block heater plug gets hot

[rober]

the plug on my block heater has been getting progessively warmer lately. it's getting to the point that the plug is feeling soft as in borderline melting. i'm running it on a 50' 12 guage cord. is this a sign of some type of emminent failure?

[2000-7.3L]

There is a short in the cable to make it heat up like that! should be replaced before it does damage

[ZMANN]

you can ohm it out and 50 foot is pretty far but for 9 amps it should be ok

a bad connection ( not tight fitting) at the plug ends can cause heat also

[RatherBNtheWoods]

I use my pocketknife to spread the prongs just a little every couple weeks during the winter. The prongs, on mine, are two piece and get flattened and then don't make as good of contact.

[ZMANN]

i think yours is just under 1000 watts but you should verify

here is various OHM/Amp element specs http://www.rheem.com/docs/FetchDocum...3-5c50dbcf3112

[2000-7.3L]

but for the plug itself to get hot to the touch, and if the cord it hot, there may be a short causing it to get hot

[noplugs4me]

I just replaced the plug on mine yesterday. My Son and I were unhooking the truck and a HUGE spark flew out at us. Turned out it was a cut in the wire right at the plug. Scared the crap out of 4 year old boy! -Jason

[2000-7.3L]

Thats what im saying! for it to be hot like that THERE IS A SHORT in the cable or the plug!

[rober]

i'll put a new plug on the cable. the insulation may have deteriated & it's allowing some bleeding. i'd think an actual dead short would shoot sparks & blow breakers.

[NoRalPh]

It's also likely that the "blades" on the plug need to be cleaned for a better contact with the extension cord. A poor connection would lead to higher resistance and heat build-up.

Take one of those green Scotch Bright pads and clean all 4 sides bright and see if it still gets hot before you buy another one...