Very hot 50amp cable plug

[Jim]

The stock power cable is getting hot. Well, not actually the cable, but the metal plugs that would plug into the 50 pedestal.

My Bullydog is plugged into the pedestal and the coach 50 cable is plugged into the Bullydog. Bullydog plugin is cool but the 50 coach cable plugin is hot. I'm assuming a poor connection somewhere, but where do I start looking?

 

[forty_caliber]

Sounds like a short to generate that kind of heat.

1st thing I would do is try another shore cable. If that heats up, 2nd is try a different pedestal. Still heating up, try it without the Bulldog. Now we have eliminated external devices.

Still have a problem, sorry to say it's the coach.

.40

 

[Jim]

Sounds like a short to generate that kind of heat.

1st thing I would do is try another shore cable. If that heats up, 2nd is try a different pedestal. Still heating up, try it without the Bulldog. Now we have eliminated external devices.

Still have a problem, sorry to say it's the coach.

.40

Yeah, it's the coach.

 

[Scotttkd2]

Coach cable, I just replaced the plug on my 09 King Aire as I found a bunch of hair line cracks in the molded plug around the hot legs this week. On second read, it's possible it's the socket side of the Bulldog, but if that is the case the socket would also be hot. If no then the coach cable.

 

[forty_caliber]

Might be worthwhile to use an infrared thermometer. Point it at anything electrical to see if the temp is above ambient.

Converter, wiring near slides, any connection where an appliance is drawing current are good starting points.

.40

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Coach cable, I just replaced the plug on my 09 King Aire as I found a bunch of hair line cracks in the molded plug around the hot legs this week. On second read, it's possible it's the socket side of the Bulldog, but if that is the case the socket would also be hot. If no then the coach cable.

Yes, replace the cord Cap with a quality one. It could be the contacts on the receptical. An infrared camera will isolate the problem.

 

[Chargerman]

I would try sanding the contact blades on the plug to assure they are all making good contact and try it again

 

[Jim]

I had moved the coach from one site to another and the problem remained. As we're getting ready to open the park, I had to move the coach up to our permanent site. I had plugged it in and the air was running. I got busy and it wasn't until about 3:00 this AM that I woke up and remembered I had not unplugged the coach. So I drove down to the park and checked the connection. It was warm, but not hot. The Bullydog plugin was cold.

I'll pull the wire off the reel and figure out where it plugs into the coach. I assume it's going to be the inverter? I'm wondering if that connection might be where the resistance is coming from.

 

[GTS225]

No.....the loose connection is where the heat is. If it's a molded plug at the end of the cable, get it replaced with a quality piece, like Mr. Penn said. (Although it wouldn't harm anything to look at the connections IN the RV, either.) The heat is generated right where the poor connections are, whether it's a terminal screw that has loosened, or a poor factory crimp when the cable was made. Get it done soon, before the heat conducts over to the socket on your Bullydog.
Now, if it were the spring-loaded socket blade receptacles, those would also be heating up, right with the blades on your cord plug, so I strongly suspect it's a poor crimp in a molded plug.

Roger

 

[NWIP]

The contractors on the cord reel are known to be an issue might want to check there for signs of arcing

 

[Chargerman]

Not likely related but still something to check for peace of mind is the connections at the transfer switch. Make sure they are super tight

 

[Buly]

Here is what I found inside my reel:

 

[Jim]

Checked the cord reel, tightened the connections to the transfer switch, checked everything else that I could think of, including breakers inside the coach. Finally cut the cap off and replaced it.

Problem solved.

 

[GTS225]

Uh-Oh......hope you found the root cause for the arcing on that bottom slip ring.

Roger

Here is what I found inside my reel:View attachment 23718

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Uh-Oh......hope you found the root cause for the arcing on that bottom slip ring.

Roger

My guess is top ground, second L1, third L2, bottom Common. Further, I would venture that someone operates the reel while there is a load. I can't believe they went cheap and didn't use brushes on this product. The temper in that bottom contact is compromised, hope it was replaced.

 

[Buly]

My guess is top ground, second L1, third L2, bottom Common. Further, I would venture that someone operates the reel while there is a load. I can't believe they went cheap and didn't use brushes on this product. The temper in that bottom contact is compromised, hope it was replaced.

The slip ring component replacement is from the “unobtainium” category part.
No one sells it. Also it is a very complicated to get to it and replace it.
Basically, you throw the reel away and buy a new one.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

The slip ring component replacement is from the “unobtainium” category part.
No one sells it. Also it is a very complicated to get to it and replace it.
Basically, you throw the reel away and buy a new one.

What are the dimensions? Ring dia. Box dim.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I assume the box is plastic.

 

[Buly]

What are the dimensions? Ring dia. Box dim.

Kevin,
I don’t have it anymore. It went in the dumpster. If there was a way to fix it, I would.
Even the manufacturer won’t do it.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Kevin,
I don’t have it anymore. It went in the dumpster. If there was a way to fix it, I would.
Even the manufacturer won’t do it.

I get that! Was I right about the white wire on the fried contact?