As you will no doubt recall, I managed to break the pin from the power inlet on my van as a result of the power cord refusing to let go.
I returned to my van yesterday and met with the electrician. It turned out just as predicted by the wise men of the forum. Firstly, the part was readily available. The job took about 30 minutes. The cause of the problem was a loose connection.
It seems that when vans have been parked and connected to the mains power for a while, the weight of the power lead loosens the connection. When I had the air conditioner, fridge and jug all going full bore the loose connection caused it to short out and fuse the metal to the power cord.
The electrician suggested that when parked up, every few days just give the plug on the power cord a little push to ensure it is properly inserted and secure.
The electrician I used was a great fellow. He has a caravan himself and gave me heaps of tips regarding power and connections. He is one of those great tradies that holds a conversation but does not stop his working to talk.
I will put his contact on the forum. Thanks again for all the advice. It all proved to be 100% correct. (I knew it would, that is why I asked)
As you will no doubt recall, I managed to break the pin from the power inlet on my van as a result of the power cord refusing to let go.
I returned to my van yesterday and met with the electrician. It turned out just as predicted by the wise men of the forum. Firstly, the part was readily available. The job took about 30 minutes. The cause of the problem was a loose connection.
It seems that when vans have been parked and connected to the mains power for a while, the weight of the power lead loosens the connection. When I had the air conditioner, fridge and jug all going full bore the loose connection caused it to short out and fuse the metal to the power cord.
The electrician suggested that when parked up, every few days just give the plug on the power cord a little push to ensure it is properly inserted and secure.
The electrician I used was a great fellow. He has a caravan himself and gave me heaps of tips regarding power and connections. He is one of those great tradies that holds a conversation but does not stop his working to talk.
I will put his contact on the forum. Thanks again for all the advice. It all proved to be 100% correct. (I knew it would, that is why I asked)
I put a small hook just above the P/P to take any weight off the lead.
Third time lucky, maybe. try a bit of electrical grease on the pins every so often and that will work its way up into the plug contacts as well. The best stuff is Alminox, can sometimes be scored as a squirt in a pill bottle from a high voltage line worker in exchange for a cold beer or two. Also available from Jaycar is a special switch lube in a small syringe. The killer is the oxide build up causing heat due to the increased resistance, the grease helps prevent that and aids in stopping the pin welding to the contact in the plug
T1 Terry
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