Community Forums

macantic · 05-16-2012, 05:33 PM

Hi all,new to rv'ing and was wondering if would matter or hurt anything to use 50 amp service if my rig only calls for 30 amp.I'm assuming it wouldn't since they sell adapters for this purpose.Thanks!

RustyJC · 05-16-2012, 05:34 PM

No, with a proper 50A male to 30A female adapter, it's not a problem.

Rusty

bonzocfi · 05-16-2012, 05:41 PM

If your coach is set up for 30 amp service, then that's the max amperage that your coach can handle. You can't use 50 amp service.

RustyJC · 05-16-2012, 05:44 PM

What?? The coach can't draw more than 30 amps from the pedestal - the 30 amp main breaker in the coach's power distribution center sees to that. 30 amp rigs plug into 50 amp receptacles in the power pedestal using commercially available dogbone adapters all the time. It's not a problem.

Rusty

Sequim Guy · 05-16-2012, 05:50 PM

With the proper adapter, I believe you would only get 30amp from a 50amp
plug, running into the RV.
The adapter just drops the 50amp to 30amp. IMO

Richard S. · 05-16-2012, 05:53 PM

Link attached below that has all the information you need.

Shore powert

docj · 05-16-2012, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sequim Guy

With the proper adapter, I believe you would only get 30amp from a 50amp
plug, running into the RV.
The adapter just drops the 50amp to 30amp. IMO

This is the sort of misinformation that manages to confuse more than it helps.

The 50/30 adapter doesn't do anything other than connect the 30A plug on the end of your cable and the 50A socket that may be on the pedestal. It doesn't "drop down" the 50A to 30A or anything else. It simply makes it physically possible to make the connection.

A 50A circuit is simply capable of providing 50A if the device plugged into it is capable of using it. The circuit doesn't provide any more current (electrical energy) than your RV can use. In your case the maximum current the RV can use is determined by the circuit breaker in the RV which is 30A. No matter what you plug it into, the maximum it can use is 30A.

The concept isn't difficult to understand. All through your house you plug stuff into sockets that have breakers of 15 or 20A. However, nothing is damaged because the stuff you plug in isn't capable of using that much current and most of them are protected by breakers and fuses to make sure they don't.

Having said all this, I have yet to see a CG pedestal that has a 50A socket that doesn't also have a 30A one. I gather there are some around, but I think they are few and far between.

bonzocfi · 05-16-2012, 06:04 PM

I guess I'm missing something here. If my coach is wired for 30 amp service, why would I want to plug into 50 amp service?

docj · 05-16-2012, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonzocfi

I guess I'm missing something here. If my coach is wired for 30 amp service, why would I want to plug into 50 amp service?

You would get absolutely no benefit from doing so, but it is potentially possible that you could be in a situation in which there was only a 50A socket. In that case you could use an adapter to make it possible to connect.

TXiceman · 05-16-2012, 06:08 PM

Here we go again. I bet that poor old horse is getting tired.

Why do folks without a clue have to chime in with "Urban myths".

Yes you can use a 50 to 30 amp Dog-Bone adapter to power a 30 amp coach. The coach is protected with it's 30 amp breakers and will not allow more than 30 amps to be drawn on the power cord.

You might also say that the 50 amp breakers will not protect the 30 amp cord. It won't if you try to draw 50 amps, but the coach breakers will not allow more than 30 amps. So the remaining case is if the cord has a dead short. In this case, it will trip the 50 amp break(s) in the power pedestal.

Ken

RustyJC · 05-16-2012, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonzocfi

I guess I'm missing something here. If my coach is wired for 30 amp service, why would I want to plug into 50 amp service?

Because the 30 amp receptacle in the power pedestal is burned or otherwise defective would be one reason.

Rusty

Eddie Foy · 05-16-2012, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sequim Guy

With the proper adapter, I believe you would only get 30amp from a 50amp
plug, running into the RV.
The adapter just drops the 50amp to 30amp. IMO

Think of it this way. An RV that is wired for 50A service uses two 110v legs limited to 50A each. If your coach is wired for 30A this means that it uses one leg at 110V and 30A max. A 50A coach can plug into a 30A service by using an adapter. The EMS in the coach senses 110V only and assumes a 30A service. There is no reason to plug a 30A RV into a 50A receptacle unless there is no 30A available. . The plugs are different to prevent this. I assume an adapter is available to allow plugging into 50A if nothing else is available. It does this by tapping into one of the 120V legs.

Eddie Foy · 05-16-2012, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sequim Guy

With the proper adapter, I believe you would only get 30amp from a 50amp
plug, running into the RV.
The adapter just drops the 50amp to 30amp. IMO

You believe incorrectly. You would get 120V at a max of 50A before the pedestal breaker tripped.

macantic · 05-16-2012, 06:19 PM

Thats exactly why i'm asking,the place i'm going to, or that is,the spot they have for me only has 50 amp service and was wondering.

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

You would get absolutely no benefit from doing so, but it is potentially possible that you could be in a situation in which there was only a 50A socket. In that case you could use an adapter to make it possible to connect.