Charging help

[1handyhubby]

We had a meltdown yesterday and I'll post pictures a little later. Shore power is gone. I'm new to the 2 six volt battery campers. I'm going to have to either borrow a generator or go into town and get a battery charger. My question is do I leave everything connected as is and charge as 12V or do I disconnect and charge individually at 6V? We still have 3 days of camping. Thanks.

[1handyhubby]

Received the Smartplug yesterday. Thanks again for the link. Installation was pretty staight forward.

[Grit_dog]

The plug or receptacle shorted out. Not enough current draw during the "arc welding" show inside the receptacle box to trip the shore power breaker you're plugged into.
Replace plug/receptacle and you should be fine. I'd put just a new plug on the shore power cord and new receptacle if you have enough un burnt cord on both ends. Note whatever appears melted is probably damaged another foot? back into the cord or wire insulation. May have to chop a couple feet off the cord. May have to just replace the wire from the receptacle to the campers breaker panel.
Good thing you caught it

Yes just charge batteries as if they were a single 12V and no problem using power while charging.

[mkirsch]

For future reference it is absolutely unnecessary to shut the 12V system off while charging the batteries. The batteries act as a voltage regulator between the charger and the internal systems on the camper.

[1handyhubby]

After checking out their site I ordered the Smartplug inlet and cord end. I'll let y'all know how it works out.

[AnEv942]

Yes-even if there was a bad connection in the plug heating up, unlikey with the SmartPlug- the SmartPlug would disconnect itself-then reconnect once cooled down, providing you pick up one with the thermostat.
Many vendors I looked at are selling the xxxNT (no thermo) models. Not sure though, even mfgs site, unless I just missed, doesn't really mention it (thermo) in anything current?
IF I had a detachable shore cord, the SmartPlug with thermo seems might be worth its price. Otherwise converting to hardwired eliminating extra physical connection altogether would be my first thought. Mostly I don't see advantage in T/C for a detachable cord, still got to store cord-that and if it grew legs/got left at home proprietary plug something you wont match local HW?

[HMS_Beagle]

jmckelvy wrote:

HMS Beagle wrote:
.....There is an alternative plug set that can be retrofitted which includes an overtemp disconnect for exactly this reason. The blade contact is designed to carry much more current with less heat, and if it overheats it shuts off.

Those look pretty interesting but quite pricey!

Online, about double the Marinco replacement ($100 instead of $50). But it will last longer and won't burn up!

[jmckelvy]

HMS Beagle wrote:
.....There is an alternative plug set that can be retrofitted which includes an overtemp disconnect for exactly this reason. The blade contact is designed to carry much more current with less heat, and if it overheats it shuts off.

Those look pretty interesting but quite pricey!

[1handyhubby]

EnVe942 - Thanks for helping get the pictures posted. Yes it appears that one of the blades came loose and was arcing when the AC was running. It looks like only about 8" of wiring melted. Fortunately we got a battery charger and are keeping the batteries charged up and are enjoying our time at the lake. I'm not sure if it's necessary but I shut off the 12V system while charging just to play it safe. HMS Beagle - Thanks for the link. This is the first camper we've owned that wasn't hard wired. I'll look into that plug set.

[HMS_Beagle]

Hmmm..that looks like a standard Marinco plug, used on boats. With a sometimes (perhaps too often) meltdown from a high resistance connection in one of the blades. Has burned a few boats to the waterline.

There is an alternative plug set that can be retrofitted which includes an overtemp disconnect for exactly this reason. The blade contact is designed to carry much more current with less heat, and if it overheats it shuts off.

[AnEv942]

if Im reading correctly OPs campers umbilical cord isn't hard wired, plugs into camper. That's where meltdown occurred, in the incoming receptacle. I can only assume bad physical connection of plug/receptacle or possibly loose faulty wiring at receptacle or plug. Either way, draw of AirCond just caused excessive heat at a bad connection until meltdown.

My thought is though I don't know that campers breaker would come into play on the AC source side? between shore pedestal and camper.
edit 1handyhubby pictures




Scarry part is this is over/in battery compartment?...
Well hope you can make do and enjoy rest of weekend

[1handyhubby]

I'll figure it out eventually.

[1handyhubby]

[1handyhubby]

[img][/img]

[HMS_Beagle]

The fuse size should be chosen based on the size of the wiring it is protecting. Some campers are built with pretty small primary wiring (like #8 or #10) and should have fairly small fuses (maybe 50A) to insure that the fuse blows before the current capacity of the wire is exceeded.