Community Forums

sibe · 09-23-2022, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tropical36

I fail to understand why you and others keep fighting it with Band-Aid fixes when all you have to do is to install a 50amp plug in place of the 30 and be done with it. Now the only dog-bone that you need to carry is for only having a 30amp outlet available on occasion. Well maybe a 15-20amp as well, for a just in case situation and one that you should have anyway.

OK a 50A RV plug in place of the 30A.. sure it is possible, one blade in the 50A will be dead..(notused).. IT should hold up better to the load,, BUT..

the issue many times it the RV camps receptical is just loose/old, and your blades in plug dont stay tight,,

Also addon surge plugs etc, work BUT they ADD another link/connection that over time can get loose or wear out.. ETC,, make sure you choose fine "china" when you get your RV cords etc..

tropical36 · 09-23-2022, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sibe

OK a 50A RV plug in place of the 30A.. sure it is possible, one blade in the 50A will be dead..(notused).. IT should hold up better to the load,, BUT..

the issue many times it the RV camps receptical is just loose/old, and your blades in plug dont stay tight,,

Also addon surge plugs etc, work BUT they ADD another link/connection that over time can get loose or wear out.. ETC,, make sure you choose fine "china" when you get your RV cords etc..

Yep, much heavier blades to withstand the punishment, but the main thing is that you'll find very little damage with 50amp outlets to begin with, so the heat with this looseness, crystallization and such doesn't transfer to your plug.
Like said with problems in the past, owning 30amp rigs, once this was done, that was the end of it and had the last one for 9yrs traveling all over the lower 48 states, with the plug still looking like new when it left here.

sibe · 09-24-2022, 07:52 AM

50 Amp plug is a bit more robust and has 4 blades to hold tighter.. plus even with the 50A rigs, the use potential and load spread across the plug IMO is less of a being at MAX load stress as each leg offsets and some load goes to nuetral,, where as a 30Amp is pounding the near capacity loads onto the nuetral...
Basically the 50A service is a bit better all around..

Johnynorthla · 09-24-2022, 08:45 AM

So let me get this straight; get a 50 amp female end, install it on a 30 amp cord, this is ok to do? Then connect the 50 to a 30 with a dog bone, if/when necessary?What about the difference in thickness of the cable? How do you account or make up for that gap at the bottom of the plug? How do you ensure a “strain relief”?

I agree the 50 blades are thicker and sturdier, but I’ve never thought of doing it this way. And if the 30 side melts, you need only replace the dog-bone? My wheels are spinning.

dkperez · 09-24-2022, 11:40 AM

I"m probably confused, but wouldn't it be the other way?

Put a 50A plug on the end of the trailer wiring (using the 3 wires so you're only on one side of the 50 A) and get a 50 to 30 A adapter for when you plug into a 30A receptacle?

Or am I backwards?

tropical36 · 09-24-2022, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkperez

I"m probably confused, but wouldn't it be the other way?

Put a 50A plug on the end of the trailer wiring (using the 3 wires so you're only on one side of the 50 A) and get a 50 to 30 A adapter for when you plug into a 30A receptacle?

Or am I backwards?

A 30 to 50 would be required in these instances, which are getting more and more rare with parks updating to 50amp pedestals.

tropical36 · 09-24-2022, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnynorthla

So let me get this straight; get a 50 amp female end, install it on a 30 amp cord, this is ok to do? Then connect the 50 to a 30 with a dog bone, if/when necessary?What about the difference in thickness of the cable? How do you account or make up for that gap at the bottom of the plug? How do you ensure a “strain relief”?

I agree the 50 blades are thicker and sturdier, but I’ve never thought of doing it this way. And if the 30 side melts, you need only replace the dog-bone? My wheels are spinning.

A plug is male and a receptacle or outlet is female, so no dogbone required for plugging into a 50amp service which are pretty common these days.
And yes, the blade are made for 50amp service, which is a more like double, when you consider that a 30amp plug and outlet can't stand a 30amp load for long.
No problem with any installation gaps using the smaller cord either. If so, then wrap it or use tape buildup.

tropical36 · 09-24-2022, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sibe

50 Amp plug is a bit more robust and has 4 blades to hold tighter.. plus even with the 50A rigs, the use potential and load spread across the plug IMO is less of a being at MAX load stress as each leg offsets and some load goes to nuetral,, where as a 30Amp is pounding the near capacity loads onto the nuetral...
Basically the 50A service is a bit better all around..

More than a bit better in my experience. I guess there might be a code that prevents them from installing 50's on all RV cords, but then its the same with using a dogbone on a 30 when only a 50amp outlet is available and we're only talking about the length of the cord between the pedestal and the RV's main breaker, so............
Also, I've never heard of a 30amp cord burning up on the ground and especially without tripping a 50amp pedestal breaker.

Johnynorthla · 09-25-2022, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tropical36

A plug is male and a receptacle or outlet is female.

Sorry, my mistake, I meant “male” plug end.

Parks usually charge more for 50 amps, but I guess it might be worth it. The only issue I see is those 30 amp rigs that have a pass through grommet for their plug to exit the compartment, a 50 amp male will not fit through.

bigb56 · 09-25-2022, 08:22 AM

Am I the only one that carries a spare 30 amp plug cap with the tools and knowledge to change it?

dkperez · 09-26-2022, 07:22 AM

Yes, our 30A plug retracts into storage on the trailer, so I have to be sure any plug I use will fit through the hole. That was what I thought of when the discussion of putting a 50A plug on the end of the 30A cable came up.

BTW: Where I currently am in northern WI, I sprayed some DeOxit into the receptacle before plugging in, then plugged in and out several times before turning on the power. And realized the plug pretty much just falls into the receptacle. If it IS making good conduct the DeOxit is doing a great job of lubricating 'cause there was NO pressure on any of the prongs.

code2e · 09-26-2022, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkperez

Yes, our 30A plug retracts into storage on the trailer, so I have to be sure any plug I use will fit through the hole. That was what I thought of when the discussion of putting a 50A plug on the end of the 30A cable came up.

BTW: Where I currently am in northern WI, I sprayed some DeOxit into the receptacle before plugging in, then plugged in and out several times before turning on the power. And realized the plug pretty much just falls into the receptacle. If it IS making good conduct the DeOxit is doing a great job of lubricating 'cause there was NO pressure on any of the prongs.

The DeOxit does provide a lubricating quality with a metal to metal contact. The real value will be if the plug stays cooler because of better current carrying contact. I believe it will. Is good stuff. Good luck.