Power cable

[Jefvm]

I have a 2012 ACE 29.2.
The problem I'm having is one terminal on the power cord keeps burning or melting as you can see in the picture.
I have replaced both ends of the cable as well as the receptacle on the RV.
Again after several months of use over the summer while disconnecting today I found it failed again.
FYI I have inspected and tighten all terminal I could find.
Any ideas.

Jeff

[Grumpy Grampa]

The power source at the same connection. Your house?, rv park. Are you using a surge protector?

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by Jefvm

I have a 2012 ACE 29.2.
The problem I'm having is one terminal on the power cord keeps burning or melting as you can see in the picture.
I have replaced both ends of the cable as well as the receptacle on the RV.
Again after several months of use over the summer while disconnecting today I found it failed again.
FYI I have inspected and tighten all terminal I could find.
Any ideas.

Jeff

I would change-out the coach's male receptacle. You will usually find the problem is in the coach's wiring to the male receptacle (usually a loose wire). Personally I like the twist lock 120 v - 30 amp type of connection.

[Jefvm]

Originally Posted by smithgarnat@aol.com

The power source at the same connection. Your house?, rv park. Are you using a surge protector?

The power source is at my house through a RV panel for 30 or 50 amp service.
No I am not using a surge protector

[Jefvm]

Prior to this occasion I had just changed out both receptacles on the power cord plus the receptacle on the coach due to the same issue.
I figured it was caused from the RV park we stayed in for 3 months while In between houses

[Pillbox]

Check the resistance in the cord.

[Pete'sMH]

Hardwire the RV end.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Jefvm

I have a 2012 ACE 29.2.
The problem I'm having is one terminal on the power cord keeps burning or melting as you can see in the picture.
I have replaced both ends of the cable as well as the receptacle on the RV.
Again after several months of use over the summer while disconnecting today I found it failed again.
FYI I have inspected and tighten all terminal I could find.
Any ideas.

Jeff

That is a HEAT problem.
Heat is caused by resistance and current.
If you have a poor (high resistance) connection it may start as a slightly high resistance connection, but as it heats up the resistance increases, so the heat increases, and on, and on.
The other thing that resistance does is drop the voltage to the downstream loads. Now you may that lower voltage would mean lower current, and that may be true for resistive loads like the heating element in the water heater or fridge, but for those appliances like Air Conditioners and Residential Fridges that try to do constant work, as the voltage goes down the current has to go up to continue to do the same work. This adds to the heat problem at the high resistance connection.

So:
What loads are you running in the RV?
What voltage is normally delivered to the RV?
Verify your wiring in your home RV pole/breaker box. Especially make sure the 30 amp connection is powered through a 30 amp breaker, not one of the 50 amp hot leg breakers.

Replace both the RV end and the cord end at the same time.

[Chateau_Nomad]

What 16ACE27 said... you have a resistance/heat problem.

The only things I'd add are:

Start at your mains panel (service entrance) in your house and verify the following:
The breaker used for the RV circuit is rated 30 amps.
The wires are securely attached to the breaker.
The wire gauge is properly sized (10 gauge for short runs).
The breaker in your RV pedestal box is 30 amp.
The wires are securely attached inside the pedestal.

ALL of the above should be checked... otherwise you're just guessing and spinning your wheels.

[sparky322]

do you possibly have reversed polarity ?

[crazylegs]

It looks like you may have an open ground on the power source caused by loose or broken wires.

Get a surge protector like Progressive Industries. You can then plug the protector in on its own to determine if your power source is properly wired.

[Junodtim]

The power cable from the house electrical panel to the RV receptacle may need to increase the wire size and tighten all wire connections on that circuit. You are not getting enough power due to voltage drop. After you fix that, I recommend replacing the RV power cord. The new 30 amp cords are heavier than the old ones.