Forum Discussion

07ROO233's avatar
07ROO233
Explorer
Mar 08, 2015

Cable TV Cables

While camping last summer, the cable tv suddenly stopped. I wen out to check the connections and burned my finger on the connectors. I contacted the management and they came and looked and speculated that someone had connected there sattelite tv system to the campground's cable system. We "fixed" the melted cable end and connector. How ever shortly after our cable stopped working. Does anyone know where else there are connectors in a 2014 Rockwood Roo 233S? I need to check the connectors.
Thanks.
Chris

9 Replies

  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Mar 17, 2015
    Could be either or miswired pedestal plug. One test to connect a voltmeter to a well grounded metal pipe like a water pipe and measure from there to the cable coax or the rig coax. Or without any cable connection measure between the two coaxes.
  • 07ROO233's avatar
    07ROO233
    Explorer
    Mar 17, 2015
    CA Traveler wrote:


    A hot connector says that either your rig or the cable system has a problem. Several have reported a hot cable ground which caused exactly what you described.

    When you say a hot cable ground, are you referring to the campgrounds cable, or something in my trailer?
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Mar 10, 2015
    You may indeed have an electrical issue even though the appliances work. Plugging into a GFCI can help make sure you don't have a ground fault problem.

    A hot connector says that either your rig or the cable system has a problem. Several have reported a hot cable ground which caused exactly what you described.

    I don't know where your spilters are located. They may be in a somewhat common place but production changes are often made on the fly - welcome to your RV.

    Wire tracer might be a better description. Basically you connect one end of the wire to the transmitter and then use the remote receiver to trace the wire. Kinda of a geeky thing.
  • KD4UPL's avatar
    KD4UPL
    Explorer II
    Mar 09, 2015
    Your hot coax connector was not caused by anyone's satellite system. You had a lot of current flowing on the ground braid for some reason. That's a very bad situation. It's almost certainly something in your RV that is causing that. A very competent RV electrician would need to look things over to find the problem.
  • 07ROO233's avatar
    07ROO233
    Explorer
    Mar 09, 2015
    Fortunately the tv is fine. I got over the air to work today and a dvd. There was enough heat to burn my hand and melt the end of the coax at the connection where the cable enters the trailer. I don't know where the next junction is. That's what I'm trying to get help with. I'm fearful that it is in the ceiling, but I don't know.

    Thanks for any and all help.
  • TInmania's avatar
    TInmania
    Explorer
    Mar 09, 2015
    For clarity, does the TV work via any other method, such as DVD, or antenna? In other words is it for certain that the only issue is from the outside cable connector to the inside of the trailer?

    I would think current strong enough to melt cable would be strong enough to damage whatever was connected at the other end, be it a TV/cable switch, antenna booster, or TV itself.




    Michael
  • 07ROO233's avatar
    07ROO233
    Explorer
    Mar 09, 2015
    CA Traveler wrote:
    A hot connection implies that excessive current was flowing when there should be none. You rig cable and the cable should both be grounded. I doubt that this came from someones satellite system. To bad you didn't measure the voltage from the cable to your rig grounds.

    Plug your rig into a GFCI circuit and turn on various equipment to make sure it's not your rig. I have had no electrical issue with the trailer.
    Typically the cable goes to the OTA switch or an independent switch to choose between OTA and cable. Then on to splitters to the various TVs.
    Any idea where those connections/splitters are?
    Does the OTA work?
    [COLOR+#ff0000]Yes Over the air works
    Run a temp coax from a known good cable to the TV to determine that the TV is OK.
    TV works fine
    Use a wire tracer to trace the coax.
    I am not familiar with a cable tracer. What is that?
    Check each segment for opens and shorts. At this point I'd consider just replacing each connector as they and a crimper are inexpensive. Or connect a TV to each segment down the line to see where it stops working.


    Thanks for any and all assistance!
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Mar 08, 2015
    A hot connection implies that excessive current was flowing when there should be none. You rig cable and the cable should both be grounded. I doubt that this came from someones satellite system. To bad you didn't measure the voltage from the cable to your rig grounds.

    Plug your rig into a GFCI circuit and turn on various equipment to make sure it's not your rig.

    Typically the cable goes to the OTA switch or an independent switch to choose between OTA and cable. Then on to splitters to the various TVs.

    Does the OTA work? Run a temp coax from a known good cable to the TV to determine that the TV is OK.

    Use a wire tracer to trace the coax. Check each segment for opens and shorts. At this point I'd consider just replacing each connector as they and a crimper are inexpensive. Or connect a TV to each segment down the line to see where it stops working.

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