Cable TV connection

[Highwaymann]

Was camping this past weekend and watching cable TV on Friday nite. Got up Saturday morning and had no cable reception. Went outside and the connection on the post was tight. Opened the bay door where the connection is (along with the phone) and the cable was melted. It had gotten so hot that where the connection was made in the box, it had melted that too. Do I have a problem in the motorhome or was the problem with the connection with the post? I have a 2008 Coachmen Mirada. Thanks.

[tropical36]

Highwaymann wrote:
Was camping this past weekend and watching cable TV on Friday nite. Got up Saturday morning and had no cable reception. Went outside and the connection on the post was tight. Opened the bay door where the connection is (along with the phone) and the cable was melted. It had gotten so hot that where the connection was made in the box, it had melted that too. Do I have a problem in the motorhome or was the problem with the connection with the post? I have a 2008 Coachmen Mirada. Thanks.

Sounds like voltage was applied to the cable or lightning got into it. How did the TV fair through all of this? I'd first have the cable outlet checked to see what's there and if it's what it should be.

[Highwaymann]

Well changed the connection box in the compartment. Saw no damage or melting. Seem to think it melted the outside cable when I turned on the amplifier for the roof antenna. I have FIOS in the S&B so can't check. Am going camping on the 17th of May and they have cable hookup. We'll see.

[onrecess]

I stayed at a resort in HiltonHead with two posts to allow nose into canal view parking. Rainy. Hooked up cable last and got zapped. Spark was visable. Some screw up on power post. I hooked up to the other pedestal. Reported it... didn't really believe me until THEY saw the spark.

[B_s_Bunch]

has it quit raining yet? courius myself. hope its simple. Larry

[Highwaymann]

Thanks to everyone for your help. Going out today and see what is up in the motorhome. Been raining and I don't have the luxury of an enclousure. Come to think of it, I did turn on the box for the roof antenna when I first turned on the TV. Maybe that did it? I have to remove and replace the phone/cable connection box anyway since the connection melted it too. Will keep you posted.

[tommy_g]

This should NEVER happen! Something is dangerously wrong here. Have an electrician check it out and please let us know the results for future reference!

[rgatijnet1]

Highwaymann wrote:
Would it make a difference that the cable connection at the post was not grounded? I guess tomorrow after the rain stops I'll go look inside the compartment and behind the connection in the motorhome compartment. What would cause 120 volt to come in contact with the cable coax?

The cable connection at the post and at your coach should have been grounded, for the shielding on the outside of the cable. If it was not grounded at the post, that should not have caused it to overheat. It may affect the picture quality only.
You would have to look inside the box where the cable goes to see whether 12 volts or 120 volts caused the overheating problems. Either type of voltage could have caused too much current to come through the cable and overheat the insulation.
A 12 volt amplifier is usually present in many coaches, but it is usually ONLY at the antenna input cable from the roof, NOT the external RV Park cable TV input.

[Highwaymann]

Would it make a difference that the cable connection at the post was not grounded? I guess tomorrow after the rain stops I'll go look inside the compartment and behind the connection in the motorhome compartment. What would cause 120 volt to come in contact with the cable coax?

[rgatijnet1]

Cable TV connections usually only have a very small amount of voltage/current carried in the cable. Unless you are familiar with electrical issues, I would let an electrician look at the wiring inside of your cable box connection. It appears that for some reason, more current was trying to pass through the cable than would normally be present. This could have come from a short in either the 12 volt or 120 volt systems in your coach.
Something caused a short in the cable and that short caused so much current to run through the cable that it melted it. The problem needs to be found and corrected before it does more damage.

[CG_Dawson]

I think you have a problem in the MH. Do you have an electrical outlet as part of the box that contains the cable & phone connectors? If so I would suspect that. TV cable carries nothing to get hot.