pedestal receptacle

50A plugs are usually in better shape so if available use an adapter. Check with a flashlight and you might see a problem.

Standard nitrile gloves when used bone-dry offer plenty of insulation. I toss a rubber mat down and wear plastic shoes. When I switch wires, it is one at a time after I verify their proclivity for polarity and ensure the service has earth ground.

And COMPLAIN.

Doggone it, those campgrounds are charging to provide a service and they have both the parts and the people to change them out.

The "fact" (and I believe it IS fact) that people plug their coach in with the pedestal ON and the Coach A/C and Water Heater ON, and Unplug with stuff ON and not turning the Pedestal Breakers OFF, doesn't change your right to expect a proper connection.

We have to practice "load shedding" at State Parks in Summer. The 15000 A/C plus Converter means we don't use the Water Heater on Electric. Also means that we get to choose one more high-draw appliance like Coffee Maker or Toaster or Microwave... I do MY part. Campground needs to do THEIRS.

EDIT: In what I'll call a "proper" campground pedestal, the Breaker can be pulled out like you can at home. Then all you have to do is avoid the same "bus" that you must avoid in a home breaker box. Then you can replace Breaker, Receptacle, Wiring, etc.

But some CG's and Marinas have gone to these space age plastic ones
that have to be handled live ***OR*** shut the whole loop off. Reminds me of cars. The designers never had do work on one.

Hi,

Sounds as if you may also have a voltage drop issues. Do you track the voltage?

What are you running in the RV?

Do not change out the campground receptacle. Make the campground do it or ask to go to another site.
I do carry a spare male cord body for the rig. I have not had to change mine on the road but did provide it to another RV.
Yes, normally the 50 amp receptacle is in a little better shape. Using the 50/30 adapter may save some issues.

I wasn't suggesting we repair campground pedestals. Cheap as 30A receptacles are... is $8 on Amazon...I just might give one away to a campsite that'd install it for me and ease my problems for a week or two.

I agree the 50A's are the best followed by the 30A's but the 20A are generally badly worn (I use them for my WH).
When ever 50A is available I use it for my 30A trailer. Even when 30A's seem to be fairly tight they sometimes fail with the AC running.

oldtrojan66 wrote:
I would not have thought this such a frequent problem, but twice now, only at Indiana state parks I have found loose female receptacle in the pedestal. Each was loose enough to burn the spade on my power cord. I replaced it once, but the second time was only two stops later. Do I need to carry a dozen spare ends? I have worked some with electrical receptacles on ranges and dryers, but then I have access to the house breaker box to change out the receptacle. Can't to that here, and by the time I notice the problem (heat) it's usually too late to call the maintenance people to fix. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Don't camp in cheap, poorly maintained, shoddy campgrounds with poor electrical outlets. Sounds like your state parks are not up on current maintenance for their pedestals.

NinerBikes wrote:

oldtrojan66 wrote:
I would not have thought this such a frequent problem, but twice now, only at Indiana state parks I have found loose female receptacle in the pedestal. Each was loose enough to burn the spade on my power cord. I replaced it once, but the second time was only two stops later. Do I need to carry a dozen spare ends? I have worked some with electrical receptacles on ranges and dryers, but then I have access to the house breaker box to change out the receptacle. Can't to that here, and by the time I notice the problem (heat) it's usually too late to call the maintenance people to fix. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Don't camp in cheap, poorly maintained, shoddy campgrounds with poor electrical outlets. Sounds like your state parks are not up on current maintenance for their pedestals.

I full time and it is not just cheap CG's it's all the CG's.

Those outlets are used 1,000 times more than what they were made for. With people yanking them out by the cord to add to it.

In my experience CG's don't replace them when they are worn. Throw a tester on it and you almost invariably will also find an open ground.

I have gone to the owner of several CG's when I come across this and most of the time they say "it's fine just a little loose".

My response is fix it or move me to another site or refund my money period.

IMHO it IS the one repair that CG's don't stay on top of. Their theory is if there is electric to it, it's good to go. :(

Most folks treat campground equipment like they do a rental car