It happened to me! Overloaded 30amp cord

[Hoopy Frood]

To me an EMS is just insurance.

Cor

Corrosion or loose connections would damage the plugs like that. Never good to double up plugs like that. Dog bones and surge protectors together are not good. Every extra connection can cause problems. Surge protectors arent worth the money just problems.
I have been camping in 50a camper without surge protector since 2005 and have never known anyone that had a surge and hurt anything only problems caused by surge protectors.

To me an EMS is just insurance. Which is why a person should have an EMS instead of a simple "surge protector". I've never known anyone who has a "surge protector" that protected from a surge, but I have known instances where an EMS protected against low voltage, or miswired pedestal. And low voltage, which will be detected by an EMS, will lead to air conditioner shortened life.

I've never had a flat tire on my truck, or my cars, but I still carry a spare. Mr. Murphy is always lurking.

 

[IBEW Sparky]

Yep. My bad! I was using 2 portable electric heaters (low setting) and electric "fireplace" to provide heat in cold South Carolina weather early January (2025). My "rig" is wired for 50amp (though I have only 1 roof-top A/C). You all know how heavy and cumbersome 50amp cables are. . . . I switched to 30amp, buying used cable & surge protection. Mistake! Thank the Lord I was present when this cable burned up-quickly turn off breaker with no subsequent damage. Lesson learned . . . 50amp more efficient and would have prevented possible tragedy.

Your mistake was plugging into the 50A receptacle and reducing down to a 30A (cord) then back up to the 50A RV receptacle.
30A @ 120V equals 3,600 Watts
50A @ 120V equals 6,000 Watts X 2 legs
equals 12,000 Watts
No breakers would trip in this situation.
You allowed all of that 12,000 Watt (potential} power to run through one single #10AWG hot conductor instead of two individual #6 AWG conductors.

 

[dryfly]

Surge protectors arent worth the money just problems.
I have been camping in 50a camper without surge protector since 2005 and have never known anyone that had a surge and hurt anything only problems caused by surge protectors.

An EMS is useless as long as you are positive you will never connect to a campground pedestal that delivers low or high voltage, or will be mis-wired, and there is no chance that the ground or neutral wire will accidentally be broken or disconnected.

 

[lineman1234]

This camper i got used a 2020 273mk came with an EMS system, its hardwired, it has a meter on the wall, telling hertz, voltage and amps, numbers constantly changing by what is coming in as well as load on. Recent cold snap a couple weeks ago, one phase/line, got to a low of 104, other was 107, it never tripped or did anything other than toss a code and kept on sending voltage through. Normal voltage is around 120 but constantly changing.

4 years ago, a camper started on fire, they had an EMS system, it didnt do anything. After the fire, i asked them, as i know them, what happened, and they said electrical fire, i asked what problems they where having and it was a neutral problem. Being very dry the ground did nothing. The neighbor plugged into the same pedestal also an EMS system, and never kicked off the power, they didnt have a fire, just voltage problems.

About that time, the city electrician/lineman pulled up. As i know him, i mentioned normal missing the neutral problem. That is what it was.

The electric had been there for many years, direct burred wire. The ground settled over the years and finally pulled the neutral right out of the connector.

If people like them, EMS, great, but i personally would not buy one or install one for any camper i have, have had or will get in the future, i will leave the one in the camper i have now but would not replace it.

 

[eZAK]

Sounds like a lawsuit to me!

Especially with a safety device protecting property, injury and loss of life!
(barring any disclaimer that the end user should have been aware of)

I don't know why anyone would NOT use a safety device.
In the above case, the EMS is Not to blame!
Yes it could have prevented property damage, But it did Not cause property damage!

 

[CedarCreekWoody]

This camper i got used a 2020 273mk came with an EMS system, its hardwired, it has a meter on the wall, telling hertz, voltage and amps, numbers constantly changing by what is coming in as well as load on. Recent cold snap a couple weeks ago, one phase/line, got to a low of 104, other was 107, it never tripped or did anything other than toss a code and kept on sending voltage through. Normal voltage is around 120 but constantly changing.

4 years ago, a camper started on fire, they had an EMS system, it didnt do anything. After the fire, i asked them, as i know them, what happened, and they said electrical fire, i asked what problems they where having and it was a neutral problem. Being very dry the ground did nothing. The neighbor plugged into the same pedestal also an EMS system, and never kicked off the power, they didnt have a fire, just voltage problems.

About that time, the city electrician/lineman pulled up. As i know him, i mentioned normal missing the neutral problem. That is what it was.

The electric had been there for many years, direct burred wire. The ground settled over the years and finally pulled the neutral right out of the connector.

If people like them, EMS, great, but i personally would not buy one or install one for any camper i have, have had or will get in the future, i will leave the one in the camper i have now but would not replace it.

I don't understand your post. You cited the exact reasons that a proper EMS is needed but then state you would never install one. What am I missing? By the way an inadequate ground would not be a factor as a loose neutral is, by definition, loose from the ground.

 

[lineman1234]

I don't understand your post. You cited the exact reasons that a proper EMS is needed but then state you would never install one. What am I missing? By the way an inadequate ground would not be a factor as a loose neutral is, by definition, loose from the ground.

What you ask, is in my comments.
This camper came with one, ems, i would not have installed one, or never will. Personal choice. The ems in this camper didnt do anything when i get/got very low voltage. As well as the one camper people i know, had an electrical fire, as well as the neighbor connected to the same pedestal had problems of a missing neutral as well, both had an ems system and it did nothing.

I said missing ground 100% pulled out of the ground lug at the pedestal from the city feeding the pedestal.

 

[lineman1234]

Back to 30 amp.

As im migrating north, 3 night 4 day trip, im at my first nights stop. A city no frills park and pay at the pay box, self check in. All 30 amp boxes as its an old place. First one i pulled in had the following pic, so i moved to another.
Looks like the plug has been loose for a wile and over heated/loaded. I left a message on the phone number given on the sign. If no one reports its needing changing, it may be like that for a long time to come.

 

[CedarCreekWoody]

Nice weather this week. I hope it holds as you go north.