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Old 04-05-2021, 02:28 PM   #1
wiredgeorge
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30A male plug recommendation

I replaced the male end of my 30A shore power cord because the 2002 original had gotten a bit heat deformed. Did this a couple years ago. Put another on and connections are tight. It is starting to get a bit warm and the plastic shows slight deformation. Anybody know why this would happen. Connections at the converter are snug and the plug was installed properly and inside connections snug. Any recommendations for a new plug? This is what I am talking about:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Male-30-Amp...oAAOSwr85amzFK
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Old 04-05-2021, 03:39 PM   #2
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How do you heat or cool your RV?
We had to heat using the fireplace and small space heater when we thought our furnace blower motor went out. I damaged my 50 amp to 30 amp dog one due the constant draw of about 25 heating amps.
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Old 04-05-2021, 04:30 PM   #3
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If your connections are good from the plug back to your converter, then I'd suspect the pedestals are the culprit (loose connections inside outlet), the heat from the poor outlet is heating your plug. I made a 30 to 50 converting dog bone (very short) and I usually test the 30 and 50 amp outlets to see which is tighter and go with the one that is the tightest.
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Old 04-05-2021, 05:03 PM   #4
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George, the last cable got hot and deformed, you replaced it and this one is showing signs of overheating. What is the gauge of the cable? Length? Sure sounds like it's overheating from length, gauge or ?? Has something changed on the power draw?
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Old 04-05-2021, 05:35 PM   #5
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Not sure if you have a permanently attached or a detachable shore power cord.

If it's permanently attached, check the connections in the utility box where the cord transitions to ROMEX and in the power center where the ROMEX attaches to the main circuit breaker and also where that main breaker slips onto the buss bar. If it's a detachable cord, check the ends of the female fitting on the shore power cord AND the connections on the trailer male fitting as well as the buss bar fittings. Some trailers will also have the metal utility box to transition to ROMEX, some don't.

It sounds like it could be a couple of things.

First, corroded/loose connections somewhere along the line route.

Second, heavy usage "at or very near" the maximum 30 amps. Remember, at 120 VAC, a 3600 watt draw will be 30 amp draw while at 105VAC, it's going to be a 34.3 amps. So, a voltage drop along the campground line and/or in your trailer cord will "up the amperage flow" creating enough heat to potentially melt the plastic plug...

Third, just plain old copper wiring. If it's been in use since 2002, with a heavy load, brittle wires with some corrosion over the years, what "could carry 30 amps in 2002 may only be able to carry 25 amps in 2021. All that "coiling and uncoiling, stretching and shoving the cable back in that little hole, pulling it out while jerking to get the kink out of that tangled up mess, all have a way of making the cable "get old quicker"....
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Old 04-05-2021, 06:05 PM   #6
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Just me, but I'd replace the whole cable and check all down stream connections...
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Old 04-05-2021, 06:38 PM   #7
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When you replaced the plug the last time did you strip the wire back to where all three wires looked like shiney new copper wire? Any discoloration of the coductors will result in high resistance.
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Old 04-05-2021, 09:26 PM   #8
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In addition to heat buildup due to load, mechanical screw connections, even in the cable plugs, should be re-tightened occasionally just like the connections in the panel of the RV. Any time you have load then no load and back and forth, you have heat and cooling cycles which will cause the connections to loosen. Ideally, the plug should be taken apart and the connections tightened, and they should be tight beyond snug. The proper way is to make the connection, then wiggle the wire at the connector to get the strands to move into place better, then tighten the screws again, maybe do this a couple times, and you will have a much more reliable connection.
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Old 04-06-2021, 04:36 AM   #9
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Good suggestions all. The cable is attached to the converter and is stuffed into a hole in the trailer when not in use. When I connected the last plug I can't recall if I cut back wire to clean copper but probably did. It has been awhile since I swapped the male plug. The wires at the converter are tight. As far as draw, the microwave is on its own power cable (20A to pedestal). When we run heaters, only one that draws about 1500W as I recall and nothing else will be drawing much power as we turn the heater off when we use the coffee pot and/or toaster as they are plugged into the same 15A GFI. I don't know the wire gauge of the original cord but it was sized for the load the trailer can handle and may be in need or replacement.
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Old 04-06-2021, 07:56 AM   #10
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The 30 amp cord "should be" 10 gauge. A 50 amp "should be" 3 strands of 6 gauge and a ground of 8 gauge.
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Old 04-06-2021, 08:34 AM   #11
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A replacement cord appears to be 10/3 but finding an American made cord is another question. I found a 30' cord on PPLmotorhomes.com website made by Technology Research Corp which is an American company (minority woman owned small business) and believe I will try one of their products as their main business is the US Military. Am I the only one here that still wears his 50 year old dog tags still in the rubber sleeve to keep them from clattering in the bush?

https://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/...a-m-30_55-6563
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Old 04-06-2021, 04:39 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wiredgeorge View Post
A replacement cord appears to be 10/3 but finding an American made cord is another question. I found a 30' cord on PPLmotorhomes.com website made by Technology Research Corp which is an American company (minority woman owned small business) and believe I will try one of their products as their main business is the US Military. Am I the only one here that still wears his 50 year old dog tags still in the rubber sleeve to keep them from clattering in the bush?

https://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/...a-m-30_55-6563
Thank you for your service, sir.
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Old 04-06-2021, 05:52 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wiredgeorge View Post
A replacement cord appears to be 10/3 but finding an American made cord is another question. I found a 30' cord on PPLmotorhomes.com website made by Technology Research Corp which is an American company (minority woman owned small business) and believe I will try one of their products as their main business is the US Military. Am I the only one here that still wears his 50 year old dog tags still in the rubber sleeve to keep them from clattering in the bush?

https://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/...a-m-30_55-6563
This company makes shore power cords for boats and yachts ..same concept , this is what they say about overheating
When you replace the cord end (if you do) I would cut the cord back at least 6 inches and get a fresh clean section
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Old 04-06-2021, 07:42 PM   #14
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I bought a new 30' cord from the company mentioned which has a molded 30A male plug on the end and will install when it gets here. My BIL & sis are coming for a visit and will have my parking spot (has power, sewer via macerator and water) and my camper is down in our cul-de-sac which my property sits next to. I have a 15A line running down and a 15A to 30A adapter in place and connected to keep the battery up plus the fridge on and AC running in the camper.
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Old 04-07-2021, 02:03 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wiredgeorge View Post
I bought a new 30' cord from the company mentioned which has a molded 30A male plug on the end and will install when it gets here. My BIL & sis are coming for a visit and will have my parking spot (has power, sewer via macerator and water) and my camper is down in our cul-de-sac which my property sits next to. I have a 15A line running down and a 15A to 30A adapter in place and connected to keep the battery up plus the fridge on and AC running in the camper.
You can run all that on a 15 amp line?
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Old 04-07-2021, 04:39 AM   #16
wiredgeorge
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Originally Posted by flybouy View Post
You can run all that on a 15 amp line?

Have a large electrical box hung on the pole that supplies power for four shops; each with their own feed line and their own electrical box. I put a 30A outlet and a 15A outlet on that pole as well. 30A for RV and a 15A for whatever; in this case running an extension cord down the hill to my RV to keep the battery charged.
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Old 04-07-2021, 03:44 PM   #17
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I ordered the new 30' electrical cord yesterday from PPLmotorhomes.com and it got here today. FAST! Now to find time to install.
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Old 04-11-2021, 08:10 AM   #18
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I would purchase a standard shore power cable and install a 30A inlet so you can check/monitor the condition of plugs and inlets. Having been in the marine industry for 20 years, I've pretty much seen and tried it all. The one manufacturer whose product always performs when used as directed is Marinco. Another is Blue Sea. I have never had their products fail me and I have complete faith in them. The electrical area, is one place you never want to go cheap. The best is barely good enough.
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Old 04-11-2021, 10:02 AM   #19
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I noticed when winterizing that my EMS plug was burned up a bit. Talking with the support people with pictures they told me to clean up the prongs a bit. I know that it was the last site we stayed in as I believe the outlet must have been bad/lose (although it did not feel that way). I just tested out something I created a 30-30A dogbone that I will use in front of my (expensive) EMS. I'd rather just be replacing the first plug on this than that on my EMS as I believe they would give me warranty problems if I ended up needing that.


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Old 04-11-2021, 01:38 PM   #20
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I still carry my dog tags.
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