30 Amp plugged into 50 Amp - Page 2

Pete'sMH · 09-11-2020, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavie

That's what I do with mine. I installed an oulet box under the dinette table in the slide. Drilled hole in the floor. Ran a wire out with a plug on the end. extension cord from there to the 20 amp outlet on the ped.

Mine’s a bit more permanent than that. Hard wired the AC and the outlet in the living area to a single 20A breaker panel and a 20A inlet in the electrical compartment. Works great just a bit clunky looking.

Bob Denman · 09-11-2020, 11:42 PM

I always keep a 50 to 30, and a 20 to 30 set of dogbone in the electric bay.
I also have a 20 to 30 puck that I've used many times without any problems with it overheating.

Hooligan2 · 09-11-2020, 11:49 PM

Pete- Here is the 50 to 30 adapter. It uses one side of the 50 amp service. You could use make the same adaptation at your end of a 50 amp supply cord and have the unused blade for your 2nd circuit, Neutral and ground would be common to both circuits. You would need circuit protection for both legs.. at the RV.

Bob Denman · 09-12-2020, 12:43 PM

It'd be a shame to be near a power source, and have no way to plug into it.

rbobcollins · 09-16-2020, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimenez61

I was told that with an adapter I can plug my 30 amp cord into 50 amp outlet. My last trip, outlet at rv park tripped like 4 times. So they told me to buy an adapter like that it will not trip.

My question is: by doing this will it mess up anything in my RV? Can I put electricity in 50 amp outlet with an adapter?

Your breakers in your coach should protect you.

Brakeman48 · 09-16-2020, 07:51 PM

I was using a 20amp cord with a dog bone plugged into my 50amp cord plugged into my home 50amp receptical because my 50amp cord was not long enough. I fried one leg where the 20amp cord plugged into the dog bone.
Not sure why this happened but I’m going to buy another 50amp cord.

**16ACE27** · 09-16-2020, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brakeman48

I was using a 20amp cord with a dog bone plugged into my 50amp cord plugged into my home 50amp receptical because my 50amp cord was not long enough. I fried one leg where the 20amp cord plugged into the dog bone.
Not sure why this happened but I’m going to buy another 50amp cord.

Sounds like your RV was pulling more than 20 amps.

Pete'sMH · 09-16-2020, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbobcollins

Your breakers in your coach should protect you.

Look at the drawing in post #23. Your dog bone is only linked to one leg of the 50A outlet and that is exactly what the 30A outlet does - connect one leg of the power grid’s 240V service. You won’t hut anything and your RV won’t know the difference.

Bob Denman · 09-16-2020, 08:22 PM

Amen...

Clearly; one of the hot leads has been left unattached.

DogLovers · 09-16-2020, 11:03 PM

Well the easiest way is the way I do it. I have a hamster wheel type treadmill on the back of the RV. I just tie my mother-in-law to it (the one that knows everything) and tie a chicken leg just out of reach in front of her. Powers up the entire RV. 😎

Bob Denman · 09-17-2020, 12:13 AM

She's standing right behind you..,

Glensouth · 09-17-2020, 02:41 AM

No, you will be fine.

Connieb · 09-17-2020, 11:55 AM

The last park we were in the power at the pole was 98-102 volts, which kept tripping the surge protector. The manager said that is normal for the park, as they need to upgrade.Some campers that Don't have a surge protector may not have noticed,other than the ac laboring.So we had to leave,this park.It is a Florida State Park.

Bob Denman · 09-17-2020, 01:02 PM

Their attitude seemed a bit casual: don't you think?

Pete'sMH · 09-17-2020, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Connieb

The last park we were in the power at the pole was 98-102 volts, which kept tripping the surge protector. The manager said that is normal for the park, as they need to upgrade.Some campers that Don't have a surge protector may not have noticed,other than the ac laboring.So we had to leave,this park.It is a Florida State Park.

After encountering 2 parks with low voltage I added a plug-in digital voltmeter (which doubles as our bathroom. Igniter light) so I can keep an eye on it and an onboard autoformer to boost voltage when needed. I now consider both items to be essential travel gear.

Bob Denman · 09-17-2020, 01:29 PM

What is that electronic management system that can help to boost the voltage?
AutoFormer??

Pete'sMH · 09-17-2020, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hooligan2

Pete- Here is the 50 to 30 adapter. It uses one side of the 50 amp service. You could use make the same adaptation at your end of a 50 amp supply cord and have the unused blade for your 2nd circuit, Neutral and ground would be common to both circuits. You would need circuit protection for both legs.. at the RV.

So if I added a small 50A 240V service panel in my electrical compartment upstream of my transfer switch I could use one leg to feed he ATS and the onboard panel just like always, with no changes anywhere and the other leg could feed my current 20A subpanel. This would make the existing 30A panel and my added 20A panels just two sub panels to a 50A system. All it would cost is the 50A power cord and the small panel. I might do that if I can confirm that it meets code. Any electricians here that can tell me if that’ll work?

Beau388 · 09-17-2020, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

So if I added a small 50A 240V service panel in my electrical compartment upstream of my transfer switch I could use one leg to feed he ATS and the onboard panel just like always, with no changes anywhere and the other leg could feed my current 20A subpanel. This would make the existing 30A panel and my added 20A panels just two sub panels to a 50A system. All it would cost is the 50A power cord and the small panel. I might do that if I can confirm that it meets code. Any electricians here that can tell me if that’ll work?

No problems but remember the wires must be protected by a circuit breaker; so at your main 240 V panel you would need a 30 amp circuit breaker on one leg to feed your ATS and an additional 20 amp circuit breaker on leg 2 to feed your 20 amp sub panel.

Pete'sMH · 09-17-2020, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beau388

No problems but remember the wires must be protected by a circuit breaker; so at your main 240 V panel you would need a 30 amp circuit breaker on one leg to feed your ATS and an additional 20 amp circuit breaker on leg 2 to feed your 20 amp sub panel.

Cool. Thank you. I’ll get to looking for a small main service panel. Might be hard to find....

RVGeek · 09-17-2020, 08:43 PM

I use a dog bone whenever 50 amps is available for my 30 amp service. The 50 amp connectors have more contact surface and should not heat as much from contact oxidation. Additionally, I spray contact cleaner in the unenergized receptacle and insert the plug several times to clean the surfaces.

The downside of this approach is that 10 gauge power cable to the power post is only protected at 50 amps. Most likely, a fault in that cable should still trip the 50 amp breaker.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimenez61

I was told that with an adapter I can plug my 30 amp cord into 50 amp outlet. My last trip, outlet at rv park tripped like 4 times. So they told me to buy an adapter like that it will not trip.

My question is: by doing this will it mess up anything in my RV? Can I put electricity in 50 amp outlet with an adapter?

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