Plugged into 50 amp service this morning. Apparently didn't fully seat the connection from the cord to the camper. Fried the bedroom TV (lots of heavy thick smoke, we thought we had a fire) and fried the microwave.I only went back out to check the connections because, once we figured out that it wasn't a fire, I checked all outlets. They would barely spin the blades on the fan I plugged in. Once I gave the connection a 1/4 turn and fully seated it, the outlets functioned normally.Already replaced the TV and will pick up a microwave tomorrow. I'm concerned though, why didn't I trip breakers or blow fuses? Is there possibly something else wrong? Obviously I'm no electrician, I can't even fully seat a plug!

Can't answer the electrical query, but wondered - would this be considered as an item for your insurance to cover?

MTPockets1 wrote:Can't answer the electrical query, but wondered - would this be considered as an item for your insurance to cover?Probably, didn't even think of it, but the damage wouldn't rise to the level of the deductible.

stro1965 wrote: Once I gave the connection a 1/4 turn and fully seated it, the outlets functioned normally.Already replaced the TV and will pick up a microwave tomorrow. I'm concerned though, why didn't I trip breakers or blow fuses? Is there possibly something else wrong?It sounds like to me that because the twist lock plug wasn't seated you wound up with an open neutral on the 50A. You should give serious thought to installing a PI HW50C which would have protected the equipment. An open neutral can give you high/low voltage on either hot leg which sounds like your description.An open neutral won't trip the CB's because they protect the 2 hot lines and not high/low voltage on the neutral.

Check voltage at the pedestal Not seating the plug fully could have led to a poor connection which could cause low voltage, thus high amp draw, which could overheat the connections leading to burned plugs. A full inspection is in order before you try again. Get camp mgmt. to inspect their pedestal, you use a meter to verify proper voltage in your rig without load and as you add it, appliance by appliance. The poor connection may not be at the plug. Edit - open neutral will give a high/ low voltage

Everything seems normal at the moment...is it safe to continue camping this week until I can have it inspected?

Electrical problem today | Good Sam Community

time2roll
Nomad
Oct 06, 2014
stro1965 wrote:
At the risk of sounding stupid, how can I test my converter?
If the house fuse panel and house battery are holding about 13.6 volts all is good.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Oct 06, 2014
CA Traveler wrote:
stro1965 wrote:
Once I gave the connection a 1/4 turn and fully seated it, the outlets functioned normally.

Already replaced the TV and will pick up a microwave tomorrow. I'm concerned though, why didn't I trip breakers or blow fuses? Is there possibly something else wrong?
It sounds like to me that because the twist lock plug wasn't seated you wound up with an open neutral on the 50A. You should give serious thought to installing a PI HW50C which would have protected the equipment.

An open neutral can give you high/low voltage on either hot leg which sounds like your description.

An open neutral won't trip the CB's because they protect the 2 hot lines and not high/low voltage on the neutral.

THIS^^^^^^^

Up to 220V on one leg (which fried the TV and Microwave)
Way less than 110V on other leg as evidenced by the outlets that would barely work
stro1965
Explorer
Oct 06, 2014
Just googled the PI HW50C, sounds like a no brainer in the future. Would have saved me a major headache today. Based on other posts I've read, it seems like TV's, microwaves and converters are the most common victims of low voltage. At the risk of sounding stupid, how can I test my converter?
stro1965
Explorer
Oct 06, 2014
Everything seems normal at the moment...is it safe to continue camping this week until I can have it inspected?
SDcampowneroper
Explorer
Oct 06, 2014
Check voltage at the pedestal
Not seating the plug fully could have led to a poor connection which could cause low voltage, thus high amp draw, which could overheat the connections leading to burned plugs.
A full inspection is in order before you try again. Get camp mgmt. to inspect their pedestal, you use a meter to verify proper voltage in your rig without load and as you add it, appliance by appliance. The poor connection may not be at the plug.
Edit - open neutral will give a high/ low voltage
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Oct 06, 2014
stro1965 wrote:
Once I gave the connection a 1/4 turn and fully seated it, the outlets functioned normally.

Already replaced the TV and will pick up a microwave tomorrow. I'm concerned though, why didn't I trip breakers or blow fuses? Is there possibly something else wrong?
It sounds like to me that because the twist lock plug wasn't seated you wound up with an open neutral on the 50A. You should give serious thought to installing a PI HW50C which would have protected the equipment.

An open neutral can give you high/low voltage on either hot leg which sounds like your description.

An open neutral won't trip the CB's because they protect the 2 hot lines and not high/low voltage on the neutral.
stro1965
Explorer
Oct 06, 2014
MTPockets1 wrote:
Can't answer the electrical query, but wondered - would this be considered as an item for your insurance to cover?

Probably, didn't even think of it, but the damage wouldn't rise to the level of the deductible.
MTPockets1
Explorer
Oct 06, 2014
Can't answer the electrical query, but wondered - would this be considered as an item for your insurance to cover?

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