Source wired power cord from trailer to plug

[Goldstar]

Hello I have a 2012 Crossroads sunset trail reserve 31 BH and the source wired in power cord caught fire and I need to replace it. Can you tell me if it’s a 50 amp cord I require to replace it with. When I look at the spec sheet it says a battery converter amp is 55 ? I want to insure I order the correct cord to replace it with. Thank you I pen advance.

[travelin texans]

Does the plug have 3 prongs or 4?
3 = 30amp 4 = 50amp
Why/how did it catch fire? There had to have been a short from the pedestal or the rv side to cause this. Before plugging in again you need to find the cause or risk the same outcome.
Are you using a surge protector/EMS, hardwired or portable? If not you need to get one ASAP to protect from this type of problems, the same amp as the cord.

[dagst1]

I agree. You need to find out what caused the cord to catch on fire. You did not by chance plug it into a outlet wired for a welder - 220 volts?

The 55 amp rating on the converter is the output rating for it. My 30 amp camper has a 55 amp converter.

[Goldstar]

Hello thank you for the information unfortunately I don’t know how the fire happened it wasn’t my trailer at the time I bought the trailer from the insurance company since the bought out the claim on it. I’m hoping that no internal damage was done inside of the trailer haven’t been able to get into it to see the damage. This is the outside of the trailer where it plugged in no interior damage except smoke. Thank you all I do appreciate your advice you can offer me on it.
Thank you once again

[dagst1]

Wow

You may have to rewire a lot of that camper. Hopefully it did not damage any of the other electronic / electrical things.

[Goldstar]

It looks like a lot of smoke damage with the pictures that were taken won’t know tell till I get. wire it up and put power to each item in the trailer hopefully it kicked the breakers off and preventing further damage.

[dagst1]

You can also look in the breaker box at the main to see if it is 30 amp or 50 amp.

[Goldstar]

I’m trying to get the parts ahead of time before I pick up the trailer I understand there is a shortage of supply on RV parts so I’m getting then ordered if they haven’t got them in stock. Would rather have the parts than not be able to work on it ASAP.

[dagst1]

Hopefully someone with that model will chime in. From what i saw on a quick search was 50 amp was a option with dual air conditioners. So it could be either.

[Goldstar]

I hope someone to contact me for sure what amp cordI require I was leaning towards a 50 amp because it’s got a fireplace and it has room for 10 people to sleep in it. I appreciate all the advice and information you all have been giving me I won’t be picking up the trailer till October 2/2020 would prefer to have the replacement items on hand so I can start on it right away. Thank you all again for taking the time assisting me.

[Lloyd]

I wouldn't be ordering to many parts until I was able to get inside of it to see exactly whether it was 30 or 50 amps. You might be trying to hurry the situation to much.

[woodwalker]

You can always run 50a into it and change the convertor to a 100a if it is a 30a

[Goldstar]

Thank you all for the information and all the advice as well and for everyone assisting me with this issue. I believe I’m going to wait till I get the trailer home and actually see what is needed than to second guess myself better off doing it all at once than one piece at a time. and know what parts are needed. This is a great group of people willing to help each other I can’t thank you enough for all the assistance you have all given me.
Thank you all.

[dagst1]

[mark5w]

Here is a side by side comparison.

[Sinker]

The appliances & fireplace are pretty much identical to my 26bh. Between that & the size of the DC converter, I’d say yours probably has the same 30 amp shore power.

Looking at your fire pic, I suspect the problem was in the junction box where the outside SO cable connects to the interior wire coming from the power panel, either a loose connection or a water leak (my junction box is accessed under the bathroom sink). The max heat & smoke will always be at the location of the fault and I don’t see see any heat damage or smoke exfiltration around the window or slide. (Full disclosure: I was an industrial electrician for 20 years, followed by 25 years as electrical engineer.) All that being said, you’ll want to inspect every wire end & connector for signs of overheating.

[drzaius]

There is nothing special about that cord. You can go to any industrial electrical supply outlet & get the appropriate cable and plug. SOOW cable is very tough & will withstand a lot of abuse. If it's a 30A (probably is), you'll need 10/3 (hot, neutral & ground) and a 30A RV plug.

The other end of the cord probably terminates in the electrical panel in the trailer. That's where things may get nasty. As Sinker said, the fire probably originated at a connection point. That would mean a new panel/converter assembly. Hopefully the cord just terminated in a junction box inside the cord cubby, which would be an easy fix.

After doing the electrical repairs & replacing any fire damaged materials, you'll want to apply a good coat(s) of smoke seal. It's gonna stink something terrible and that smell will never go away on its own.

Good luck.

[Goldstar]

Hello everyone just an update on my trailer it is indeed a 30 amp power cord fortune enough only the male plug end is burned on the cord itself should I still replace just the end or replace the complete cord to be safe. It appears when the fire started it tripped the breakers can’t see any burnt wires but smoke residue on the wooden panels. I’ll know more once I put power to it and see what else works still checking it out. Thanks again for all your advice it’s really helped me out what to look for. Thank you once again what a great bunch of individuals helping each other out.m

[drzaius]

I'm a bit confused. How did the male plug get hot when it was still in it's cubby? From the pic, it looks like the burning happened in the cubby.

[Goldstar]

I can’t explain how it caught on fire unless the previous didn’t pull the power cord out and simply put an extension on it since only the male end of it is burnt up. I’m attaching a picture of what the power cord extension looked like. I’m only assuming there was no power surge connected on it.