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The RVer's Open Forum / TECHNICAL RV HELP / Hot Generator Plug In

Paul Allerding User ID: 1439244	Aug 6th 8:12 PM I found my land line plug and generator receptacle box very hot after running the generator for an hour. I discovered the receptacle was damaged and replaced it. The receptacle box seems to run cooler but the land line plug is still pretty hot, especially the blades. One blade is very wiggly loose in the plug. I think I should replace the plug.
Paul Allerding User ID: 1439244	Aug 6th 8:21 PM I should note that when I had the motorhome plugged into a 20 amp outlet at a campground the land line plug did not get hot, but the 10 gauge extension cord did near where the land line plugs into it via an adapter. Also, the air con kicked the breaker on the campground 20 amp circuit. I know I should be plugged into 30 amp, but this campsite had the electric hookup on the wrong side and too far away even when I turned my motorhome around it was too far to reach. I should think the air con should not kick a 20 amp (this is a 32 foot Itasca Sunrise, 1997, with ducted air and one air unit), because my 1990 Damon Escaper Class C single air unit can run off 15 amp. So perhaps there is an electrical problem with the air con circuit, making it draw too much amperage.
jd User ID: 8541163	Aug 6th 9:01 PM I'm not sure I'm following all of this story, but I can say the shore tie male plug can develop loose connections and heat. Ours was the type you can take apart. When I did, I found steel screws and no washers where the stranded wire met the blades. I installed washers with a cup to them to contain the strands and used stainless screws to tighten them down. No heat there since. I've also run a/c [single 13500] with shore tie cable off a regular duplex outlet using an adapter. Kept burning up adapters and finally the duplex itself. If your new aircon is 15000 I can see where it'd be a load against 20A. God Bless, jd
Paul Allerding User ID: 1439244	Aug 6th 9:13 PM Thanks jd, Your experience tells me I definitely should replace the shore plug. I don't know the wattage of the air conditioner. And definitely, God Bless!
Mike Administrator	Aug 7th 2:58 PM Suggestion . . . . When running your generator, disconnect your shore power cord from the campground pedestal.
Paul Allerding User ID: 1439244	Aug 7th 8:58 PM Hi Mike, Yes I must disconnect the shore power cord from the pedestal because the shore power cord must plug into the generator outlet receptacle. jd, I put a new plug on today and ran the generator for half an hour with the air conditioner on. When I shut it down the plug, box, and plug blades were as cool as a cucumber. Before I ran it 45 minutes (albeit a much hotter day at 90 vs 75) and the blades were very hot. I believe it is cured, but the real test will be when I get another very hot day and run it for an hour or more. Thanks again.
jd User ID: 8541163	Aug 8th 6:44 AM Glad it worked out, priviledge to help. Hopefully the mating connector [socket powered by genset] is also clean and tight, making good contact. God Bless, jd