plug failures

Odd. Are the internal wire connections good and solid?

wannavolunteerFT wrote:
I had my 30 amp trailer cord plugged into a 30 am extension cord and it was just laying on the ground exposed to a tremendous rain storm over night with water standing briefly. The two plugs were almost melted together. It was very hard to separate them when I went to leave. Replaced both plugs and now use a weather proof box for connections.

I made my own version using inexpensive Plano Shot Shell Boxes ... keeps the 30 amp connection totally dry no matter how hard it rains ... or snows. :E

Not much to say except to disassemble and inspect.

I carry a fifty to thirty adapter. When I find a broken or electrically damaged thirty amp receptacle I use the adapter.

Hi smk,

That is exactly what I am saying. They were never plugged directly into shore power and they were never connected under load. Further I had limited the current to a maximum of 13 amps to prevent the shore power breaker from tripping.

smkettner wrote:
Are you saying you bought these two items and plugged them into each other and they have burn marks from 15 amps? Was power off when you plugged in?

RoyB wrote:


I won't use a campground pedestal if it looks like this google photo... These will just burn up your good 30AMP Plugs...



Roy Ken

Then what do you do? Go without electricity?

poor connections, over loading, low voltage, high resistance due to corrosion..... Steel Brush you connectiors until they are clean and bright, and use dielectric lubricant on pins.

Roy,
Like I said, hot swapping is probsbly the biggest cause. Next is probably a heavy cord always trying to unplug itself.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

Why would a 30 amp plug connected to a 15 amp shore power show evidence of heating to the point of showing brown marks? The burns are on the "wide" blade. If I was pushing 30 amps from a 30 amp shore power I could understand some heat stress. It appears to be worse on the female plug.

Voltage under the greatest load was 106, and more often was about 112.

The plugs in question are:



and

Are you saying you bought these two items and plugged them into each other and they have burn marks from 15 amps? Was power off when you plugged in?

does the connection get wet? I had my 30 amp trailer cord plugged into a 30 am extension cord and it was just laying on the ground exposed to a tremendous rain storm over night with water standing briefly. The two plugs were almost melted together. It was very hard to separate them when I went to leave. Replaced both plugs and now use a weather proof box for connections. I ordered from Amazon, but Home Depot (and probably other places have them.

Depending on exactly where I park at home, I have to use extension cord and have used this box for 2-3 months at a time, with absolutely NO moisture intrusion.