How to Weatherproof new shoreline power cord connectors

[DAS26miles]

My new ordered MH will be coming with the screw in external connector on the side of the MH with probably a 25 foot 30 amp cord . My current MH uses the older style where I disconnect the shoreline power cord from the generator in a small compartment. I have a 25 foot extension 30amp cord that I attach to a 30amp exterior power box on the side of my house. I don't want to be using the new power cord exposing it to the elements day in and day out. So I see I can buy a pigtail that will screw into the twist-on connection on the side of the MH. Then connect my current power cord to the male end of the pigtail. However, the pigtail is 18" long and the connection of the pigtail and old power cord will be uncover and exposed to rain. Any suggestions as to how to prevent water intrusion and possible shock?

[wa8yxm]

Shore cord to trailer is a Marinco connector .. They are designed to be very water resistant.

If you want to "Extend" I do not weather proof but I can weather resist. you need two thins

one is a modified plastic tool box I cut notches in the ends to pass the cords and drilled holes to drain any water that enters the tool box. These are cheap boxes.. Set it atop any riser (Milk crate, for example)( and sand bag it agains falling off and you have a very weather resistant connection,.

Or set the milk crate on it's side. Tie trhe box to the top side, and set weight (Couple gallons of water? inside crate as ballast.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Splootch everything with silicone dielectric grease. Force it into the socket slots. If you are all weird about sunlight and the cord sheath, spray it with heavy-duty grade silicone lubricant spray.

[SoundGuy]

GordonThree wrote:
For example, I have a relation that connected two extensions and then wrapped the connection with a plastic bag and then electrical tape to "water proof" it. That didn't last long... rain got in there, corroded things and I had to put on two new ends.

Chances are it wasn't rain that got inside that wrapped up plastic bag but rather condensation that formed with temperature changes & humidity and the air inside couldn't freely vent out. I spent my entire career in the television production business, much of it mobile work where we were constantly running out miles of audio, camera, power cables, etc, and never would we ever consider wrapping any connections in plastic, just for this reason. Cable connections, anywhere they might be exposed to the elements, were always enclosed in a hard plastic box that could vent air and were elevated above the ground wherever possible. Wrapping any connection in plastic wrap is the worst thing one can do.

[GordonThree]

Whatever solution is used, be wary that trapping water inside the connections is far worse than having it get wet and then dry out.

For example, I have a relation that connected two extensions and then wrapped the connection with a plastic bag and then electrical tape to "water proof" it. That didn't last long... rain got in there, corroded things and I had to put on two new ends.

The water gets in there and can't evaporate quickly, so it corrodes and then electrolysis eats away the connectors.

[DAS26miles]

SoundGuy wrote:
I can understand why some might not want to use the main cable at home for fear of leaving it behind when they go camping but for being "exposed to the elements"?? ... seriously?

You are right, having senior moments and leaving it behind would be more of an issue. I always am leaving something behind even with my long check list.
I will have to use the existing power cord along with the adapter pigtail as I just went outside and checked the length of my extra power cord to the 30amp service box, it's 50 feet not 25 feet. Plus it winds thru the fence and behind shrubs . I'm not going to pull the new cord thru every time.

[SoundGuy]

DAS26miles wrote:
This is the one I am looking at at Amazon. It would hang down on the side of the MH with the original power cord attached to the 30amp box on the side of the house.
Camco Power adapter

I've got the identical adapter sitting in my workshop, never use it ... why would I when the 25' main service cable that came with the trailer reaches the power outlet just fine? In your original post you said -

"I have a 25 foot extension 30amp cord that I attach to a 30amp exterior power box on the side of my house. I don't want to be using the new power cord exposing it to the elements day in and day out."

I can understand why some might not want to use the main cable at home for fear of leaving it behind when they go camping but for being "exposed to the elements"?? ... seriously? :h

[Chris_Bryant]

DAS26miles wrote:
This is the one I am looking at at Amazon. It would hang down on the side of the MH with the original power cord attached to the 30amp box on the side of the house.
Camco Power adapter
I

I wouldn't worry about it, but you could rig something out of a plastic bottle to slip over it.

SoundGuy wrote:
Fact is, water is a conductor

Strictly speaking, water is not a conductor. It's the minerals and impurities in water which conduct.

[DAS26miles]

This is the one I am looking at at Amazon. It would hang down on the side of the MH with the original power cord attached to the 30amp box on the side of the house.
Camco Power adapter
I

[SoundGuy]

RinconVTR wrote:
Consider all the outdoor Christmas lights people set up...and how many non-sealed plugs are out there in the rain and snow.

That said, I'm not saying not to seal corded connections. Obviously it added a high degree of safety.

I do wrap any Christmas tree light cable connections with electrical tape when I put the lights up in late fall regardless that the total draw is only a very tiny fraction of what a set 30 amp main service cables could carry. Fact is, water is a conductor so keeping any electrical connection points dry is IMO worth the effort.

[RinconVTR]

Interesting topic and products shown here.

But like any ordinary extension cord, I have no worries about plugs not being sealed as long as they are not in standing water.

Consider all the outdoor Christmas lights people set up...and how many non-sealed plugs are out there in the rain and snow.

That said, I'm not saying not to seal corded connections. Obviously it added a high degree of safety.

[SoundGuy]

DAS26miles wrote:
Any suggestions as to how to prevent water intrusion and possible shock?

Although some manufacturers wire their trailers with a main service detachable power kit neither of my previous two trailers had one so one of the first mods I did with each was to install a weatherproof Marinco Park Power version.



The far end of whatever cable I'm using of course terminates with a standard 30 amp male plug which plugs into the campsite 30 amp service and although it's not particularly weatherproof there's often a hinged lid of sorts over the receptacle that offers some level of moisture protection. Millions are in use and you can bet that if rain getting into this particular connection was a major issue we wouldn't be using them ... in other words, I don't worry about it at all. 😉

That leaves any interconnections between multiple lengths of cable which is where water getting into the connection can be an issue, particularly if that connection happens to lie in a depression in the ground that later fills with rainwater. :E One should of course try to avoid allowing the connection to sit anywhere water could potentially collect by elevating / covering that connection with an inverted bucket, etc, but i instead chose to wire up my custom made 10 gauge, 30 amp extensions and dogbones using Leviton WetGuard connectors.



We actively practice energy management when camping (e.g. turn off A/C if we want to use the microwave, etc) so our maximum current draw at any given time is always well within the ratings for these 15/20 amp versions of the WetGuard connectos but for those wanting at times to draw a full 30 amps the Leviton WetGuard Series does offer 30 amp versions. The only catch may be that unlike the 15 amp versions which are commonly available at a reasonable price at big box stores like Home Depot, Lowes, etc, these 30 amp versions are more costly and usually only sold by outlets serving the electrical trades so you may have to search a bit to find them. That said, after 15 years of use without a single issue, I would give these Leviton WetGuard connectors a HUGE thumbs up and highly recommend them to anyone looking for weatherproof connectors suitable to RV use. :B

[Chris_Bryant]

As long as it is not sitting in water, it will be fine. You could get some electrical grease if you wish.

[RoyB]

My trailer shore power cable connector has a snap lid that covers it when not in use.



I keep my 25-foot shore power cable coiled up inside a large bucket sitting inside the basement area when not in use.

I too use a 50-foot 10-gauge (10-3) extension cord that is plugged inside the garage to a 20A service receptacle and runs out to the trailers. The connection to the shore power cable is using a RV30A-15A long adapter which is just laying in the middle of the yard. I did at one time take a closed lid large plastic box and and cut slots on both sides for the shore power cable and extension cord to come in and out. Then I closed the lid after I hooked both ends to the RV30A-15A adapter. The whole adapter was inside the snap lid plastic box.

Haven't seen that box for a while now haha... I really don't see any problems with just plugging things together laying in the yard. I make sure water doesn't settle around the connections...

Of course the best thing would be is have the trailer parked close enough to the house and install a 30AMP connection on the outside of the house and just plug directly into that.

Roy Ken

[nomad_2971]

Try some silicone Rescue Tape.

Bruce