30 amp adaptor cable

[bobinaz123]

When using a 30 to 50 amp adaptor cable the connector gets hot and one of the prongs get discolored. Any ideas why it gets hot? 08 Camelot.

[InPursuit]

The adaptor doesn't create an extra 20amps worth of power.
So... what do you have turned on?

What you are looking for to really nail this down is someone where you are with an amp meter ("amprobe" or similar) to measure your actual draw.

The 'fix" will start with turning off the second a/c unit.

[AFChap]

Any electrical cord/connector will get hot when carrying a lot of current and/or when there is a poor connection. The prong that gets discolored is on the "hot" line. 30a to 50a adaptors tend to do that when running enough "stuff" to be pulling high amps ...mid-20's or more. A 50a outlet actually provides your 50a RV with 100a of power compared to the mere 30a the 120v 30a outlet provides. That is a huge difference.

You can help some by making sure the 30a outlet is in good shape, and the prongs on your adaptor are clean and shiny so they will make a good connection with the outlet. If the outlet has burn marks on it, try to avoid using it unless you have no other choice. You can clean the prongs with a fine grit sand paper, steel wool, etc. If your adaptor has damaged prongs and/or melted edges on the plug, get a new one. And you can avoid running electrical items that pull a lot of amps.

[billsmax]

This usually caused by plugging into a "burnt" outlet, which will be a loose fit for you plug, causing it to overheat and corrode your prongs on your plug. The bad outlet is usually caused by RV'rs plugging into the outlet without first turning off the outlet breaker. If you don't plug into the outlet with no power on it, it will arc to the prongs and begin to eat them up and also the outlet socket.

[wa8yxm]

If it is just ONE prong then the outlet often is a tad worn, or the prong is less conductive than the other... Clean well if you can (if the plug is not melted)

NOTE: the reason is you are drawing too much current. ON a 30 amp outlet you can only draw about 27 amps before CLICK and darkness... but.. The plug/outlet may not be up to 27 or even 25 if they are a bit worn, and at many CG's.. They are well worn.

I had to go out and re-set my 30 amp (park side) breaker the other day, there are 4 30 amp outlets in that box, all 4 were in use.. The box was almost hot enough to burn me.

[Ed_G]

Additional thoughts: Not all 30 - 50 adapters are made the same. Some cheap ones are built with inadequate wire size. I would think that if this is the case, the cable itself would get pretty warm, too, if drawing anywhere over 20amps so the original surmise that the connector is bad or dirty is probably the correct one.

[bobinaz123]

Thanks for the inputs, all. I suspect that dirty or worn contacts is the problem. I plan to rebuild the male end of the adaptor first and look at the receptical for poor contacts (breaker off of course). Then I'll read the amperage under load and compare it to the reading in the coach. I don't recall ever seeing the reading in the coach above the mid 20s.

Bob