| No more warm shore power cord [message #267100] |
Wed, 03 December 2014 17:10  |
Otterwan
Messages: 946
Registered: July 2013
Location: Lynnwood (north of Seattl...
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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With temps in the 20's I've had the Twinkie plugged into shore power with the heaters running most days. The 30 amp shore power cord is plugged into a 20 amp adapter that came with the coach. Both the shore power cord and adapter would get fairly warm, which I assumed was normal. The other day when I unplugged the cord from the wall I noticed the prongs of the adapter were actually pretty hot. I ordered a Camco 12" dogbone adapter and used it today for the first time.
After the heaters had been running for about an hour I went to check the cord. It was ice cold. My first thought was that the breaker had tripped, but both heaters were still running full bore.
Bottom line is there was enough resistance in the old adapter to generate a lot of heat. For less than $10, that danger is now gone.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BUU5YA/ref=pe_385040_127541850_TE_item
1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
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| Re: [GMCnet] No more warm shore power cord [message #267107 is a reply to message #267100] |
Wed, 03 December 2014 18:56  |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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Senior Member |
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"Shore" power connectors, both on the coach/boat AND the associated plug-ins are one of the major ignition points of boat (and I imagine RV, as well) fires.
There is a much newer (and safer) plug/socket design that is beginning to be more common on boats. In most marinas/boatyards, the new system is still fairly rare and an adaptor would need to be used AT the shore power pedestal, but the danger for fire on the boat is VERY much reduced.
In any case, adaptors seem to be particularly troublesome items, probably because many of them are cheaply made.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
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> Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2014 16:10:59 -0700
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> From: dao@oarsllc.com
> Subject: [GMCnet] No more warm shore power cord
>
> With temps in the 20's I've had the Twinkie plugged into shore power with the heaters running most days. The 30 amp shore power cord is plugged into a
> 20 amp adapter that came with the coach. Both the shore power cord and adapter would get fairly warm, which I assumed was normal. The other day when I
> unplugged the cord from the wall I noticed the prongs of the adapter were actually pretty hot. I ordered a Camco 12" dogbone adapter and used it today
> for the first time.
>
> After the heaters had been running for about an hour I went to check the cord. It was ice cold. My first thought was that the breaker had tripped, but
> both heaters were still running full bore.
>
> Bottom line is there was enough resistance in the old adapter to generate a lot of heat. For less than $10, that danger is now gone.
>
>
>
> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BUU5YA/ref=pe_385040_127541850_TE_item
>
> --
> 1976 Royale "Twinkie II" Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to
> us."
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| Re: No more warm shore power cord [message #267110 is a reply to message #267100] |
Wed, 03 December 2014 19:46 |
winter
Messages: 247
Registered: September 2007
Location: MPLS MN
Karma: 0
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I've melted the end of several nice extension cords due to a cheap adapter. Now I bend the plug prongs slightly to create more tension when its plugged in. I'll have to get an adapter like the one you showed and solve the problem for good.
Jerrod Winter
1977 Palm Beach
Green Jelly Bean
Twin Cities, Minnesota
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| Re: No more warm shore power cord [message #267151 is a reply to message #267100] |
Thu, 04 December 2014 13:25 |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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Thanks for info. I just ordered one up, and will see how it works. I have always bought the small ones to save space.
I know it is not always proper to be connecting in with a flock of adapters, but sometimes we have no choice. I am much more aware these days of electrical loads.
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
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| Re: No more warm shore power cord [message #267167 is a reply to message #267100] |
Thu, 04 December 2014 19:57 |
rcjordan
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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The most robust receptacles I know of are "hospital grade" --and probably aren't stocked by the big box stores. IIRC, they have a green dot on their face to identify them.
Blackburn makes an anti corrosion gel that has served me well here along the coast.
SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC
[Updated on: Thu, 18 December 2014 18:47] Report message to a moderator |
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