Can't get 50 amp plug to lock into place

[lp5151]

we have an '08 Southwind 36D M/H. the male 50 amp hook up on my motorhome is in a place that doesn't allow me to "lock" the female end into the male plug in. I can press the female connector into the male plug, but cannot twist it, to lock it in place. the main problem is that the location of the plug is deep in a small compartment that does not allow me to get a good grip to get the plug to lock. i believe the main problem is the yellow weather sleave that slips as i try to twist the plug into the locked position. has anyone had this problem? can the yellow weather sleave be secured enough so that when I try to twist the plug that it will not slip/slide causing my grip to slip???

[RovinOn]

lp,,, I have an 05 37C and my plug pushes straight in with no twist but it has a black plastic ring that takes about a 1/4 twist to lock the plug in place. My electrical hook up is in the smallest space they could put it to get your hand into.

Hope this helps

Regards,
RovinOn

[lp5151]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RovinOn lp,,, I have an 05 37C and my plug pushes straight in with no twist but it has a black plastic ring that takes about a 1/4 twist to lock the plug in place. My electrical hook up is in the smallest space they could put it to get your hand into. Hope this helps Regards, RovinOn

RovinOn, i can get mine to hook-up the same way, but the yellow weather proof cover can pull out from the black ring, the black ring only secures the yellow weather proof cover to the plug to make it weather resistant. the 50 amp plug itself "must" twist-lock into place. if it doesn't lock into place, it's possible that the plug could loosen to a point that it allows a 220 shot of electicity to shoot through the M/H..that would not be good. this could happen when hooked-up to a 50 amp outlet. 30 amp or less is not a problem. I am having our plug relocated to where I can get a better grip on the plug so I can twist lock it into the correct and safe position.

[RovinOn]

I really can't attest to what you're asking, My thought would be that you would just lose your electrical connection and possibly have an electrical arc when it came undone.
My plug is not a twist lock at all, just a straight forward push in with the locking plastic ring. Mine has a wide metal contact plate at about the 7'oclock position on the plug. I just make sure that I have that in the proper position when connecting and mine goes right together. Other than being in a tight space to connect I've never had a problem.

Regards,
RovinOn

[buck62]

All the 50 amp Fleetwood plug connections I have seen that fit inside the motorhome have a yellow cover with a black locking ring. All you need do is plug the 50 amp connector in and once seated turn the black locking ring to lock it in place. The black locking ring has notches that will fit onto locking lugs at the inside electrical connector and holds the plug in place. Although the black locking ring holds yellow plug portion in place, it would take a lot of pulling pressure to pull out the plug away from the black locking ring. I have never really thought about the plug pulling out once I have locked the black locking ring. I have never had or heard of an instance of a plug pulling out and causing damage. But, I have known of instances where someone drove off still plugged in or have driven over their electrical cord.

[wa8yxm]

Humm.. Have you tried one of these tools?



This is a Channel Lock Oil Filter Wrench

It, or somethign like it, might give you the leverage you need even in a thigh compartment provided you can access the female cord end from the side.

There are also special wrenches if you have to go "Straight in" but I'm not doing that much research for you.

Unless the plug falls out, failure to lock shoudl not be an issue.