Community Forums

TheKassman · 07-11-2018, 09:36 AM

Staying at my brother in law and he has a 220 plug with an adapter to fit my 50A cord. Can I do that? I know 50A is two 115 lines. So is that the same. Can I plug in??

Mr_D · 07-11-2018, 09:43 AM

What does the plug look like that you are adapting to?
3 prong 220, NO.
4 prong 220, maybe.

Winepress · 07-11-2018, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheKassman

Staying at my brother in law and he has a 220 plug with an adapter to fit my 50A cord. Can I do that? I know 50A is two 115 lines. So is that the same. Can I plug in??

Have qualified electrician verify that the outlet is wired for RV 50 amp. Not wired correctly and you will most likely fry everything electrical in the RV.
Someone will probably post the drawings of the proper configuration.

Old Scout · 07-11-2018, 09:51 AM

…."normally," a 50 amp double pole plug in a residential setting is designed for use with an electric kitchen range or similar appliance. This type of plug and your 50 amp RV plug are the same. Not sure what you mean by an "adaptor"--usually these plugs are compatible with no adaptor required [this could be a "red flag"][normal 4-prongs config--round grd on top, 120v on either side, and neutral on bottom]. Double-pole breaker is required to provide phased 120V legs so neutral is not overloaded. Think I would double-check the breaker box and confirm that circuit is powered by a 50 amp/double-pole breaker....

Skip426 · 07-11-2018, 10:01 AM

Have him plug in his RV first.

Mr_D , said it , if the wall plug is 3 prong 220volt/50amp, don't hook up to it.
Here's the test for an RV outlet.

twinboat · 07-11-2018, 10:12 AM

If its got 4 blades its good. 3 blades is missing the neutral.

Your RV needed the neutral to split the 240 volts to 120 at your RVs main breaker panel..

If its 30 amp 240 volt service, it still must be 4 blade. The old 3 blade 240 volt service, with No neutral, has been phased out but still around for dryers.

http://www.myrv.us/electric/Pg/50amp_Service.htm

**TonyDi** · 07-11-2018, 10:55 AM

[QUOTE=Skip426;4285702]Have him plug in his RV first.

Now that's funny.

Old-Biscuit · 07-11-2018, 11:24 AM

Well............did you plug in OR have you found that using an adapter is NOT needed if BIL outlet is correct???

AKOne · 07-11-2018, 01:01 PM

This is the cheat sheet I made for testing 50 amp shore power: 50 Amp Test.pdf

wolfe10 · 07-11-2018, 01:06 PM

As already posted, his 220 amp COULD BE OK OR COULD DESTROY YOUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

As suggested, verify with a voltmeter. The critical issues is that his 220 is not a three wire with no neutral. If no neutral, it can not be used on any RV.

Follow the diagrams above to test.

Cooperhawk · 07-11-2018, 01:07 PM

If he says it's a 220 volt receptacle then you CANNOT plug into it.

I have several for my welders and large air compressor that are definitely 220. 50 amp is NOT 220 volts. It's two 110 volt lines with a return and ground.

It is entirely possible that someone might have wired the wrong receptacle into his system and you could fry everything.

Be very sure what you're plugging into.

Old Scout · 07-11-2018, 01:45 PM

CooperHawk----so help me understand--tell me the difference between your 220 volt "welder plug" and 220volt with two 120v legs for a 50 amp RV?

wolfe10 · 07-11-2018, 02:21 PM

Some welders use two hots and a ground.

Modern house 50 amp (like for a range) are the same as RV: two hots, ONE NEUTRAL and a ground. That is exactly how our home stove-top is wired.

So the answer is MAYBE-- depends on how his 220 is wired.

Said another way both are 220 (i.e. two hots). But one does not have the REQUIRED NEUTRAL.

wolfe10 · 07-11-2018, 02:49 PM

Old Scout-- yes frustrating.

The only thing the OP said (have not seen any more posts by them since the original) is:

" 220 plug with an adapter to fit my 50A cord"

The "adapter" part has many of us suspecting this is not a "with neutral" outlet.