Arcing sound from rear of rig

[Ropdoc]

Hello all. I woke this morning to the sound of electrical arcing and rattling from the rear of my 4th wheel. Each time it made the sound lights and TV would go off but then come right back on. I thought maybe a squirrel chewing into the power cord. But I could not see anything. I checked the connection of the power cord at both ends and it is good. I've shut down the power and will go to buy a new cord. I have no idea what it is .

[cavie]

If you are hearing rattling noise then I'm going to assume you gave a Generator and a transfer switch. If no generator then there is no transfer switch. Transfer switch will rattle with a problem connection. That's is where I would start. Check ped and trailer connections. If your hearing just buzzing or cracking noise it a loose burning electric connection.

[SidecarFlip]

I regularly put di-electric grease on my plug prongs and make sure they are bright clean and free of oxidation. Never had an issue, don't expect to.

[newman_fulltime]

If you have a auto transfer switch it could be going bad and causing these symptoms

[Gjac]

I would open the fuse box and tighten every connection with a screw driver they can come lose after many miles of bumpy roads.

[Lynnmor]

Many slide outs use a cheap connector to connect wiring within the slide. If only the lights within the slide are affected, then check for that problem.

If the bad connection is inside the RV, you have a fire hazard.

[Ropdoc]

The fuse box is in the rear of my rig. The issue is not at the pedestal. When it makes the sound I can feel it in my floor at the rear.

[schlep1967]

Flute Man wrote:
Call me please. I am an electrical troubleshooter.
Suggest you find an electrical person to help you.
You may have a loose connection in your power distribution panel.
Lights are 12 volt so check battery and converter connections.
Also inverter if you have one.
Jerry Parr
602-321-8141

Not all lights are 12 volt. We have some that plug into 120, just like the TV that he also said is losing power.
If he is hearing it arcing inside the trailer I would suspect a loose wire inside the unit. Possible an outlet.

[Flute_Man]

Call me please. I am an electrical troubleshooter.
Suggest you find an electrical person to help you.
You may have a loose connection in your power distribution panel.
Lights are 12 volt so check battery and converter connections.
Also inverter if you have one.
Jerry Parr
602-321-8141

[RoyB]

More info will be needed.... Is this where the campground electric pedestal panel is located...

I would look at the pedestal connection for sines of arcing... The 30A side really get used more than the 50A side...

Your visible socket before plugging in may look like this...


Google image

If you plug your shore power cable into this socket it will start arcing and end up looking like this...


Google image

You will have to replace a plug if it looks like this...

What I do sometimes if I find the 30A side bad like shown above will plug into the 50A side using a 50A to 30A long power adapter… This only taps into one side of the 50A service and will be safe to use on your 30A Trailer...


Google Image...

Reading up on 'NO SHOCK ZONE' online can give you a lot of good info for things like this happening...

Hope this helps... I'm just guessing on where the arcing is coming from...

Roy Ken