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Old 03-06-2013, 08:30 AM   #1
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50 amp to 30 amp

I want to park my 50 amp class A at a Lake but they have only 20 and 30 amp outlets. Can I get the reducer plug and still be safe and able to use everything in rv? I heard 30 amp can hanle only 1 rooftop ac unit so could I use only 1 and still use frig etc. I live in RV full time and am gone 10 hrs a day. I have 2 rooftop ac units with separate controls. Also have washer/dryer hookup but don't have unit so no extra power needed there.
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Old 03-06-2013, 08:38 AM   #2
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The simple answer is no you can not run everything in your MH on a 30 amp service unlike you can on a 50 amp service.
With a 30 amp service you will be able to run just one AC and most small stuff, no
washer/dryer when ac is on.
Another way to put is with a 30 amp service you have a max total of 3,600 watts
of power, with a 50 amp service you have 12,000 watts of power, big difference.
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Old 03-06-2013, 08:38 AM   #3
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I doubt you'd be happy for long. A 50 amp coach is 50 X 2 120 volt feeds or 100 total amps max. With the conversion adapter you will have 30 X 1 120 volt feed or 30 amps max. So you will only have 30% of what your coach is capable of distributing. You will definitely have to juggle your use between AC, coffee maker, convection/microwave etc.
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Old 03-06-2013, 08:42 AM   #4
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Hi and welcome to the forum.

The advice so far is spot on. You'll have to learn to manage your electrical usage on 30 amps. Having said that, it's very doable. We spend a month every summer at my FIL's place in rural Minnesota and only have a 15 amp circuit available for our 50 amp 40 DP.

We switch our water heater and fridge to propane while there but there's no way we can fire up the AC when it gets hot.

Best of luck.

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Old 03-06-2013, 08:43 AM   #5
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I've stayed in a park with only 30 amp service for months on end.
1 roof A/C, and the fridge your ok. make sure your H/W is on propane not electric, as that could push the power supply over the edge. Microwave, depending on size is also questionable.
If your not using A/C then you're good for everything else.

Boy do these other guys type fast !!
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Old 03-06-2013, 08:50 AM   #6
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I have an adaptor(cheater box) that allows the use of 2 30 amp services to make a 60 amp. CW sells one and if can be adapted to Ron off of a 15 and a 30. Either way that you go, you will need judicious power management.
We have successfully used our cheater box for many moons. It allows for use of both AC's, microwave and DW's hair dryer. Just make sure that the wires aren't overheating.
Good luck!
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Old 03-06-2013, 10:22 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by First Timer View Post
I want to park my 50 amp class A at a Lake but they have only 20 and 30 amp outlets. Can I get the reducer plug and still be safe and able to use everything in rv? I heard 30 amp can hanle only 1 rooftop ac unit so could I use only 1 and still use frig etc. I live in RV full time and am gone 10 hrs a day. I have 2 rooftop ac units with separate controls. Also have washer/dryer hookup but don't have unit so no extra power needed there.
Pick up one of these and you will be better off than just 30 amp alone

Power Maximizer 50 Amp
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Old 03-06-2013, 10:27 AM   #8
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The cheater box posted above is the way to go. You plug the box into 2 seperate 30a outlets and your motor home into the box. It gives your MH 2 - 30a circuits which my experience was sufficient to run whatever I wanted. Most newer MH have a power management system that will automaticly shut down things if power requirements exceed the threshold.
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Old 03-06-2013, 08:33 PM   #9
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Looks like a winner. Thanks to all who responded.
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Old 03-07-2013, 06:39 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bjsheldon View Post
The cheater box posted above is the way to go. You plug the box into 2 seperate 30a outlets and your motor home into the box. It gives your MH 2 - 30a circuits which my experience was sufficient to run whatever I wanted. Most newer MH have a power management system that will automaticly shut down things if power requirements exceed the threshold.
The adapter mentioned above is used to plug into a 30 amp and 15/20 amp receptacle on the same pedestal. Most pedestals that use this configuration are fed with a single 30 amp circuit and you gain nothing by using the adapter unless you can plug into seperate power sources.

I would be more concerned about the distance from the power source and whether I was actually getting 30 amps. I have been to several locations where only 10-15 amps was available at the 30 amp receptacle because of the power drop from insufficient wiring. In Alaska you could be the first off the distribution box and still only get 15-20 amps because that was all that was ever available from the 20 amp circuit breaker to the 30 amp receptacle.

I never plug into park power without verifying it's wired correctly and that the voltage is correct and preferably on the high side.
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Old 03-07-2013, 12:26 PM   #11
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^^^^^ What he said.
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Old 03-07-2013, 05:00 PM   #12
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It is no big deal. Propane is cheap enough that you can run the HWS on propane and just manage the 30 amps that you have. We invariably have just a 15 amp supply in Mexico and one rooftop AC runs happily all day. If we need the microwave, we just switch off the AC for a few minutes. Battery charger and the small stuff doesn't draw much so really it is only the AC and microwave that need watching.

BTW - adapting up from a 15A 3 pin to a 30 Amp three pin to a 50 amp 4 pin isn't subject to the same dangers as trying to combine two separate outlets to feed both legs of a 50 amp plug. If it isn't illegal, it certainly should be.
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