melting plug
in the past 14 months i have had to replace the 30A plug that plugs into the rv parks box at least 3 times because 1 of the prongs overheats and melts my plug. need ideas on what might be the cause
Forum Discussion
- i think he is just a troll since he has not been back to even respond to any of the question that were posed to him about the problem
- It will be a very long time for the "Smart Plug" be approved by NEMA.
ScottG wrote:
It's sad but the industry's NEMA TT30R/P design is really under engineered IMHO. Many decades ago when it was created, there were no electric water heaters (in RV's) or micros, TV's, large battery chargers, etc. Just some lights and the occasional space heater. Then add in poor quality, off shore parts and it only gets worse.
We use a lot more of the capacity if these "trailer" circuits now and while they work OK when everything is perfect, they don't like running a constant load at anywhere close to their 30A rating.
It's too bad we can't switch over to the marine undustrys 30A receptacle for pedestals. It seems to hold up better.
The 30A twist lock used in marinas is worst than the RV 30. It is a 80 or 90 year old hospital design and routinely causes marina fires.
This is the new plug for marinas, however it would take years to convert everybody.
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/smartplug--combo-inlet-connector-30a-125v-white--17415258?&mrkgcl=481&mrkgadid=3202694706&cm_mmc=PS-_-Google-_-GSC%3ENonB%3EProduct%2520Type-_-17415258&product_id=17415258&creative=108421552324&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&lid=92700049310972060&ds_s_kwgid=58700005416296602&ds_e_product_group_id=301382160878&ds_e_product_store_id=&ds_e_ad_type=pla&ds_s_inventory_feed_id=97700000007545409&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt-323veQ5wIVEf5kCh3GfQzyEAQYAiABEgK1FPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.dsrhagfo wrote:
dustinl wrote:
in the past 14 months i have had to replace the 30A plug that plugs into the rv parks box at least 3 times because 1 of the prongs overheats and melts my plug. need ideas on what might be the cause
OP has not been back in like 8 days, if same park, bad pedestal outlet. Different parks likely too much draw.
How do you draw too much without tripping the parks breaker?ScottG wrote:
It's sad but the industry's NEMA TT30R/P design is really under engineered IMHO. Many decades ago when it was created, there were no electric water heaters (in RV's) or micros, TV's, large battery chargers, etc. Just some lights and the occasional space heater. Then add in poor quality, off shore parts and it only gets worse.
We use a lot more of the capacity if these "trailer" circuits now and while they work OK when everything is perfect, they don't like running a constant load at anywhere close to their 30A rating.
It's too bad we can't switch over to the marine undustrys 30A receptacle for pedestals. It seems to hold up better.
If you watch when people plug in and unplug, almost always the breaker is not turned off. It doesn't matter what kind of receptacle is used, none will escape damage from this kind of abuse. I always plug in multiple times to wipe the contacts and also use a sacrificial plug to save the power cord end.- It's sad but the industry's NEMA TT30R/P design is really under engineered IMHO. Many decades ago when it was created, there were no electric water heaters (in RV's) or micros, TV's, large battery chargers, etc. Just some lights and the occasional space heater. Then add in poor quality, off shore parts and it only gets worse.
We use a lot more of the capacity if these "trailer" circuits now and while they work OK when everything is perfect, they don't like running a constant load at anywhere close to their 30A rating.
It's too bad we can't switch over to the marine undustrys 30A receptacle for pedestals. It seems to hold up better. dustinl wrote:
in the past 14 months i have had to replace the 30A plug that plugs into the rv parks box at least 3 times because 1 of the prongs overheats and melts my plug. need ideas on what might be the cause
OP has not been back in like 8 days, if same park, bad pedestal outlet. Different parks likely too much draw.- If it's the same pedestal plug I agree with Flute and cavie. I've seen the same thing with automotive headlamp plugs. You notice the terminals on the headlamp bulb are burned so you get a new bulb. But the female part that the terminal goes into is burned just as badly. If you don't replace both parts it just repeats the damage over and over.
smarty wrote:
Have you checked the rig itself to see if it is "Hot"? You may have some sort of short that is drawing excessive power.
Excessive power trips circuit breakers. Bad/worn out receptacles on power pedestals causes power cord ends plugged into them to over heat and burn up.- Have you checked the rig itself to see if it is "Hot"? You may have some sort of short that is drawing excessive power.
