Electrical question

It's normal if you're drawing too much power. Other things can use lots of power, like your converter and water heater. Extension cords don't help either. And your plug must have good solid clean connections.

Is this in a CG? Many CG power systems are inadequate to handle lots of folks running air at the same time. And their pedestal connections are old and corroded.

Any time you get a hot connection it comes from that particular part having a high resistance connection compared to the rest of the circuit.

So, the cause can be in your part, or in the part that you are plugged in to. Among the possibilities are: 1)the wires in your plug are not connecting well to the actual connecting spades in your plug. 2) the spades on your plug have been overheated before, and have lost their conductivity.

On the other side, in the receptacle, the grippers that grip your spades may have overheated, and so it is like a loose connection.. or the wires to the receptacle may be loose.

Both of these conditions may be present at the same time even. An electrician with a couple of meters can determine the actual problem.

Was this running 120VAC from your house with an extension cord and a RV30A-15A adapter etc....

Roy Ken

You have to have 30 amps source or more to run the air conditioner. If not things get hot and will pop the breaker. My personal experience from home, LOL. Otherwise get your 5th wheel checked out.

It is high resistance where the heat is, nothing more, nothing less. You need to determine if it's your plug or the outlet. Most often the outlets are ruined by those folks plugging and unplugging without turning off the breaker.

No extension cords or adapters. Plugged directly into power source. It is in a camp ground like setting. I will check the plug thanks

power source = 30a service that you tester to make sure really IS giving you 30amps?

Saw a nifty toroid sender for AC the other day while web surfing. Clam shell design. No need to disconnect wire. Standard mv ouput for many AC ammeters

Kardar2,

A weak or dirty receptacle can cause the plug to heat and cause a drop in voltage. Compare the voltage at the campground receptacle to voltage inside the camper at a receptacle. That sounds like what you are describing.

My rule of thumb, if the interior receptacle is less than 110V with the air condition running it may cause problems. (Measure with AC running)

If the air conditioner evaporator and/or condenser get dirty that can also increase the current drawn. I wash my AC every couple of years.

Every RV AC problem I've ever had was due to a dirty unit. (Sometimes dirt daubers)

Thanks for the help