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Open Roads Forum  >  Tech Issues  > 30 amp power cord melted This Topic Is Closed  |  Print Topic  |  Post New Topic  |  Oldest first Newest first  Page of 7   Next virginia1218 • View posts Mahopac, NY USA New Member Joined: 07/22/2004 View Profile Posted: 07/25/10 05:03pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator Can someone please help me. I am fairly new to rv'ing and this weekend took the rv on a trip. My Itasca Spirit has a 25 ft 30 amp cord. It usually does not reach the plug at the parks so I use a 30 amp 50 ft extension cord and plug into the park's electric box. Today, found that where the extention and main cord connected up - it had MELTED. Had run the a/c and water heater and tv for 2 days and had no apparent problem. It was not until leaving and disconnecting that I found the melted cord. CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE?????? Can anyone give me info on the Forest River Lexington GTS model Class C motor home? louiskathy • View posts Oregon (presently) Senior Member Joined: 03/23/2003 View Profile Good Sam RV Club Member Offline Posted: 07/25/10 05:10pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator Drawing WAY too much current for the type of wire you have in the extension cord. You were lucky it was just only as bad as it was. You're not the first one that's had this problem. Don't feel alone. Kathy 2001tundra • View posts Surry , NH Senior Member Joined: 10/14/2007 View Profile Offline Posted: 07/25/10 05:10pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator I would suspect that 75 feet is a long run , maybe not. I have a spare 25 footer not a fifty footer , the extra 25 ft will create a voltage drop. Im sure someone will chime in 2001 Tundra TV , 18 ft Cikira Classic Cruiser virginia1218 • View posts Mahopac, NY USA New Member Joined: 07/22/2004 View Profile Posted: 07/25/10 05:14pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator WHAT KIND OF CORD DO I NEED THEN????? IS A 50 FOOT EXTENTION CORD TOO LONG?? pulsar • View posts Lewisville, NC Moderator Joined: 12/30/2001 View Profile Good Sam RV Club Member Posted: 07/25/10 05:22pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator Accepting that your 50' extension cord was a 30 amp cord, I would suspect the campground had low voltage. Tom pulsar • View posts Lewisville, NC Moderator Joined: 12/30/2001 View Profile Good Sam RV Club Member Posted: 07/25/10 05:23pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator Move from Forum Technical Support to Tech Issues. NORM WADDELL • View posts PENSACOLA FL 32514 Senior Member Joined: 11/16/2000 View Profile Posted: 07/25/10 05:25pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator Be careful about electrical advice from this site. Some of it is DANGEROUS. A LONG extension cord will cause voltage drop,......this will cause the MOTOR loads in the R V to draw MORE current. This can damage them..(Air conditioner compressor, etc) Resistance loads (light bulbs, toasters, etc) will burn less brightly or heat less, but will not be damaged. You say your cord was damaged AT the connection.....this is a sign of a poor electrical connection..... a high resistance connection, which creates heat...... a LOOSE connection..... Get new extension cord, or replace the connectors as required, and be sure they are TIGHT connections.....then get a $5 voltmeter and plug it into a receptacle INSIDE the R V, and watch it as you add voltage......if the voltage drops below about 108 volts, reduce the load.....turn something OFF..... IF you do this and keep watch on the connectors, you will probably be fine. L NORMAN WADDELL 30 FOOT ALLEGRO SATURN TOAD WIFE AND 2 DOGS SUGAR BEAR & COCO BEAR hershey • View posts Albuquerque,(fulltime) NM, USA Senior Member Joined: 06/04/2003 View Profile Offline Posted: 07/25/10 05:33pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator Consider using the shortest 10 ga. extension cord you can get by with. Don't get anything less than 10 ga. Electrical extension cords advertised as "HEAVY DUTY" doesn't mean a thing. Make sure the shorepower plug your connecting to is in good shape. Must be a tight fit. Make sure all your plugs are tight fitting when plugged in. Insure that the contacts are bright and shinny. If they are black or corroded, you must clean them up. hershey - albuquerque, nm Someday Finally Got Here My wife does all the driving - I just get to hold the steering wheel. Superman was an illegal alien. Expedition - Suzuki Grand Viagra NASCAR 14 - 99 - 5 pianotuna • View posts Regina, SK, Canada Senior Member Joined: 12/18/2004 View Profile Offline Posted: 07/25/10 06:01pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator Hi, Here is what may have happened. Voltage in the park sagged but the air conditioner draws more amps under that scenario. The female end of the longer cord was a little bit compromised and it got warm. As it got warm it became a worse and worse conductor causing more and more heat. Fifty is not too long--but the connectors need to be bright and shiny. The thing to do now is to replace the end on the RV cord and the end on the 50 footer with nice new non pitted ends. Regards, Don Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts solar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries 2500 watt inverter. webegone2 • View posts florida keys New Member Joined: 09/23/2008 View Profile Offline Posted: 07/25/10 06:02pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator INTERESTING... 'waddell' says not to listen to advice on this forum...then HE gives you advice. What is wrong with this picture? This Topic Is Closed  |  Print Topic  |  Post New Topic  |  Oldest first Newest first  Page of 7   Next Open Roads Forum  >  Tech Issues  > 30 amp power cord melted

Search:   Advanced Search Search only in Tech Issues

Jump to Forum Recreational Vehicles  - Class A Motorhomes  - Class B - Camping Van Conversi...  - Class C Motorhomes  - Fifth-Wheels  - Folding Trailers  - Hybrid Travel Trailers  - Travel Trailers  - Truck Campers  - Toy Haulers Camping  - Tent Camping  - Family Camping  - Workamping Forum General Forums  - Beginning RVing  - Rallies, Shows and Gatherings  - General RVing Issues  - RV Lifestyle  - Full-time RVing  - Camp Cooks and Connoisseurs  - RVing with Disabilities and Ge...  - RV Pet Stop Technical Resources  - Do It Yourself Modifications a...  - Towing  - Tow Vehicles  - Dinghy Towing  - Technology Corner  - Forum Technical Support  - Tech Issues Locations  - RV Parks, National Parks, Stat...  - Roads and Routes  - Public Lands, Boondocking and ...  - RVing in Canada and Alaska  - RVing in Mexico and South Amer...  - Snowbirds Other Discussions  - Around the Campfire

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