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    50 Amp cable female end at trailer: what's going on?

    Hi, everyone:

    Our 5th-wheel is currently parked near our house; and we had grandkids visiting, and they like to sleep out there, so I hooked the trailer up to a 30 Amp circuit installed set up specifically for this purpose, using an 30 Amp heavy-duty extension cord and 50 to 30A dogbone. The extension cable is plugged into its own 30 Amp circuit running to our 200 Amp main box in the house.

    When I unhooked the shore cable from the trailer, the end looked like the picture shows. Uh, oh. The corresponding contact in the trailer that one plugs into is similarly blackened. Is this neutral? or ground? And: what's the likely cause, if this is enough information? Everything was working just fine, so far as I can tell.

    Jim

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Jim and Merna

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  2. #2
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    50 Amp cable female end at trailer: what's going on?

    That type of thing happens because of increased resistance and elevated temperature. I am willing to bet it is because of a potential loose connection or maybe a low voltage situation.

    Remove the plug on both ends end ensure a good solid connection for all conductors at both ends.

    Use a multimeter and check the voltage going in.

    Lastly, these types of plugs do tend to spin a bit, even after you tighten that ring.

    I would not plug that back in until you find the source of the issue.

    Good Luck
    Bill
    2019 GMC 3500 SRW Sierra Denali Duramax
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  3. #3
    Long Hauler
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    Personally, I don't think I would use that particular plug at all.
    Howard and Peggy
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    Site Team Redapple63's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hoopy Frood View Post
    Personally, I don't think I would use that particular plug at all.
    Good point. I agree, still think he should take the inside apart to ensure no loose connections on the inside and verify the voltage coming out of the sub box.

    Bill
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  5. #5
    Seasoned Camper
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    I think you may have a bigger problem. That is the ground on the plug. It shouldn’t carry any current if everything is wired correctly. This is fairly common with either hot leg or neutral, but I haven’t personally seen it happen to the ground. I would check your supply outlet to make sure that it is wired correctly.
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  6. #6
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    I’m with Jomani on this one. Burned like that means a loose connection that was arcing when electric current was flowing. A ground lug would only have current flowing if there is a fault in the wiring.
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  7. #7
    Seasoned Camper
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jimibooks View Post
    Hi, everyone:

    Our 5th-wheel is currently parked near our house; and we had grandkids visiting, and they like to sleep out there, so I hooked the trailer up to a 30 Amp circuit installed set up specifically for this purpose, using an 30 Amp heavy-duty extension cord and 50 to 30A dogbone. The extension cable is plugged into its own 30 Amp circuit running to our 200 Amp main box in the house.

    When I unhooked the shore cable from the trailer, the end looked like the picture shows. Uh, oh. The corresponding contact in the trailer that one plugs into is similarly blackened. Is this neutral? or ground? And: what's the likely cause, if this is enough information? Everything was working just fine, so far as I can tell.

    Jim

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Cord_end.jpg 
Views:	299 
Size:	6.9 KB 
ID:	46303
    I’m also with @Jomani …check the receptacle that the cord was plugged into.
    Did you have any recent lightning incidents?
    Larry and JoAnna
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  8. #8
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    You likely have something going on with the ground and neutral in your trailer since you don’t mention tripping breakers. If ground and neutral are bonded inside the trailer, the ground wire could end up carrying 25A, and that contact isn’t designed for that kind of continuous current.
    John & Kathy
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  9. #9
    Big Traveler
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    Quote Originally Posted by DougW9876 View Post
    A ground lug would only have current flowing if there is a fault in the wiring.
    ^^This^^^

    Ground is your safety. Agree with Larry, look at the supply receptacle and see how it is wired.
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  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scott'n'Wendy View Post
    ^^This^^^

    Ground is your safety. Agree with Larry, look at the supply receptacle and see how it is wired.
    Absent a problem in the trailer, supply wiring issues won’t cause current to flow in the grounding conductor.
    John & Kathy
    2014 F250 Lariat FX4 6.2L SBCC
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