can someone tell me what could have caused my plug to burn up? I have an rv with a 50 amp to 30 amp adapter plugged into a 30 amp plus outside. I just noticed the one side of the adapter on the 50 amp side was black & a little melted. so I checked the 30 amp plug at the house & it was melted on the same side. any help? I know I will need a new 30 amp extension cord & 30 to 50 amp adapter but want to figure out what caused it so not to happen again. thanks

Only a weak or otherwise poor connection wil cause that. Probably just worn. I would replace both.You should also be careful how much current your pulling through the 30A adapter. Only two large items (AC & water heater for example) at a time when on 30A.

^^^ True, although excessive amp draw could also do the same.

The most common cause is the connection not being properly installed and tightened.

Brian,Save some trouble and money. Only replace what was damaged and don't buy a whole new cord.The reason things are heat damaged is that they were not capable of carrying the load. Replace just those parts. But if you are not sure which was the bad part, replace both. It is very easy to do this if you are running a 50 amp coach on a lesser service. You have to be very careful. Matt

ScottG wrote: Only two large items (AC & water heater for example) at a time when on 30A.Actually that probably should be limited to ONE "large" item.....along with the stuff that you have little control over, like the battery converter/charger.If your 50 A unit has only ONE air conditioner, just that alone probably comes close to the 30 Amp limit.An overheated plug usually means a bad connection....or an overload....or a combination of the two.The original post was a bit unclear about exactly what he has.....mentioning a 30 amp extension cord at the end of the post.Normally one would use the regular 50 amp cord and the only 30 amp things in the circuit would be the adapter and the outlet.

burned plug | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

Matt_Colie
Explorer II
Sep 27, 2017
Brian,

Save some trouble and money. Only replace what was damaged and don't buy a whole new cord.

The reason things are heat damaged is that they were not capable of carrying the load. Replace just those parts. But if you are not sure which was the bad part, replace both.

It is very easy to do this if you are running a 50 amp coach on a lesser service. You have to be very careful.

Matt
harold1946
Explorer
Sep 27, 2017
The most common cause is the connection not being properly installed and tightened.
Bruce_Brown
Moderator
Sep 27, 2017
^^^ True, although excessive amp draw could also do the same.
ScottG
Nomad
Sep 27, 2017
Only a weak or otherwise poor connection wil cause that. Probably just worn. I would replace both.
You should also be careful how much current your pulling through the 30A adapter. Only two large items (AC & water heater for example) at a time when on 30A.

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burned plug

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