamp on ammeter and KNOW for sure what current is passing
through a particular circuit. Unless you use a real meter you are guessing.

It sucks that you need a new cord and socket! Remember the old boaters
mantra- A boat is just a hole in the water you pour money into.
RVs can be considered land yachts!!

Fix it, move on,
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Old 08-24-2013, 07:35 AM   #17
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...
Don't freak out on not tripping your breakers until/unless you use an
actual clamp on ammeter and KNOW for sure what current is passing
through a particular circuit. Unless you use a real meter you are guessing.
I don't know. With everything he had on it sure seems like a reasonable guess that it was over 30 amps. It's not going to trip right at 30 right away, but does sound like you have good reason to have the breaker checked out (or actually, it's probably cheaper to just replace it).
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Old 08-24-2013, 07:41 AM   #18
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Originally Posted by jdefeo1 View Post
Thank all of you for your replies I understand why the plug may have melted . My new ? is why wont any breakers trip when i intentionally over load them to test it. I had the AC ,toaster,hair dryer,and micro on and never tripped a breaker . I can remember when the AC was on and the wife dried her hair the breaker tripped every time before . So I was wondering if this is a problem and what it my be? Could it be the converter?Every thing is working fine and I'am not having any other issues with any thing else 12 v or 110. THanks again everyone hope someone can give me a answer.
I agree with you,I know of (NO) other camper who can turn on all the (Heavy Load) components that you have at the (Same) time,and (Not) trip a breaker! You have a (Big) electrical problem!
You have a great chance of a (Fire) if not Checked before pluging & use agin! Youroo!!
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Old 08-24-2013, 10:04 AM   #19
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I agree with KyDan on checking the draw with a meter with all the electrical items on before condemning the breaker, although as BarryD0706 indicated it might be cheaper to just replace the breaker.

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Old 08-24-2013, 10:32 AM   #20
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Not religiously twisting and locking your connecting ring (while running the AC) will do this. Don't ask how I know...

PS not my photos. My connectors did not show water corrosion; just the burns.
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