Are shore power inlets dangerous?

[mikeschn]

On our last night in Springfield this summer, we had a really heavy downpour all night. While we were snuggled up inside the giant teardrop, we were totally unaware that the rain was running down the side of the teardrop, and into the shore power inlet, ultimately causing a short.



When we arrived in Rayville (Rayvillian) later that day, Gary happened to have an electrical part that fixed up my shore power inlet perfectly. But it's a temporary fix, and it's not water resistant.

So my next design has the shorepower inlet inside the trailer, under the bed to be exact. See the little door?



So the question is, on my Giant teardrop, do I just replace the shore power outlet with a new one, or do I put in a little door, and put the inlet inside, somewhere in the galley area?

Mike...

[caseydog]

I have a very similar browning on the clear part of my shore power cord, but it is on the female end where it attaches to the inlet on my TD. I don't have any char on the blades, but a brown patch on the clear plastic.

I use the same Marinco power inlet.

The cord tests fine, and has not failed over time. I also have an exterior grade GFCI, and it hasn't kicked off.

I don't know what to think of it.


CD

[Steve_Cox]

Same setup on my tear, camped in heavy rain and no problems. I did put the power inlet under the ledge on the gypsy trailer.

[prohandyman]

Mike
I installed mine on the bottom of the Touring Lodge

[planovet]

I have that very same outlet (in white). It's on the side with no protection from the elements. The first 5 nights we camped in our tear it rained. No problems with the inlet or cord.

[Endo]

Mike
I installed mine on the bottom of the Touring Lodge

I do the same thing. The power inlet goes under the teardrop, out of the weather and out of sight.

[Ageless]

I was suspect about those the first time I saw them. The older styles are like house type exterior outlets where the cover is meant to shield and divert water.

[starleen2]

Mike - i have mine underneath the camper - Basically its a small trap door that I can pass through the cord that connects directly to my power box. Nothing is exposed for a potential short. This allows me to use a 30 amp RV type of cord

The foam Plug acts as a sealer when the cord is passed through the hole

From the top side. The power box is enclosed in a storage area under the hatch for the Air conditioner




Just Pass through the hole, seal with te foam plug (so No bugs can enter), and plug in! I also have a 20 amp adapter if needed.

[kartvines]

When I posted my inlet I got a lot of people telling me that I went overboard, I did remove the original 35 A plug and installed a similar one that you installed, but once My AC is connected to the shore power the plugs is completely covered and I feel safe that there will not be any problem and if there is my breaker on the outside or my GFI on the inside will protect my teardrop circuits. I have not seen anyone else install a outside breaker unit so far.

http://scad-a-bout.blogspot.com/2005/08 ... upply.html

[S. Heisley]

And to think that I was feeling bad because I didn't have one of those cool looking little round inlets!

I'm setting mine up with a little rectangular door on the side; but, water might still follow the cord even that way, if the cord is tight or coming straight down. One trick might be to be certain to have a long enough cord so that the cord can dip down (but not on the ground) so that the water can drip off it before the cord goes up again and into the tear.

Still, if it's windy and the rain is coming in at an angle, nearly any type of setup could be in trouble, as water blows onto the connection.

During rainy Christmas weather, when we put up our house lights, we sometimes wrap cord connections in a plastic bag with a twist tie on each end. Since I've seen that done a lot, I'm guessing that this is an okay thing to do. If you're using a door setup, you could easily do that one.

So, are the above two ideas or ?

[eamarquardt]

My boat used one of these connectors. The cord screws on to the connector and has a gasket to seal. Never had a problem in 10 years and 24/7 service

http://www.iboats.com/Marinco_30Amp_125 ... w_id.39102

Kinda overkill for a TD but reliable.

Cheers,

Gus

[bobhenry]

My male plug just hangs there in the shade under the tear out of the rain.

Heavy 10 gage so cord and a good plug but no fancy shore power thingy.

3 years no problems even running 1500 watt heaters during the shivaree's

[Miriam C.]

Oh wow! I would think you would have to have water build up in the cup and short across to do that. Is that the ground that is burned? Perhaps a surge or lightening is more the culprit.

[BC Dave]

I had that happen to the male end of an extension cord one of the prongs was loose at my inlaws cabin; it burnt through the connection and black smoke from the heat at the plug ... could be a combination of something like that and a water short.

I hope the water issues wasnt the problem because I just cut the hole for my 15 amp shore plug exactally like yours ... just before dinner today...

Could you take it back to the store where you bought it or direct them to this post and ask them what they think happened; and you might get another outlet replacement too

[madjack]

I have used one of those for 4yrs now and have gone thru many rain storms with no problems...I wonder if it was something else besides a wet inlet...especially since the GFI or breaker did not trip.........
madjack

p.s. I have had the screws holding the wire in place loosen up...that could be a possible cause here as well...or could you possibly have been using more juice than the 15A these units are rated for.........MJ