Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Thor Forums > Thor Community Forums > Thor Owners Community Discussions
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 02-26-2016, 02:37 PM   #1
Member
 
FWCS24-T TR's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Washington
Posts: 34
THOR #2788
Rv Park 50amp service to 30amp service.

We are planning to go in March for a long weekend of camping. The RV park has 50 amp service and my RV has only 30 amp service. We have always boondock first time in a RV Park. Is their something I need to buy to convert 50 amp to 30 amp, or am I fine? Do not want to have a electrical problem.

__________________
FWCS24-T TR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2016, 02:40 PM   #2
Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
The plugs are physically different, you'll need something like this:
Power Grip Adapter - 50A Male to 30A Female - Camco 55175 - Electrical Adapters - Camping World
__________________
2022 Thor Axis 24.4
2021 Mach-E
blog - https://spareelectrons.wordpress.com/
JamieGeek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2016, 03:33 PM   #3
gmc
Senior Member
 
gmc's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 32A
State: Florida
Posts: 1,873
THOR #2829
Most RV parks (but not all) I have been to with 50amp service have both 50 and 30amp plugs/breakers in the box... May want to check to see if that is the case where you are going...
If they don't, you would need the adapter Jamie mentioned.

For parks with 30amp service - those of us with 50 amp units need an opposite adapter (and an RV that is ok running on 30... My 50 amp Hurricane - if running on 30amp, I leave off the second AC and leave the water heater on gas - and it stays happy.)
__________________
gmc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2016, 03:46 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
Like gmc said, I'd check with campground. Chances are very good that if they have 50-A they will also have 30-A.
__________________
Chance is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2016, 03:58 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Travelin' Texans's Avatar
 
Brand: Redwood
Model: 36FB
State: Arizona
Posts: 1,766
THOR #3610
Our 5er is 50amp & in all our travels across this country have been to only 1 older park that had only 30amp all others have had 20/30/50.
__________________
Fulltimed 10+ years
Sold '13 Thor Redwood 36 FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
Travelin' Texans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2016, 04:05 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
bevedfelker's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2015 Vegas 24.1
State: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,468
THOR #2601
Like othets mentioned, I have never been to a park with 50 SMP service that didn't have all three (50, 30, 20 amp) service on the power pedestal. There will be 3 different plugs and separate circuit breakers for each service. You can't mess it up because each service has a different plug configuration. Each one will also be labeled.
__________________
Ed & Bev Felker
Retired USAF Col and retired Nurse
Traveling with Lily & Bella ('Teddy Bear' breed)
2015 Vegas 24.1 (E-350)
bevedfelker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2016, 04:32 PM   #7
gmc
Senior Member
 
gmc's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 32A
State: Florida
Posts: 1,873
THOR #2829
Quote:
Originally Posted by bevedfelker View Post
... I have never been to a park with 50 SMP service that didn't have all three (50, 30, 20 amp) service on the power pedestal.
I started my reply saying 'All RV parks I have been to' - then stopped and walked outside to look... Current park has 50 and 20 on the pedestal - but no 30... They seem to have a variety of different configurations depending on when service was added/upgraded.

Bottom line - never hurts to have the adapter with you (and power/water/sewer extensions and...) No wonder the storage bins fill up!
Each addition to my storage bins was the result of being somewhere and needing it.
__________________
gmc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2016, 04:46 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
Quote:
Originally Posted by gmc View Post
I started my reply saying 'All RV parks I have been to' - then stopped and walked outside to look... Current park has 50 and 20 on the pedestal - but no 30... They seem to have a variety of different configurations depending on when service was added/upgraded.

Bottom line - never hurts to have the adapter with you (and power/water/sewer extensions and...) No wonder the storage bins fill up!
Each addition to my storage bins was the result of being somewhere and needing it.
Are all sites the same at campground? I've stayed at a few campgrounds where they had dedicated 50-A at some sites (like those for larger rigs) and the rest had at least 30-A.
__________________
Chance is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2016, 07:36 PM   #9
Site Team
 
EA37TS's Avatar
 
Brand: Entegra
Model: Accolade 37TS
State: South Dakota
Posts: 8,726
THOR #1469
Chantilly Festival Farm in Floyd VA. %0 amp or 20 amp. There is no 30 amp anywhere on the property. When we stayed for October fest a few years ago (with the prior class c) , the owner offered the use of a 30 to 50 dog bone but I already had one in the kit bag.

I have been to a few parks where there is only 50 and 20 amp on the pedestal. Some of them had 30 amp service at some sites but the larger and often times nicer sites were set up for 50 amp.

Also, I was ready an article awhile back that said as parks are renovating and improving they are going to 50 amp rather than 30 amp.
__________________
Dave
US Army (Ret)
2020 Entegra Accolade 37TS
2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk (Toad)
FMCA - F432054
EA37TS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2016, 07:43 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
bevedfelker's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2015 Vegas 24.1
State: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,468
THOR #2601
Guess I've been lucky thus far in my selection of parks and sites. Being a good "belt and suspenders" kind of guy, sounds like I need to put a 30-50 dog bone in the storage compartment.

And also -- here's my dumb question of the day -- I thought a 50 amp service was 220 VAC not 110 VAC like a 30 amp. The 30-50 amp dog bone allows me to plug my 30 amp cable into a 50 amp receptacle on the power pedestal. What keeps from applying 50 amps 220VAC through my 30 amp cable to my 30 amp 110 VAC service on the Vegas blowing all my 30 amp fuses and/or frying all my electrical stuff? (I did say this was my dumb question of the day)
__________________
Ed & Bev Felker
Retired USAF Col and retired Nurse
Traveling with Lily & Bella ('Teddy Bear' breed)
2015 Vegas 24.1 (E-350)
bevedfelker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2016, 07:58 PM   #11
Member
 
FWCS24-T TR's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Washington
Posts: 34
THOR #2788
Love this site. Thank You for all your help. I did call the RV Park. Yes they have both service, but their website only states 50 amp service. They are going to add also have 30amp service. People are right your storage bins get full with all the extra stuff you have to bring. Now we are only hoping for clear sky's here in Washington State.
__________________
FWCS24-T TR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2016, 08:11 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
bevedfelker's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2015 Vegas 24.1
State: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,468
THOR #2601
Think I found the answer to my question. The 50 amp plug has 110 VAC/25 amp on each of its "hot" legs. When using the adapter it only draws from one leg -- 110 VAC/25 amp. So it is using 25 amps rather than 30 amps. Guess you'd have to watch your total load since your are drawing 5 amps less than a normal 30 amp service.
__________________
Ed & Bev Felker
Retired USAF Col and retired Nurse
Traveling with Lily & Bella ('Teddy Bear' breed)
2015 Vegas 24.1 (E-350)
bevedfelker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2016, 08:14 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Travelin' Texans's Avatar
 
Brand: Redwood
Model: 36FB
State: Arizona
Posts: 1,766
THOR #3610
Once 50amp connects to your converter you have 2 sets of 110volt with 50amps on each leg not 220volts. When you use the dog bone it connects the wire to the same converter with less amps. I know this clear as mud, but you'll never have 220volts on anything.
__________________
Fulltimed 10+ years
Sold '13 Thor Redwood 36 FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
Travelin' Texans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2016, 08:19 PM   #14
Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
Quote:
Originally Posted by bevedfelker
Think I found the answer to my question. The 50 amp plug has 110 VAC/25 amp on each of its "hot" legs. When using the adapter it only draws from one leg -- 110 VAC/25 amp. So it is using 25 amps rather than 30 amps. Guess you'd have to watch your total load since your are drawing 5 amps less than a normal 30 amp service.
Right: The 50amp plug has 4 connections: The two "hot" legs, a neutral, and ground. The two "hot" legs are 180 degrees out of phase of each other so that the voltage between them will be 240V. The neutral line is just that and is always 120V from either "hot" leg. Thus the 30A adapter just uses one "hot" leg and the neutral line.

Here is a good diagram of it (Phase 1 and Phase 2 are the two "hot" legs):

(From a much longer discussion about it on RV.Net here: https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/f...print/true.cfm)

Even in campers, though, the 50A service is really split into two 120V systems (one system for the camper + one A/C unit, and the other system is the other A/C unit).

The only things that I know of that really use the 240V in total are:
  • Electric dryers
  • Electric ranges
  • Electric Vehicles (yeah first hand experience on this one)
__________________
2022 Thor Axis 24.4
2021 Mach-E
blog - https://spareelectrons.wordpress.com/
JamieGeek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2016, 08:31 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
bevedfelker's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2015 Vegas 24.1
State: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,468
THOR #2601
For a minute there I thought the adapter was sort of working like a thermos bottle -- you know, it keeps hot things hot and cold things cold. How do it know?
__________________
Ed & Bev Felker
Retired USAF Col and retired Nurse
Traveling with Lily & Bella ('Teddy Bear' breed)
2015 Vegas 24.1 (E-350)
bevedfelker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2016, 08:46 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
RustyJC's Avatar
 
Brand: DRV
Model: Mobile Suites 38RSSA
State: Texas
Posts: 206
THOR #2754
50 amp service provides 2 each 120VAC/50A hot legs for a theoretical power of 12,000 watts (120V x 50A x 2 legs). 30 amp service provides 1 each 120VAC/30A hot leg for a theoretical power of 3,600 watts (120V x 30A x 1 leg). If you plug a 30 amp adapter into 50 amp service, there's 50 amps available at the adapter (check the pedestal breaker box - that's why there are two linked 50 amp breakers. Each leg can supply 50 amps.)


With your 30 amp rig, the limiting factor will be the main 30 amp breaker in your RV's power distribution (breaker) box. It will never allow a current draw of more than 30 amps by your RV, even though the pedestal could supply 50 amps on that single hot leg powering the 50-to-30 adapter.


I've been in a number of RV parks that only have a single power receptacle (and no breakers) at the sites - some were 50A, and others were 30A.


Rusty
__________________
Rusty, Sandy, 2 Shelties (Coby & Callie) & Conner the Campground Cat
2016 Ram 3500 Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 Dually, 385/900 Cummins, Aisin AS69RC, 4.10 axle, 39,100 GCWR, 30,050 trailer tow, B&W RVK3600
Current: 2014.5 DRV Mobile Suites 38RSSA #6972 - Previous: 2004 MS 36RE3 #1291
RustyJC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2016, 09:00 PM   #17
gmc
Senior Member
 
gmc's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 32A
State: Florida
Posts: 1,873
THOR #2829
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chance View Post
Are all sites the same at campground? I've stayed at a few campgrounds where they had dedicated 50-A at some sites (like those for larger rigs) and the rest had at least 30-A.
Same campground... and they do have 30 elsewhere in park...
Still have typically seen both 30/50 on 50A pedestals so far.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dstankov View Post
...
I have been to a few parks where there is only 50 and 20 amp on the pedestal. Some of them had 30 amp service at some sites but the larger and often times nicer sites were set up for 50 amp.

Also, I was ready an article awhile back that said as parks are renovating and improving they are going to 50 amp rather than 30 amp.
True - I am on one of the larger sites by request... A little extra room makes a big difference for a 3+ month stay.

Makes sense for the campground not to pay the expense for both outlets, and an additional breaker on each pedestal when upgrading... Adds up quickly.

Quote:
Originally Posted by bevedfelker View Post
Think I found the answer to my question. The 50 amp plug has 110 VAC/25 amp on each of its "hot" legs. When using the adapter it only draws from one leg -- 110 VAC/25 amp. So it is using 25 amps rather than 30 amps. Guess you'd have to watch your total load since your are drawing 5 amps less than a normal 30 amp service.
Actually have access to the full 50amps (110/120V) The limit is your coach's 30A main breaker... but you can run everything you normally would with no issue...
__________________
gmc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2016, 02:13 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
Hooligan2's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2016 Siesta Sprinter 24ST
State: Florida
Posts: 602
THOR #2812
50 to 30 amp adapter only uses one side of the 50 amp plug.
__________________
Hooligan2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2016, 02:29 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
bevedfelker's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2015 Vegas 24.1
State: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,468
THOR #2601
Hooligan's drawing makes way more sense. The adapter is not providing two legs with 50 amps and my 30 amp circuit breaker is limiting the 50 amps to 30. I thought if you apply 50 amps to a 30 amp circuit breaker -- well it pops because that what it is designed to do for an overload of 50 amps on a 30 amp CB.

Hooligan's drawing shows that one leg of the 50 amp end does nothing except provide a "neutered" leg to fit the hole of the 50 amp connector on the pedestal. So the real limiting factor with the adapter is that one leg is not connected to anything (thereby not providing 110 VAC at 25 amps). Rather, the one leg that is properly wired provides 110 volts at somewhere around 25 amps.
__________________
Ed & Bev Felker
Retired USAF Col and retired Nurse
Traveling with Lily & Bella ('Teddy Bear' breed)
2015 Vegas 24.1 (E-350)
bevedfelker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2016, 03:19 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
RustyJC's Avatar
 
Brand: DRV
Model: Mobile Suites 38RSSA
State: Texas
Posts: 206
THOR #2754
Quote:
Originally Posted by bevedfelker View Post
Hooligan's drawing makes way more sense. The adapter is not providing two legs with 50 amps and my 30 amp circuit breaker is limiting the 50 amps to 30. I thought if you apply 50 amps to a 30 amp circuit breaker -- well it pops because that what it is designed to do for an overload of 50 amps on a 30 amp CB.
Being plugged into one hot leg of 120/240V 50 amp service versus the single hot leg of 120V 30 amp service has absolutely nothing to do with how much current your RV draws. Ohms law applies here, and current (I) is equal to voltage (E) divided by resistance (R). If I plug a 60 watt lamp into a 120 volt outlet, it's always going to draw 0.5 amps since its internal resistance is 240 ohms. I (0.5 amps) = E (120 volts) / R (240 ohms). It doesn't matter if I plug that lamp into a 120 volt 15 amp, 20 amp, 30 amp or 50 amp receptacle - it's going to draw 0.5 amps. Likewise, if you have loads on line in your RV that would draw 25 amps through the shore power line, your RV is going to draw the same 25 amps if it's plugged into 120 volt 30 amp or 120 volt 50 amp service.

Quote:
Originally Posted by bevedfelker View Post
Hooligan's drawing shows that one leg of the 50 amp end does nothing except provide a "neutered" leg to fit the hole of the 50 amp connector on the pedestal. So the real limiting factor with the adapter is that one leg is not connected to anything (thereby not providing 110 VAC at 25 amps). Rather, the one leg that is properly wired provides 110 volts at somewhere around 25 amps.
If that single leg of the 120/240V 50 amp service is providing 25 amps, it's because that is what the loads of the RV are drawing as described above. If not for the 30 amp breaker in your RV, that single leg of the 50 amp service is (by definition) capable of providing 50 amps. Go look in the power pedestal. There are two 50 amp (not 25 amp) linked breakers, one for each hot leg of the 120/240V 50 amp service.

Rusty
__________________
Rusty, Sandy, 2 Shelties (Coby & Callie) & Conner the Campground Cat
2016 Ram 3500 Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 Dually, 385/900 Cummins, Aisin AS69RC, 4.10 axle, 39,100 GCWR, 30,050 trailer tow, B&W RVK3600
Current: 2014.5 DRV Mobile Suites 38RSSA #6972 - Previous: 2004 MS 36RE3 #1291
RustyJC is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Thor Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.




All times are GMT. The time now is 11:05 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2