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Old 09-06-2021, 11:10 AM   #15
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Yes, the only (minuscule) risk with plugging a 30 amp coach into 50 amp outlet is "before" the 30 amp main breaker in the coach.


And, only a dead short before your coach main breaker box could cause anything in access of 30 amps.


A very small risk that most of us have safely assumed for decades.


Guess it is kind of like the risk of driving with your propane refrigerator on, generator running, etc. A risk most of us find acceptable.
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Old 09-06-2021, 12:05 PM   #16
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I confirmed i have a 30a main breaker in my panel. This is the surge protector i have...


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1



I'll probably pick up a 50a to 30a dog bone, but not in a hurry to do so as it seems there are not many instances of 50a being the only option.


Thanks for the good discussion!
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Old 09-06-2021, 12:18 PM   #17
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Get the 50A to 30A Adapter.......
Many times the 30A power pedestal receptacle is worn out and the 50A can then be used

RV 30A Main CB protects the RV
50A CB at pedestal would trip if shore power cord/adapter shorted
*Same if connected to 30A pedestal


Where do you put the water pressure regulator?
At spigot or side of RV
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Old 09-06-2021, 05:59 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by The Brews Cruise View Post
As a retired electrician, I wouldn't call connecting a 30 amp coach to a 50 amp circuit "safe". It can be done with a "dogbone" adapter. The problem I see is that your cord and internal wiring to your panel is sized for 30 amps, but the 50 amp overcurrent protection will not protect the wiring for overload. An overload condition could possibly allow 40 to 50 amps to flow on the smaller size wiring, causing it to overheat. If you had a way to have 30 amp protection connected to the 50 amp at the power post, then your wiring would be properly protected.
I'm sure that many people carry the adapters to connect their 30 amp coach to the 50 amp circuit, and they have had no problems...yet. You're going to get conflicting advice on this, and I'm sure there are plenty that disagree with me. With 47 years active in the electrical trade prior to retirement I've seen enough to know that it's not something I would do.
True to a point, Also a sparky here. Its never a good idea to connect a 30 amp device to a 50 amp feed however most RV including ours included have a main breaker that is matched to cord rating. The main breaker in the RV (30amp in this example) is protecting the RV while the feeder breaker (50Amp in this example) is protecting the supply cord.
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Old 09-07-2021, 12:21 AM   #19
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I have almost never seen a site with a 50 amp outlet and no 30 amp (maybe once or twice), however what I have seen fairly often is a site with a 50 amp outlet and a damaged, loose, or missing 30 amp outlet.
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Old 09-07-2021, 12:57 AM   #20
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Seems to me that's what the 30 amp main breaker in the RV is for. The RV isn't going to pull more than 30 amps, if it tries to it will trip the main.
Wouldn't the concern would be between the RV 30 amp main breaker and the pedestal 50 amp breaker? The shore power cord and NEMA L5-30R plug are only rated for 30 amps. If you had a short between the 2 breakers or low voltage condition you could put 50 amps in a 30 amp cord/plug before the 30 amp RV breaker would trip.
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Old 09-07-2021, 06:33 AM   #21
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Wouldn't the concern would be between the RV 30 amp main breaker and the pedestal 50 amp breaker? The shore power cord and NEMA L5-30R plug are only rated for 30 amps. If you had a short between the 2 breakers or low voltage condition you could put 50 amps in a 30 amp cord/plug before the 30 amp RV breaker would trip.
Its rated for 30 amps, that don't mean it can't handle 50 amps long enough to trip the breaker.

Low voltage will trip the RV breaker, that's where the combined amp draw will be adding up. There is no one 30 amp item in the RV.
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Old 09-07-2021, 09:58 AM   #22
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Ok just my 2 cents worth.
I'm assuming camper feeder cable is #10 AWG (30A) which is rated up to 40 amps depending on insulation, although NEC says must be fused at no more than 30A. Hypothetical situation, cord gets damaged but not enough for a dead short, pulls ~49A could get hot enough to catch fire and RV way before it ever trips breaker.
Just food for thought with a lot of IFs.
Maintenance electrician 30+ yrs. Sean electricity do some strange things.
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Old 09-07-2021, 10:19 AM   #23
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Originally Posted by PB2 View Post
Really good advice - thanks! I have a 30a surge protector with EMS. Does that offer me some level of protection if i plug into 50a service?


Thanks all for the comments. I think having one in the kit will be a good idea.
Only if it has 30 amp overcurrent protection (30 amp breaker) built in.
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Old 09-07-2021, 10:36 AM   #24
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Originally Posted by ratherberv View Post
Ok just my 2 cents worth.
I'm assuming camper feeder cable is #10 AWG (30A) which is rated up to 40 amps depending on insulation, although NEC says must be fused at no more than 30A. Hypothetical situation, cord gets damaged but not enough for a dead short, pulls ~49A could get hot enough to catch fire and RV way before it ever trips breaker.
Just food for thought with a lot of IFs.
Maintenance electrician 30+ yrs. Sean electricity do some strange things.
RV 30A CB will trip if more then 30A is on circuit
50A Pedestal CB would trip if short occurred on circuit to RV otherwise the RV 30A CB controls total amps pulled

Other then direct short...30A total
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Old 09-07-2021, 11:16 AM   #25
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LOL! The sparkies can surely prove that there is some situation where a safety problem is conceivable. The question is how much risk & how likely? It's also risky to plug a 1A table lamp into a 15A outlet in your living room, and that lamp doesn't even have a breaker of its own. But we do it without a thought.

This is like the risk of crossing a street on foot - you take steps to minimize risk but it's never going to be 100% risk free.
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Old 09-07-2021, 12:12 PM   #26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mrueth View Post
Its never a good idea to connect a 30 amp device to a 50 amp feed
It's really no different from plugging a 2 amp appliance into a 15 amp outlet in your home...
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Old 09-07-2021, 12:18 PM   #27
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Originally Posted by Alan_Hepburn View Post
It's really no different from plugging a 2 amp appliance into a 15 amp outlet in your home...
You failed to post the full statement.....
True to a point, Also a sparky here. Its never a good idea to connect a 30 amp device to a 50 amp feed however most RV including ours included have a main breaker that is matched to cord rating. The main breaker in the RV (30amp in this example) is protecting the RV while the feeder breaker (50Amp in this example) is protecting the supply cord.
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