Community Forums

RV Vagabond · 09-18-2016, 08:15 PM

If you have a 50 amp coach but an RV park has power posts with only 30 amp and 20 amp outlets, can you run a regular extension cord from the 20 amp outlet through your kitchen window and use that for appliances, so you are actually getting up to 50 amps of power

jacwjames · 09-18-2016, 09:05 PM

Yes you can run an extension cord and augment your coach power. You'll still be limited to 30 amp for whatever is going through your coaches power distribution system.

The PO of my coach actually put a standard outlet that the rear AC unit is plugged into. I can take an extension cord and plug my rear AC unit in and bypass the coach system, effectively giving me the 50 amp service.

Scottybdivin · 09-18-2016, 09:09 PM

Yes, as long as you realize it's not the same as a 50A plug and you only have 1/2 as much power available.

lynnmor · 09-19-2016, 06:52 AM

One more thing, if the 20 amp breaker is wired in after the 30 amp one, you will still be limited to 30 amps. Most are not wired that way, but it is possible.

TexasTom · 09-19-2016, 07:13 AM

Power Maximizer™ - Camco

Hooligan · 09-19-2016, 08:13 AM

Connecting to both breakers as you intend, could supply 50 amps total. Besides the Maximiser above, there is also a "cheater" box that does the same thing....

A true 50 amp circuit provides 2 legs, each 120 volt 50 amps for a total of 100 amps.

Good article on RV wiring here: RV Wiring

MisterT · 09-19-2016, 02:37 PM

yes, we do it quite often when in a situation where only a 30a shore power is available, and we might need 'more' amps, especially for air conditioners - I use the camco 30/20 adapter...

...some site boxes come with both 30a and a residential 20a outlet, which is perfect for this adapter, BUT, the 20a CANNOT be a GFCI outlet or else this adapter will not work.
In that case, though, you can still run an extension cord to ANOTHER 20a outlet that you may find, which will allow you to still use this adapter, giving your coach a total of 50a of maximum power.
As someone else said, this is not exactly the 'same' 50a that you might normally think of since it is limited to 50a, not 100a as normal '50a' shore power is.

(don't tell anyone, but I've even used another duel30a adapter, along with this 30/20a adapter, to pull from two different 30a sites for a total of 80 amps! shhhhh!)

RV Vagabond · 09-20-2016, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterT

yes, we do it quite often when in a situation where only a 30a shore power is available, and we might need 'more' amps, especially for air conditioners - I use the camco 30/20 adapter...

...some site boxes come with both 30a and a residential 20a outlet, which is perfect for this adapter, BUT, the 20a CANNOT be a GFCI outlet or else this adapter will not work.
In that case, though, you can still run an extension cord to ANOTHER 20a outlet that you may find, which will allow you to still use this adapter, giving your coach a total of 50a of maximum power.
As someone else said, this is not exactly the 'same' 50a that you might normally think of since it is limited to 50a, not 100a as normal '50a' shore power is.

(don't tell anyone, but I've even used another duel30a adapter, along with this 30/20a adapter, to pull from two different 30a sites for a total of 80 amps! shhhhh!)

That's definately the best solution - just ordered one from Amazon.

12rvrepair · 09-22-2016, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hooligan

Connecting to both breakers as you intend, could supply 50 amps total. Besides the Maximiser above, there is also a "cheater" box that does the same thing....

A true 50 amp circuit provides 2 legs, each 120 volt 50 amps for a total of 100 amps.

Good article on RV wiring here: RV Wiring

Wrong on the 100 amps. 50 amps are 30-20 total of 50.

**pasdad1** · 09-22-2016, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12rvrepair

Wrong on the 100 amps. 50 amps are 30-20 total of 50.

No. He is right on the 100 amps. They "call it 50 amp service because that is what the breakers are labeled ....however they are actually 2 breakers in one, each switching 50 amps, for a total of 100. There are two hot leads - each 180 degrees out of phase in a "50 amp" RV pedestal.

jchristian11 · 09-22-2016, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasdad1

No. He is right on the 100 amps. They "call it 50 amp service because that is what the breakers are labeled ....however they are actually 2 breakers in one, each switching 50 amps, for a total of 100. There are two hot leads - each 180 degrees out of phase in a "50 amp" RV pedestal.

Yes, he is right. It is 50 amps at 240 volts or 100 amps at 120 volts.

However, the adapter shown above is only 50 amps.

mrboyer · 09-22-2016, 05:45 PM

And the adapter will not work if the 20 amp outlet is GFI.

docj · 09-22-2016, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV Vagabond

That's definately the best solution - just ordered one from Amazon.

There's an even better cheater that has a 30A plug on each end. You can always use a 30A/15A adapter on one of the lines, but if you do have two site pedestals available you can use both 30A plugs.

mel s · 09-22-2016, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV Vagabond

That's definately the best solution - just ordered one from Amazon.

RV Vagabond
Be aware that those "split cord adapter gadgets" will not work if one of the receptacles used is a 20A GFCI receptacle, (which are common in campgrounds)....OR if you try to use them with 30A GFCI protected receptacle, (which are not common but can sometimes be found in camp sites).