truck to camper power cord trying to melt

Here is a very interesting article on non conductive vs conductive grease.

I have used Dielectric grease for many years on electrical contacts where I wanted good contact and corrosion protection. Yes it is non conductive and also does not prevent metal to metal contact.

whiteeye42 wrote:

TNGW1500SE wrote:

YamaDooed wrote:
More than likely you had arcing in the plug... Clean and inspect both contacts add a lil dielectric grease and replace if they're bad...

Dielectric Grease is not supposed to be used between the contacts. Is is used to "cover" the contacts after they are put together. Electricity will not flow through the grease. Dielectric grease prevents corrosion when applied directly to metal connectors and though it works well for this purpose, it can sometimes cause a connection to stop working if not all of the grease is pushed out of the way between the points of contact inside the connector.

I beg to differ on this if this is the case why do they got dielectric grease on battery terminals and just the other day i watched to electricians put it on the contacts of a 13200 volt breaker when they racked it back in and when you change out say a taillight light bulb they give you a package of dielectric grease to put on the contact points of the bulb

Hey it's your connector you can do with it as you wish but, Dielectric grease is a non-conductive, silicone grease designed to seal out moisture and, therefore, prevent corrosion on electrical connectors. Being non-conductive, it does not enhance the flow of electrical current. This property makes it an ideal lubricant and sealant for the rubber portions of electrical connectors but Dielectric grease will melt "silicone" rubber over time, and thus should not be used on connectors, such as o-rings, that are made of this rubber. While the indicated use of dielectric grease calls for it to be used only on the non-metal parts of a connection, it has been shown to be effective at preventing corrosion when applied directly to the metal connectors as well. Care should be taken when using it in this way, because this application can, in some instances, cause the connection to stop working. A common reason for such a failure is that the grease has not been pushed entirely out of the way between the two points of contact. Dielectric grease is most widely used as a sealant for spark plugs, and is applied to the rubber boot of the plug wire. The grease not only helps the boot slide onto the ceramic portion of the plug, but prevents dirt, moisture, sand, and other foreign objects from contaminating the seal, and compromising the electrical current. But like I said it's your connector and you can use Dielectric grease for toothpaste if you want to ;)

TNGW1500SE wrote:

YamaDooed wrote:
More than likely you had arcing in the plug... Clean and inspect both contacts add a lil dielectric grease and replace if they're bad...

Dielectric Grease is not supposed to be used between the contacts. Is is used to "cover" the contacts after they are put together. Electricity will not flow through the grease. Dielectric grease prevents corrosion when applied directly to metal connectors and though it works well for this purpose, it can sometimes cause a connection to stop working if not all of the grease is pushed out of the way between the points of contact inside the connector.

I beg to differ on this if this is the case why do they got dielectric grease on battery terminals and just the other day i watched to electricians put it on the contacts of a 13200 volt breaker when they racked it back in and when you change out say a taillight light bulb they give you a package of dielectric grease to put on the contact points of the bulb

dave17352 wrote:
Drawing a lot of juice, probably through a little wire going to your trucks mail receptacle. Unless it is upgraded they usually put a little bitty wire to those. JMHO

I agree, there can be quite a load on that little wire. The fact that it got hot at the connector tells me that was the point of highest resistance.

YamaDooed wrote:
More than likely you had arcing in the plug... Clean and inspect both contacts add a lil dielectric grease and replace if they're bad...

Dielectric Grease is not supposed to be used between the contacts. Is is used to "cover" the contacts after they are put together. Electricity will not flow through the grease. Dielectric grease prevents corrosion when applied directly to metal connectors and though it works well for this purpose, it can sometimes cause a connection to stop working if not all of the grease is pushed out of the way between the points of contact inside the connector.

Drawing a lot of juice, probably through a little wire going to your trucks mail receptacle. Unless it is upgraded they usually put a little bitty wire to those. JMHO

When at home I cheat and use contact cleaner in a spray can...On the road Q-tips, wd-40 nail file... I try to stay away from abrasives as they scrape the tin coat of the connectors and then they seem to corrode even more...

What do I use to clean clean the contacts?

Sounds like a short circuit. Seeing as how the camper battery was down, I'm guessing you toasted it. Check it for water and or shorted cell.