Long story short, the shore power cable wound up somehow trailing itself out onto the roadway and it's destroyed. The problem is, I can't figure out where and how it is connected to be able to replace it. It goes into the RV in the rear behind the master bedroom, but there doesn't see to to be a way to get at it from the inside. It isn't underneath the bed (which lifts up).Has anyone else had this issue?

Install an inlet and your cord can be deatched. I have a main and a spare. Inlet: http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/30-a-rv-power-inlet/28231Whole Kit: http://www.amazon.com/Marinco-30ARVKIT-Detachable-Power-Conversion/dp/B000NUYZQCPark Power Cord: http://www.dyersonline.com/park-power-30-amp-25-locking-rv-power-cord.htmlOther option is to find the junction box. The cord may go all they way to the convertor with no junction.

Is there enough left that you could put on a new end and buy an extension?Jose

It's likely that your power cord connects to the central AC power center of the RV - where your circuit breakers, transfer switch, converter are located. It's usually very easy to replace - available at any RV parts outlet.

DaHose wrote:Is there enough left that you could put on a new end and buy an extension?JosePossibly. It took damage pretty close to the back of the RV.

ksg5000 wrote:It's likely that your power cord connects to the central AC power center of the RV - where your circuit breakers, transfer switch, converter are located. It's usually very easy to replace - available at any RV parts outlet.The converter is at the middle of the RV under a dinette seat. The breakers are up at the front of the RV near the front door. If that's where it's connected, I have no idea how I would route the replacement back in since it would be in the walls/floor/whatever.

Destroyed shore power cable - how to replace? | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

JoeTampa
Explorer
May 13, 2015
Thanks everyone. I wound up cutting off the last 6' or so that was damaged and putting a new plug on it. I'll use an extension cable when necessary. We never did find where the cable is connected in the RV.

Joe
TInmania
Explorer
May 06, 2015
There will definitely be a way to get to it. On my previous TT it was under the bed but not apparent right away. There was another "box" in the rear that I had to pretty much take the whole mattress off to get to. There was where the cable "coiled" (more like tangled) into and the junction it was attached to.

That said when mine dragged 30 miles and wore down the plug I just replaced it with this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HFT034

Mike
joebedford
Nomad II
May 06, 2015
My previous RV had a fixed cable. I had to coil the cable into a compartment to stow it. The other end of the cable was not visible - I had to remove underbelly material to access the hidden junction box. From there it to the transfer switch which was near the breaker panel.
DaHose
Explorer
May 06, 2015
Based on what you have explained to us, your shore cable is permanently connected to the RV. That would mean it must live behind a panel door. I would definitely put a new end on it and use an extension. You might even be able to do something with putting a circuit protector in a box and connecting that to your stub coming out of the RV.

Jose
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
May 06, 2015
It must be accessible, so just keep searching.
pianotuna
Nomad III
May 06, 2015
Hi,

Add a male plug to the "stub" of the cable. Buy a new cord from Walmart. I did this deliberately myself.
Winnebago_Bob
Explorer
May 06, 2015
In our last camper it was connected directly inside the access panel. I had to pull a panel off the bottom of the wardrobe on the street side of the camper and stand on my head to change it out.

No biggie.
fla-gypsy
Explorer
May 06, 2015
Check in all nightstands, cabinets and closets. There is an access point somewhere and it feeds into a junction box. Once located it is an easy replacement.
Matt_Colie
Explorer II
May 06, 2015
Joe,
You know you are the first person to ever do this, or leave a hose out (connected is worse). It is actually hard to make and original mistake.

I know nothing of your specific RV, so this will be couched in generalities, and everybody knows that generalities are typically in error. I don't even know if it is set up for 30 or 50 amp service.
The shore power cable may connect directly into the AC breaker box feed if you don't have a generator or will connect to the transfer switch if it does have a generator. Find those first. Transfer switches are often well hidden, but they are an at least brick sized box and have three cables attached.

Given those cases, if I were to quote this repair, the first thing I would do is track the shore power cable back to one of the connections mentioned above. As the cable may have been damage anywhere along, the first thing I would do is cut it close to the RV. (With all AC disconnected.) Then I would do basic check to insure that the cable is intact from there to where it goes. I would get a cable end twist lock male connector (either 5L-30 for 30 amp and 14L-50 for 50 amp) and strip and connect that to the remaining cable. The L in the connector means it is a twist lock, and you want to buy both the male and female.

Get a cable as long as you want for your shore power and put the appropriate connectors on there. The insulation colors all go to specific pins and that is pretty much all there is to it.

Now, you also have a option. If you can shorten your damaged cable and use it, you can then a hunk of matching cable and another male/female ends and make an extension for the times you might need it.

Matt
RoyB
Explorer II
May 06, 2015
Your 30AMP Shore Power Connection eventually goes to the POWER DISTRIBUTION PANEL where the CIRCUIT BREAKERS are located much like this WFCO pictorial diagram shows.

It probably goes to a ELECTRICAL JUNCTION BOX first where wiring connections are made before going on to the POWER DISTRIBUTION PANEL. Should not be too hard of job once you locate where the shore power goes inside your trailer.

As others have stated this would be an excellent time to install an external shore power cable connection that uses a 30AMP Extension Cords with plugs on both ends...

Available from AMZON

Will look like something similar to this on the outside of your trailer when completed

Just something to think about...

Roy Ken