Electrical

[Alx]

Our 2006 motor home came equipped with a 30 amp electrical cord, by adding a 50 amp adapter, will this cause any problems?

[CorLynn]

Seems to me if you have a 30 amp coach, I would not want to exceed 30 amps. The only time in the past I have gone from 30 to 50 is if the park only offered 50 and I had a 30 amp coach.

[Wolfpack Fan]

Maybe, maybe not. With 50 amp service you get 230 volts, with 30 amps you get 115. A 50 amp cord has 4 prongs. 2 for 115 volts, 1 for neutral, 1 for ground. Using a 4 to 3 prong adapter eliminates one of the 115 volt prongs. Your RV has a 30 amp, 3 prong cord because that's all it needs by design. Most likely, any park you go to that's got 50 amp hook ups is also going to have 30 amp hook ups on the same pedestal. Stick with plugging your cord into the 30 amp outlet. I'm sure many others will chime in with similar advice.

[CorLynn]

Originally Posted by Wolfpack Fan

Maybe, maybe not. With 50 amp service you get 230 volts, with 30 amps you get 115. A 50 amp cord has 4 prongs. 2 for 115 volts, 1 for neutral, 1 for ground. Using a 4 to 3 prong adapter eliminates one of the 115 volt prongs. Your RV has a 30 amp, 3 prong cord because that's all it needs by design. Most likely, any park you go to that's got 50 amp hook ups is also going to have 30 amp hook ups on the same pedestal. Stick with plugging your cord into the 30 amp outlet. I'm sure many others will chime in with similar advice.

You are correct with most parks that offer 50 also offer 30. My case a few years back in my old TT was it was winter and the park took the 30 amp for their plug to hear their water lines. So I had to buy a 30/50.

[Wolfpack Fan]

Cool. Think I would have used the adapter and re-plugged the parks water line heaters into the 50 amp outlet, opening the 30 amp outlet for my RV. I think using a 50 to 30 adapter eliminates one of the 115 feeds, which would make it safe for a 30 amp wired RV. I'm familiar with it, just not 100% familiar.

[CorLynn]

Originally Posted by Wolfpack Fan

Cool. Think I would have used the adapter and re-plugged the parks water line heaters into the 50 amp outlet, opening the 30 amp outlet for my RV. I think using a 50 to 30 adapter eliminates one of the 115 feeds, which would make it safe for a 30 amp wired RV. I'm familiar with it, just not 100% familiar.

You are right. I have learned a little bit about rvs since then. I was kinda a newborn to the rv world in 08. "If only I knew then, what I know now" lol.

[Wolfpack Fan]

Originally Posted by CorLynn

You are right. I have learned a little bit about rvs since then. I was kinda a newborn to the rv world in 08. "If only I knew then, what I know now" lol.

We became newborns to the RV scene in Dec 2011. From tent to class A. What an eye opening experience it's been. Fortunately it's been a NOT to costly one from self inflicted wounds.

[CorLynn]

Originally Posted by Wolfpack Fan

We became newborns to the RV scene in Dec 2011. From tent to class A. What an eye opening experience it's been. Fortunately it's been a NOT to costly one from self inflicted wounds.

We got our class A in 2011. When we had our TT we did not travel.

Once we got an A, it was on like donkey kong. But it's a WHOLE lot different than I visioned it. I pictured hubby driving down the road ever so smoothly while I cooked lunch and baked cookies.

LOL!! What a dream that was. Traveling is so much different than I EVER imagined.

[hanko]

in theory, you can or could cut one prong off the 50 amp male on the adaptor, or you could make one up your self and just not connect one of the ungrounded coductors (hot wire) inside the 50 amp cord cap. your 30 amp coach in protected by a 30 amp fuse or breaker, so you wont over load anything. I used to go to a park that all they had were a 50 or a 20, so I made my own adaptor. Im an electrical contractor, so if you dont know what your doing, have someone else help you

[clyon51]

Originally Posted by Alx

Our 2006 motor home came equipped with a 30 amp electrical cord, by adding a 50 amp adapter, will this cause any problems?

To clear the fog, absolutely not. This is why they make them, so if there is only 50a service/outlet available, you use the 50 to 30 adapter. Yes the coach does now have 50a available to use, however the coach is protected via circuit breakers so it cannot use more than 30. It would be rare to find a CG that doesn't offer 30a when they have 50a, but they do exist. If this is a concern, get the adapter and keep it in the rig.

Something you REALLY need is a 20a to 30a adapter. This allows you to plug into any standard household outlet at home or in some CGs that don't have 30a or 50a service.

[ChasA]

Clyon is the only one who has given you the correct answer thus far. Yes you can and should get a 50A to 30A adapter and feel free to use it without fear of harming your RV. 30 amp outlets in some campgrounds get worn out or broken and often the 50 amp is in good condition. If you encounter this, just use your adapter. Buy one, don't fool around trying to make one.

[hanko]

Originally Posted by ChasA

Clyon is the only one who has given you the correct answer thus far. Yes you can and should get a 50A to 30A adapter and feel free to use it without fear of harming your RV. 30 amp outlets in some campgrounds get worn out or broken and often the 50 amp is in good condition. If you encounter this, just use your adapter. Buy one, don't fool around trying to make one.

He is not the only one that gave a correct answer.

[hanko]

Actually, I took some time to do some reasearch with my trusty old NEC code book. and infact, a 30 amp rated cord and cap shall not be used in any application rated over 30 amps. Now there is a 10 and 25 ft tap ruel that allows for a hard mechanical connection of an under sized feeder into a larger fused one under certain conditions. So, actually no one including myself gave the right answer. But who cares I do it all the time, I have more adapters and electrical gizmoes than camping world

[Shellback1]

Originally Posted by Alx

Our 2006 motor home came equipped with a 30 amp electrical cord, by adding a 50 amp adapter, will this cause any problems?

Is your question can you use an adapter like this?