Glendinning plug

I have a Glendinning cord reel and cord with 75 feet of cord,I plugged in on Wednesday to a 50 amp pedestal and in a few hours the breaker tripped,I reset the breaker and the plug was very hot so I ran the generator for an hour or so and plugged in again,and checked the plug with a IR thermometer and it was soon over 200 degrees.I replaced the entire cord and molded plug about 2 years ago because it was cracked,this time the plug looked good but there was something like tar that had run out of it.I decided to cut the cord and replace the plug which I did and the new one stays cool to the touch.I checked the old one with my ohm meter but I cannot find anything wrong.Has anyone else found a problem with the molded plugs?By the way I was pulling less than 40 amps per leg when the heating problem showed up.

Sorry I don't have insight into exactly where the problem was, but I suspect it was resistance at the connections between the wire and spade lugs.

I too have some cracks in my Glendinning plug. I ordered a replacement from them, but I have not yet installed it. It looks good and it will fit in the SS tube without a problem. They (Glendinning) charged $90.00 plus shipping for the plug. When it arrived, I found it to be a "Bryant" brand plug model 9452-ANPB. This Bryant plug is readily available for $30-40 elsewhere. Don't get me wrong, GD is a great company with a great line of products. I have, and will continue to, use them in both RV and boating. I just think their price was a little steep for a replacement item. I do think this plug is superior to what is easily available at Camping World, etc.

GD will mold on a new sealed assembly if you send them your cord, or stop by their place in SC. However they told me it would take "a day or two" and not to stop in and expect to be on the road quickly.

Jack, I have a Glendenning cord and reel on my coach, and it has been trouble free. I did however have a problem on my previous coach which "WELDED" the plug to the pedistal, and I had to take a hack saw to the cord to be able to leave the park to get home. The result was found to be loose connections on the main buss panel inside my coach. Just a thought you may want to check on.

If I had a problem in the coach I would expect it to still be there,all I did was replace the plug and it is cool to the touch now.I purchased a plug from Lowes,because it was 5 PM with no where else to find one.

It could have been the pedestal's receptacle that was bad and simply transferring the heat to your plug. I changed the plug on my GD cord a week ago. The one that was on there was not looking too good. I replaced it with one of the yellow plugs with the handle that makes disconnecting a piece of cake. No more wiggling the plug. BTW, with the GD stop collar on and this new plug it does fit in the coach.

Jack, pulling less than 40A a leg is a huge load. All air conditioners and hot water heater must have been on the same time the chargers were trying to charge well depleted batteries. That's well over 8,000 watts which can produce a lot of heat if there's much of any resistance in the plug or receptacle.

I plugged into 2 pedestals to verify if one had a problem and that is how I determined that it was not the receptacle but the plug,I was actually pulling between 32-34 amps on the digital readout,on a 90 degree day it will take all 4 cruise air units running to cool the interior to 68-70,each unit will draw 13-14 amps and with the chargers the total is 32-34 per leg.I have always tried to stay in the less than 80% range which is 40 amps or less and that will assure that the breaker will not trip unless it is weak or there are loose wires in the pedestal.

I am using a HUBBELL connector with screw type connections, no trouble.Attachment 9383

JIM

Jim,I already decided that I would go to my local Square D/Hubbell supplier when I get home and get a quality plug,I have a large opening for the plug to come through so I don't think that will be a problem,I will use the one from Lowes as a spare.

Jim,the number in the picture is 9451c,which is a straight plug I would prefer the 9452c which is a angled plug which will fit most pedestals better.

Here's a glendenning on an H on a marathon and they put the plastic drum horizontal in that little compartment above the tag.

Attachment 14878

Attachment 14879

The picture below shows what happens inside the drum overtime as things get twisted up wrong.

Attachment 14880

Here's a picture inside that plastic barrel with the cord totally extended. This one knot you see as a result of me and another hand spending of great deal of time going in and out and twisting that cord and keeping it back twisted trying to turn those knots out. There was originally three of them all back-to-back in there. We gave up that last one ain't commin.

You know how chords have a memory and even though this is a really good soft cord from glendenning once you've knotted it up like that you actually twist the inside wires inside the rubber outer Shield and it really has to be taken completely apart.

Attachment 14881

Attachment 14882

Among other things, I have to pull all the spool valves off the back end of this bus and I'm going to move this out of the way to get at them. I'm going to unhook the power cord at the junction box here and I'm going to pull it all the way out of the bus. Then go lay in the sun tomorrow and see if I can relax it and I can untwist the outer shield on the inner wires and if I can get away with that and I like it I'm going to put it back together that way or I don't know I might have cut two or three feet off the back end of this thing so that it's got a fresh start or at least I will run it by the owner suggest it.

This is just a guess now but I would have to assume that winding one of these cords into these plastic drums is going to work a lot better when the drum is sitting down not horizontal, it's got to be kind of tough to keep that cord trained to spool up correctly Time After Time like that, especially when the drum is mounted in there like this.

Don't be expecting this accessory to be dragging that cord through the grass you're looking for trouble. These are heavy heavy cords. We are asking this thing to do a lot and on a good day.

Anytime you're letting in cord you should be helping it in and you should be wiping it as you go with a paper towel or something a rag in your hand don't ever let dirt get in there. And I think it probably wouldn't hurt to run it all the way out periodically.

Under the "What Were They Thinking". The power cord is suppose to drop into the bucket and coil into the bucket. That's pretty hard to do when the bucket is placed horizontally.

It's not a symmetrical drum. It's shaped like a megaphone or a cone. I assume that's the help keep it happy in the prone position.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JIM CHALOUPKA

I am using a HUBBELL connector with screw type connections, no trouble.Attachment 9383

JIM

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This is the best quality replacement I have found. If any of you want a huge surprise, cut open a factory molded GD plug and post a pic here of what you see. You will find your answer as to why it gets so hot and melts itself as well as receptacles they plug into. I have to continuously replace receptacles in my campground.

Attachment 14890

Mobetta.

We decided if this happens again anytime soon we're yanking the cord and turning it into an extension cord and buying a new one for the winder.

Gil's message....
Under the "What Were They Thinking". The power cord is suppose to drop into the bucket and coil into the bucket. That's pretty hard to do when the bucket is placed horizontally.

Gil, that's the wonder of a Marathon Coach....thing's done that make others question...."How did Marathon do that"
AL

Attachment 15883

When was the last time u checked the spades on your power cord. Should grab each individual spade every time u unplug and try to wiggle them. If there is EVER ANY WIGGLE in any of the spades replace it so u dont end up looking like this. There is no grey area here. ANY WIGGLE=DANGEROUS. Some steel wool to clean them is also not a bad idea. Always lota amps on a hot summer's day.

This meltdown had not interrupted power yet it was discovered when pulling out.

It is a glendening end.