T&T: Hot shore power connections

[Peter Bennett]

Sunday, March 23, 2008, 1:38:38 PM, Scott wrote:

SEB> I have two 30 amp shorepower cords.  Each of them shows signs of the neutral
SEB> getting hot, they have black, burn marks in the plastic.  Additionally the
SEB> neutral lug in the boat connection shows burn marks as well.  My question is
SEB> should I throw these shore power cords away and buy new ones, or are they
SEB> ok?  I don't know what I've done to pull that much current through the shore
SEB> power cord, but I no longer use the water heater and limit A/C to a single
SEB> zone.  Still the boat end of the connector is very warm to the touch.

SEB>  

SEB> Is there a way I can determine if I'm at risk of the connector becoming so
SEB> hot it could start a fire?  

SEB>  

SEB> Thanks, Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA

If the connector gets warm, you have a poor connection due to the
burnt connections in both the cord and boat connector.  I would
replace both the connector on the cord and the connector on the boat.

You may find that the neutral wire in the boat connector is loose -
this will cause that pin to get hot, which will in turn heat the
mating pin on the cord connector.

Whatever the cause, both connectors should be replaced NOW.



-- 
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI    Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Ennos 31 "Honeycomb"
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter 
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca