Community Forums

ezspdr · 08-01-2012, 11:02 PM

Newbie again - In looking around the country for RV parks I see several that say their sites are all 50Amp service. My TT is set up for 30 Amp. I am not an electrician so I ask if I hook up to 50 Amp will it damage my electrical system?

autofish · 08-01-2012, 11:08 PM

You just need the 50 to 30 adapter no damage I do it all the time.

96 Wideglide · 08-01-2012, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezspdr

Newbie again - In looking around the country for RV parks I see several that say their sites are all 50Amp service. My TT is set up for 30 Amp. I am not an electrician so I ask if I hook up to 50 Amp will it damage my electrical system?

LMAO, Wish I had your problem. My coach is 50A.

Like autofish says, just buy a 50-30A Dogbone, then your good for either.

SpringerPop · 08-01-2012, 11:22 PM

Google something like "Conntek 14315"

That will get you a nice one.

Pop

vsheetz · 08-02-2012, 12:08 AM

Correct me if I am wrong, but most every pedistal I have encountered with 50a service also had a 30a receptical, no?

96 Wideglide · 08-02-2012, 12:12 AM

Dont think so.

You have to use a 50- 30A dogbone.

SpringerPop · 08-02-2012, 12:23 AM

Even if the pedestal has both, the 50-amp plug is usually less-used, thus "tighter" and less prone to arc and overheat.

You'll likely get a more-positive connection.

Pop

TXiceman · 08-02-2012, 05:52 AM

Use this....
Power Grip Dogbone Adapter, 50 amp male to 30 amp female

wa8yxm · 08-02-2012, 10:32 AM

From time to time I read messages from fear mongers that say the adapters are dangerous and they make a case that sounds good if you do not understand electricity.

If you do understand electricity the holes in their argument are big enough to fly a formation of globmasters through,

The warning is: You have a 30 amp cord protetcted by a 50 amp breaker.

This is true, but..

1: the cord has a 30 amp breaker at the RV end.
2: A short in the cord WILL trip the 50 amp breaker long before anyting bad happens (Well Worse happens)
3 : a partial short that overloads the cord is .. Well, I could make it happen in a lab but the odds of it happeing in the wild as it were approach zero I'm not aware of it every happeing and the fear mongers can not cite an example of it.

A parital short in the RV will trip that breaker

And finally.. The wire is rated for 30 amps in conduit buried in a wall. In open air it can dissapate heat much faster and thus carry the load.

The major danger is a melting plug, and this is common on 30 amp rigs Adapter or not, When (not if) it happens,, Just replace the plug.. I like the power pull design but the PP itself can be hard to attach. Mine is a "knock off" brand. actually superior construction, alas don't recall the brand.

ctcamper · 08-02-2012, 11:22 AM

I made my own out of some 10ga buss drop cable I had lying around, a 4 and 11/16 box and a 1/2 inch raised mulberry ( looking in the catalog it might have been the number 11515 cover ) cover so I have both a 15 amp and 30 amp outlet.If I remember correctly I did have to modify the cover to fit the 30amp Travel trailer receptacle with the trusty hole saw as I could not find one with a large enough opening to fit the 30 amp.

It is not waterproof so I take appropriate precautions. If anyone does the same, use at your own risk or see if you can find a waterproof box to mount the receptacle/receptacles in. SO cable would probably be a better choice also. I just happened to use what I had available from previous jobs ( except for the cover).

I rarely needed it. One time I had to use it as the 30 amp was fried on a NF pedestal, but there was a good 50 amp. It paid for itself that use alone as there were no other sites available

I have found there is usually a 30a next to a 50a in all the campgrounds I have gone to.

TXiceman · 08-02-2012, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

From time to time I read messages from fear mongers that say the adapters are dangerous and they make a case that sounds good if you do not understand electricity.

If you do understand electricity the holes in their argument are big enough to fly a formation of globmasters through,

I loved the FEAR MONGERS.

So polite, but to the point. Nothing as passionate as someone that does not understand what he is talking about.

Ken

BCooke · 08-02-2012, 03:02 PM

Nec rip

vsheetz · 08-02-2012, 04:02 PM

I have a 30a connection. I have a 50 to 30 dogbone, but in ~8 years and many CGs I have never used it. Always has been just 30a avalable or both 50a/30a available.

JudyH · 08-02-2012, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsheetz

I have a 30a connection. I have a 50 to 30 dogbone, but in ~8 years and many CGs I have never used it. Always has been just 30a avalable or both 50a/30a available.

X2.
We now have 50 amp in our new 5er, but we always had 30 amp for 20 years and found we never needed a 50 to 30 connector. If there is 50, there is also 30 in the box.