over loaded outlet

[WolfPack]

This labor day weekend  the campground at the state park i work was full on friday me and my boss check all the elec box repalce some outlets and brakers had a fithwheel camper hook  to a 20 amp outlet he was ranning the a/c and the prouch light and tacky lights and the lamp post and two rows of rope lights. so on monday when the left i went and check the outlet well i had to replace the outlet and breaker did not trip and the outlet had started to melt. at the campground we only have 30 amp and 20 amp this is not the frist time this has happen we had a big motor home brun up a 30 amp outlet he was running two a/c and tv,microwave when that happen.

[waygard33]

This labor day weekend  the campground at the state park i work was full on friday me and my boss check all the elec box repalce some outlets and brakers had a fithwheel camper hook  to a 20 amp outlet he was ranning the a/c and the prouch light and tacky lights and the lamp post and two rows of rope lights. so on monday when the left i went and check the outlet well i had to replace the outlet and breaker did not trip and the outlet had started to melt. at the campground we only have 30 amp and 20 amp this is not the frist time this has happen we had a big motor home brun up a 30 amp outlet he was running two a/c and tv,microwave when that happen.

The breakers should 'trip' and disconnect the power, BEFORE the wiring or outlets start to melt. That is the breaker's job. It sounds like you are having some equipment malfunctions. I would make sure you're purchasing UL listed breakers. I would also make sure the service boxes are as weatherproof as possible.

You also said that on Monday, 'the outlet and breaker did not trip'. If this was a GFCI breaker, the fact that it's not tripping is a different issue. A GFCI breaker that does not trip is sometimes corroded and no longer opens the contacts when needed (test button pushed or someone is getting electricuted). However, I believe the non-functioning GFCI breaker should still protect the circuit from overload, it just won't perform the GFCI function anymore. Either way, it should be replaced.

It sounds like you need a good electrical contractor to come out to the park and take a good look at things.

I'm not an electrician. I'm sure someone out here with more experience can help better than I can.

[WolfPack]

they are going to start building a new campground a cross the Road were the pic area is. my boss is a master elec. there no problem of water getting what i have seen is the wrong breaker the plugs are 20 amp and the breaker are 30 amp the new outlet has a 20 amp breaker with a 20 amp outlet and the 30 amp breaker with a 30 amp RV outlet  i do have about 4 more to change out. this campground was built in 1961. the new power box that we get already have the 30 amp breakers and 30 amp Rv outlet and 20 amp breaker with the 20 amp outlet.

[mike4947]

Burning/blackening/melting is not a function of amperage, but more of resistance. Corrosion or loose contact between the plug and outlet will cause enough heat to actually melt outlets and cord plugs without ever having enough amperage draw to trip the circuit breaker.
A real source of the problem is folks not turning the breaker off when plugging in or unplugging. Each time a connection is made or disconnected with ANY load no it there will be an arc. The larger the arc or the more times an arc is formed the more damage to the outlet contacts and the more heat the next shore power cord and the outlet will see.

[AustinBoston]

they are going to start building a new campground a cross the Road were the pic area is. my boss is a master elec. there no problem of water getting what i have seen is the wrong breaker the plugs are 20 amp and the breaker are 30 amp

And the wires are what, 15 amp?  If your boss is a master electrician, and he can't get the right breakers, he should loose his electrician's license.

the new outlet has a 20 amp breaker with a 20 amp outlet and the 30 amp breaker with a 30 amp RV outlet  i do have about 4 more to change out. this campground was built in 1961. the new power box that we get already have the 30 amp breakers and 30 amp Rv outlet and 20 amp breaker with the 20 amp outlet.

The feeder cable needs to be able to carry 50 amps.  Do you know why?

Austin

[AustinBoston]

Burning/blackening/melting is not a function of amperage, but more of resistance. Corrosion or loose contact between the plug and outlet will cause enough heat to actually melt outlets and cord plugs without ever having enough amperage draw to trip the circuit breaker.
A real source of the problem is folks not turning the breaker off when plugging in or unplugging. Each time a connection is made or disconnected with ANY load no it there will be an arc. The larger the arc or the more times an arc is formed the more damage to the outlet contacts and the more heat the next shore power cord and the outlet will see.

Arcing is usually only a problem with DC circuits.  If plugging and unplugging causes enough arcing to do real damage, so does flipping a switch, where exactly the same thing happens.

A breaker is a breaker, not a switch.

See that switch on your wall?  It uses a mechanism a lot more like the plug and outlet (one piece of metal slides between two other pieces of metal to make contact) than like the breaker.  Do you turn off the breaker before turning on a light switch?

The OP admitted to putting a 30 amp breaker on a 20 amp outlet, for crying out loud.  The source of the problem isn't a failure to turn off the breaker before pluging in.

Austin

P.S. - you need both resistance and current to get heating, but you are correct in one thing - with the right resistance, you can get a heck of a fire without drawing enough current to trip the breaker.