Date:         Mon, 2 Feb 2015 14:50:56 -0800
Reply-To:     Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Canadian Westfalia Shore Power Cord Warning
Comments: To: all listees <wetwesties@yahoogroups.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Hi all.

Images of a failed shore power connector (110VAC hook up on vehicle)
on a Canadian
Vanagon Westfalia. Found this while in camp:

https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/WestfaliaShorePowerCord

I know this has been discussed, and may only apply to Canadian
Westies, but regardless, thought I'd suggest it's worth checking your
shore power connector. The US model 110VAC hook up is different.

Ironically, and thankfully, I actually thought to myself:
"... Oh ya. Disconnect plug from outlet first".
Not sure if I'd have gotten a shock were I to do it the other way around.

What likely caused the failure:

- corrosion at blades of connector (I was using a new extension cord)
- heat due to corrosion caused the (vinyl?) boot on vehicle side
connector to get quite warm which in turn allowed it to easily deform
- soft deformed boot allowed clamp holding outside layer of wiring to
boot to easily come loose.

I hate "blaming" the previous owner all the time but it's possible
their work came into play here. The white neutral wire pulled out
quite easily from the connector even though I was pulling mostly on
the (vinyl?) boot itself. The 2 other securing points (hot, ground) in
the Westy connector looked a little "loose" i.e. the screws may not
have been tightened enough. No matter what, the clamp mentioned should
have held everything together.

I recall replacing that part on my older '81 Westy with a connector
similar to this (image):

http://tinyurl.com/lfo6cl9  It has worked fine for some years now but
as we say, YMMV.
;)

I had to file off a tiny the shoulders of the connector housing so it
would fit back into the plastic  utility hook up bit.

Neil.


--
Neil n

Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>

1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>

1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>

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