Community Forums

Dugan · 02-22-2021, 01:21 PM

Is there any issue using (other than lower amps available) an adapter on a 50amp power cord to access a 20amp 110 outlet?
Thanks for the help.

Pigman1 · 02-22-2021, 01:30 PM

Nope, no problem. I do it all the time.

cavie · 02-22-2021, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dugan

Is there any issue using (other than lower amps available) an adapter on a 50amp power cord to access a 20amp 110 outlet?
Thanks for the help.

Not at all. It's called a 50/20 dogbone. I would buy a 50/30 and a 30/20 just tocover all the bases.

https://www.amazon.com/MaxxHaul-8070...a-521808293884

Tedo · 02-22-2021, 01:54 PM

Agree with everyone and I’m sure you know you won’t be able to power many things on 20 amp. There’s a guide I was given that estimates the draw of various appliances, but can’t seem to find it. Might find one on line. Unless you plan to trip the circuit breaker, would plan on just charging the batteries, powering the fridge, and as few lights as possible.

KanzKran · 02-22-2021, 02:02 PM

I use a 30/20 whenever visiting family in TX. I also set my inverter/charger to 10A source to keep charging loads low. It's easy enough to overload a 30A supply, let alone a 15 or 20A, without the charger thinking it's on a larger supply than it really has.

I can actually see the charger supply current dropping as I change the setting to something lower, and go up as I increase the supply current setting.

Old-Biscuit · 02-22-2021, 02:44 PM

Have a 50A RV and when Brand New we lived in it alongside our empty house waiting for escrow to close.
Lived in it for 2 months. Course it was Feb/Mar so no A/C needed
Fridge/water heater on propane

Converter maintained batteries
We had lights at night....watched TV/DVDs
No Microwave
Managed just fine

As suggested get 30A/50aand 20-15A/30A 'dogbone' style (NO 'Pucks'---they are junk)

30A Male end/50A Female end

15A Male end /30A Female end

OR just a 15A Male to 50A Female adapter

We have BOTH and used 30A/50A at many CGs
Only used the 15A/30A when next to house and one other time at a friends place

BillJinOR · 02-22-2021, 02:53 PM

I will add make sure the 110 extension if you are using it is as short and large as possible. You can get a big voltage drop on longer cords.

vito.a · 02-22-2021, 02:58 PM

It's also important to understand an RV 50 amp service is two 50 amp legs, 100 amps total available. So you are going from 100 amps available to 20.

Dugan · 02-22-2021, 04:08 PM

Thanks for all the quick responses to my question. You can't beat this forum for information.
Safe travels to all.

2cyber71 · 02-22-2021, 04:17 PM

I plugged my 07 Ellipse in a 20 amp circuit often with no problems,
Just can’t use the AC
It was nice to have propane for the furnace and fridge.
Now that I have an all electric RV it’s very difficult.
The fridge uses 6 amps, the aqua hot uses 15 amps on electric.
The induction stove top uses 13 amps.
Impossible to use only a 20 amp at a site now.

Pigman1 · 02-22-2021, 09:31 PM

Ain't all electric coaches just wonderful?

Old-Biscuit · 02-22-2021, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2cyber71

I plugged my 07 Ellipse in a 20 amp circuit often with no problems,
Just can’t use the AC
It was nice to have propane for the furnace and fridge.
Now that I have an all electric RV it’s very difficult.
The fridge uses 6 amps, the aqua hot uses 15 amps on electric.
The induction stove top uses 13 amps.
Impossible to use only a 20 amp at a site now.

Turn off AquaHot ...use the Induction stove top then when done cooking turn AquaHot back on (things should get that cold in the time it takes to cook something)
Just a like 'amp management' and it should be doable

pacwest · 02-22-2021, 10:09 PM

We don’t have our new Phaeton yet but on another Tiffin forum I asked if I could use my aqua hot on a 20amp? Was told to use the burner setting rather than electric.

DRM901 · 02-23-2021, 12:05 AM

We've done that on our Bus for a weekend or so. We were able to run refrig, AquaHot (on electric only), inverter/charger, TV, and all lights (since they are all LED). The Magnum had to be manually set at 20 amps, since it sensed 30 amps. Which popped the circuit breaker.

But, in hind sight, I should have just plugged using 50 amp cord plus the 50/30 pig tail and 30/20 adapter (ours is just a 3" plug adapter). Most outside regular extension cords are only rated for 15 amps. It was a little warm when I unplugged it.

Switching to the burner would get you back about 10-11 amps. That would be enough to use the microwave (8-9 amps) and maybe one burner - not at the same time.

Heat pumps pull 14 amps each, so they are not viable.