Electrical problem today

[stro1965]

Plugged into 50 amp service this morning. Apparently didn't fully seat the connection from the cord to the camper. Fried the bedroom TV (lots of heavy thick smoke, we thought we had a fire) and fried the microwave.

I only went back out to check the connections because, once we figured out that it wasn't a fire, I checked all outlets. They would barely spin the blades on the fan I plugged in. Once I gave the connection a 1/4 turn and fully seated it, the outlets functioned normally.

Already replaced the TV and will pick up a microwave tomorrow. I'm concerned though, why didn't I trip breakers or blow fuses? Is there possibly something else wrong? Obviously I'm no electrician, I can't even fully seat a plug!

[SDcampowneroper]

Check voltage at the pedestal
Not seating the plug fully could have led to a poor connection which could cause low voltage, thus high amp draw, which could overheat the connections leading to burned plugs.
A full inspection is in order before you try again. Get camp mgmt. to inspect their pedestal, you use a meter to verify proper voltage in your rig without load and as you add it, appliance by appliance. The poor connection may not be at the plug.
Edit - open neutral will give a high/ low voltage

[CA_Traveler]

stro1965 wrote:
Once I gave the connection a 1/4 turn and fully seated it, the outlets functioned normally.

Already replaced the TV and will pick up a microwave tomorrow. I'm concerned though, why didn't I trip breakers or blow fuses? Is there possibly something else wrong?

It sounds like to me that because the twist lock plug wasn't seated you wound up with an open neutral on the 50A. You should give serious thought to installing a PI HW50C which would have protected the equipment.

An open neutral can give you high/low voltage on either hot leg which sounds like your description.

An open neutral won't trip the CB's because they protect the 2 hot lines and not high/low voltage on the neutral.

[stro1965]

MTPockets1 wrote:
Can't answer the electrical query, but wondered - would this be considered as an item for your insurance to cover?

Probably, didn't even think of it, but the damage wouldn't rise to the level of the deductible.

[MTPockets1]

Can't answer the electrical query, but wondered - would this be considered as an item for your insurance to cover?