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dezi · 10-01-2014, 04:33 PM

I know i am off a little on subject here,but i have a question that is kind of opposite.I have a 30 amp unit and i am wondering if there would be an advantage to use dog bone,and hook up to 50 amp using electric heater?

BFlinn181 · 10-01-2014, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dezi

I know i am off a little on subject here,but i have a question that is kind of opposite.I have a 30 amp unit and i am wondering if there would be an advantage to use dog bone,and hook up to 50 amp using electric heater?

Your RV is only 30 amps, you can't use more than that. If you use a separate cord from the pedestal to your interior for an electric heater, that will work.

dezi · 10-01-2014, 05:50 PM

Thank you for the excellent ideas to make things safer,if i run an extension cord to electric heater,run it threw door or window or install outside hook up like Verdana said.Is there any other way of running cord with out going threw window or door?
Thank you Mike

vsheetz · 10-01-2014, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dezi

Thank you for the excellent ideas to make things safer,if i run an extension cord to electric heater,run it threw door or window or install outside hook up like Verdana said.Is there any other way of running cord with out going threw window or door?
Thank you Mike

Maybe make a penetration from a storage bay or other compartment, run a cord or install an outlet and wiring to where the heater sits.

Mr_D · 10-01-2014, 08:08 PM

The two breakers on a 50 amp RV circuit are 50 amps each so, in theory you COULD draw more amps BUT the breakers in your 30 amp RV would keep it from happening.

ChasA · 10-02-2014, 09:19 AM

There could be a reason to use the 50 amp plug (with the appropriate adapter). A lot of 30 amp outlets are worn out because they get much more use. Using a worn out receptacle could melt your plug.

gemini5362 · 10-03-2014, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

The two breakers on a 50 amp RV circuit are 50 amps each so, in theory you COULD draw more amps BUT the breakers in your 30 amp RV would keep it from happening.

This arguement has been made a lot of time. You are partially correct. The 30 amp breakers would protect the coach. However the 30 amp cord which is connected to the coach would not have anything protecting it. The breaker will supply 50+ amps before tripping. The cord will only take 30 amps before it is getting in the hot mode. I do not recommend anyone doing this

wa8yxm · 10-03-2014, 10:44 AM

With a 30 amp RV the major advantages of using a dogbone to the 50 amp outlet are as follows:
1: In many parks the 30 amp outlet is well worn, the 50 not so much, so you get a better connection.
2: The breaker may be older and anemic, now if it's lost say 20% of it's capacity, your 30 amp breaker is tripping at what, 18 amps. The 50 (if it's lost 20 percent) is now a 30.

A suggestion: There is a cord, I believe Camco sells it, has a 50 amp plug and TWO 30 amp outlets... You plug the rig into one side, and plug a 15-30 amp PUCK adapter (one piece, not a dog bone) into the other, then run a 12 ga cord in via any possible gap (IE: Slideout) to run that heater. Doing it this way you basically ignore the heater.

Also, if like me you have a plug in converter.. It can be fed off that same leg,, So there is another couple to 10 amps off the 30 amp side.

pumper9x9 · 10-04-2014, 08:26 AM

If you try to run the heater off an internal (inside the coach) and they are all wired through your inverter you may fry your inverter. That little mistake cost me a new inverter.

wa8yxm · 10-04-2014, 10:16 AM

Best options are
1: Snake a 12 ga extension cord into the RV from outside, You can often do this easily if you have a slide out and it's half way in/out.

Plug it into the park's 20 amp outlet and plug heater into it

2: Use a 30/30-50 cord (I think camco makes one) this is a 50 amp plug with two 30 amp outlets "Y" connected, plug RV into one, plug a 15-30 adpater into the other as above or...

Make a 2nd pigtail 30 amp to multiple 15/20 amp via breakers. and plug that into the other leg, and run 2 12 ga cords to 2 space heaters. (My personal choice if I can do it)

Dutch Star Don · 10-04-2014, 12:47 PM

"dezi"......on my previous coach, a 2005 Monaco Diplomat with 50 amp service, I added an extra power cord. Obviously, with 50 amps I had plenty of power, but at 30 amp campgrounds, in cold weather, I wanted more power to run electric heaters. On a large motor home, such as my Diplomat, 30 amps really limits what you can do and using an electric heater makes it worse.

Here's what I did. I ran Romex through flexible plastic conduit to the living area and bathroom. I used this Romex to add an outlet in the bathroom and one in the living area. The Romex was stubbed back to my power bay where I connected it to a three prong 20 amp power cord.

This cord allowed me to connect to the 15/20 amp plug in the shore power box. Now my 30 amps were free to operate the coach and the 15/20 amp cord ran the electric heater. My wife also knew that when we only had 30 amps, she would plug her hair dryer into the added bathroom outlet.

I also agree with "pump9x9" and you should never run electric heaters off of outlets that are connected to an inverter. It's hard on the inverter, even though the inverter is in pass thru mode.