50 amp cord end

[overhill7]

Recently purchased a used 50 amp cord to use as extension.
Thought I would test it before hooking to rv. With a test light either the ground or the neutral will light the light on either hot side. Is that normal?

[Bobbo]

I am still wayne_tw wrote:

overhill7 wrote:

Thought I would test it before hooking to rv. With a test light either the ground or the neutral will light the light on either hot side.

If I am reading this right,
1. the cord is not connected to the RV or an 50 amp outlet.
2. testing continuity, either hot side connects to the ground or neutral.

If that is the case, that cord has a dead short. It will immediately trip a circuit breaker, and depending on load, could create a serious, dangerous hazard.

I may be wrong, but the original post said he used a test light. A light won't light up without power, so I took that to mean the cord was plugged in.

[camperpaul]

Try Home Depot, Lowe's, and Menard's. In the electrical department.

[Bill_Satellite]

This what I used to replace mine and it works great. I found it at Camping World but most RV dealers carry these.
Camco replacement plug

[overhill7]

Not sure but I bet you find on Amazon.

[machunt]

Not to hyjack a post but i need to replace the male end on my cord any suggestions 50 amp male end

[Old-Biscuit]

Now do a continuity test on each wire.

[overhill7]

Thanks all.I appreciate the fast answers.

[RoyB]

This is the normal method for testing a 50-AMP RV connector using an AC multimeter when shore power is applied.



This is typical wiring of a 30A and 50Amp Pedestal


Please exercise caution when testing the two HOT contacts as 240VAC will be present here.

Roy Ken

[I_am_still_wayn]

overhill7 wrote:

Thought I would test it before hooking to rv. With a test light either the ground or the neutral will light the light on either hot side.

If I am reading this right,
1. the cord is not connected to the RV or an 50 amp outlet.
2. testing continuity, either hot side connects to the ground or neutral.

If that is the case, that cord has a dead short. It will immediately trip a circuit breaker, and depending on load, could create a serious, dangerous hazard.

[Bobbo]

With the extension cord plugged into an outlet, you should have 110v Neutral to Hot 1, 110v Neutral to Hot 2, 110v Ground to Hot 1, 110v Ground to Hot 2, so yes, it should light up as you describe.

You will also have 0 volts from Neutral to Ground so the light should NOT light up, and 220v from Hot 1 to Hot 2 which may burn out your light if it wasn't designed for 220v use.

[tvman44]

Yes, perfectly normal as the neutral & ground are bound together at the main panel. 🙂

[rrupert]

That doesn't seem normal. Is this cord a factory made cord with the ends molded to the cable? Are both ends configured to the same type plug, in other words, can you plug the one end of the extension into the other end? If so, there is something wrong.

[ScottG]

Yes, normal because Neutral and ground are connected together back at the main panel.

Cheers,
Scott