50 amp or 30 amp??

gucci · 06-15-2011, 03:45 PM

I stay at a campground that has both 50 amp and 30 amp hookup.I was wondering should I be using the 30 amp hookup or the 50 amp hookup?My TT is a 2010 Puma 31BHSS.

**Terier** · 06-15-2011, 03:58 PM

I believe your power supply cord will dedicate which amp hookup to use. I was asking a silimar question and was told that my 30 amp cord has different pongs than a 50 amp cord.

Wait for more feedback before going with my reply and plugging in as I'm still new to this stuff.

**wmtire** · 06-15-2011, 04:02 PM

Yep, it is as Terier correctly advised. Easy answer is a 50 amp plug and a 30 amp plug are different.

You can buy adaptors that will let you plug a 30 amp into a 50 amp, but you probably only need to do that if something is wrong with the 30 amp receptacle.

Another habit to form, is to make sure the breaker is turned off for your plug, while you connect your trailer cord to it....then turn the breaker back on. (See pic)

1. Breaker would control the 50 amp
2. Should control the 30 amp
3. Should control the 20 amp

shabbona north · 06-15-2011, 04:05 PM

Go with the 50 amp, I use a 60 amp 230 volt service in my camp ground.

jimh · 06-15-2011, 04:09 PM

i don't know if ur trailer is wired for 50 or 30 amp. if ur having to adapt from 50 amp service to 30, you would use 30.
in my case, if i plan on running both air conditioners, i will use 50. other than that, i can get away with 30 amp service. (my trailer is wired for 50 amp service).

if ur wired for 50 amp on ur trailer (4 prong plug), u can adapt and run 30 amp. if u start kicking the breaker ever so ofter on the pedestal, i would switch over to 50. if ur not being charged any different for using 50 amp, go ahead and use the 50.

**Herk7769** · 06-15-2011, 06:19 PM

Some campgrounds charge EXTRA for 50 amp service. If you have a 30 amp camper nothing will be served by using the 50 amp socket, unless the 30 amp breaker keeps tripping because it is bad (common).

I always carry a 50 -> 30 amp adapter because of the above and some campgrounds have two campers on one pedestal. If you are the second one in, you may be stuck with the 50 amp socket.

gucci · 06-15-2011, 06:41 PM

My TT has a 30 amp cord but I could get an adapter to covert to a 50 amp.There is no extra charge at the campground for 50 amp and there is only one camper per pedestal.I was just wondering if there is any benefit for me to convert from 30 amp to 50 amp and plug into the 50 amp or if I could do any damage to my TT if I did plug into the 50 amp..

**wmtire** · 06-15-2011, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gucci

I was just wondering if there is any benefit for me to convert from 30 amp to 50 amp and plug into the 50 amp or if I could do any damage to my TT if I did plug into the 50 amp..

No benefit, unless the 50 amp is the only receptacle working/available. No damage, provided you have the proper adaptor.

gucci · 06-15-2011, 08:23 PM

Thanks everyone for all your help.You have been a great help!!!

**Herk7769** · 06-16-2011, 06:26 AM

FYI - I also carry a 30 amp -> 20 amp adapter. Many older campgrounds in parks still only have 20 amp service.

If you don't use the AC, everything else will still work. If you are careful, you can even use the AC; just not anything else without shutting the AC off.

jjarrard · 06-16-2011, 06:39 AM

This discussion begs another question. How much voltage drop is acceptable to run my 15K AC safely? I am running my shore power (20A breaker) through the original cord and a heavy 50ft RV extension cord. This works fine for most things, but I would like to run the AC when loading the trailer. I could run the fridge on propane. I know the startup amperage is the issue. Yes, I tried it an it does run the AC. The electronic thermostat always runs the fan first, and then starts the compressor after a delay. I just want to ensure I don`t damage the AC unit. I would buy and adapter and run only the extension cord, 50 ft vs 80ft length. The voltage drop would be cut almost in half.

grhodes50 · 06-16-2011, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gucci

My TT has a 30 amp cord but I could get an adapter to covert to a 50 amp...

I maybe reading your post wrong, but....
You will not convert to 50 amps by using an adapter. The adapter reduces the 50 amp to 30 amp. I believe two of the 50 amp prongs are wired with 110v. The adapter basically disconnects one of those prongs converting the 50 amps to 30 amps and that is what allows you to plug your 30 amp tt into a 50 amp plug in.
So whether you plug into a 30 amp plug or a 50 amp with an adapter, you're still just using 30 amps.

**Herk7769** · 06-16-2011, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grhodes50

The adapter reduces the 50 amp to 30 amp. I believe two of the 50 amp prongs are wired with 110v. The adapter basically disconnects one of those prongs converting the 50 amps to 30 amps and that is what allows you to plug your 30 amp tt into a 50 amp plug in. So whether you plug into a 30 amp plug or a 50 amp with an adapter, you're still just using 30 amps.

Well. not really. The 50 amp plug has two 110 "legs" (one runs the primary AC side of your power center and the other runs the secondary side of your power center); a neutral and a gound. The 30 amp plug has a single 110 leg that runs all AC in your camper, a neutral and a ground.

The "adapter" just uses a 50 amp plug (so you can plug into that outlet) and connects the "primary leg" to the socket pin of a 30 amp socket on the other end. Neutral and ground are also connected.

With an adapter you CAN NOT pull more than 30 amps through the cord because the camper's main will trip if you try.

**Herk7769** · 06-16-2011, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjarrard

This discussion begs another question. How much voltage drop is acceptable to run my 15K AC safely? I am running my shore power (20A breaker) through the original cord and a heavy 50ft RV extension cord. This works fine for most things, but I would like to run the AC when loading the trailer. I could run the fridge on propane. I know the start up amperage is the issue. Yes, I tried it an it does run the AC. The electronic thermostat always runs the fan first, and then starts the compressor after a delay. I just want to ensure I don`t damage the AC unit. I would buy and adapter and run only the extension cord, 50 ft vs 80ft length. The voltage drop would be cut almost in half.

I also use a long 30 amp extension cord to power my camper at many places I camp. I bought a Franks autotransformer Voltage Booster to increase the voltage at the camper to make up for any losses in the extension cord or even at the campground pedestal (large campgrounds in hot weather at the end of a row) when the voltage drops to below 110 VAC. The attached files show how the voltage is boosted based on incoming voltage. Be aware that AMPS available is reduced when the voltage is being boosted. (the booster "uses amps to make volts" - not really but you get the idea).

jimh · 06-16-2011, 07:38 AM

one consideration abt adapting to a 50 amp service: ur wire size is for 30 amp. ur 30 amp main in the trailer should protect u but properly, the line between the source and ur trailer will not be properly protected.
with that said, i wouldn't have any problem adapting to 50. i encountered one park that offered either 20 amp or 50. the park had an adapter to go from the 50 to 30.

on ur wire size. if u run a #12 extension cord, i wouldn't be concerned abt the length being 50 ft. i doubt very seriously if ur going to drop the voltage enough to damage anything.
i would have to look it up but i believe ur air conditioner will run down to 100 volts. the tag on the unit is the best reference for that. i wouldn't push it though. measure the voltage in ur camper with the unit on, if it has dropped to 110, i would be concerned.
my old camper, i ran a 100' extension cord from the house and had no issues running the air, refrigerator, and converter (lights). no issues. couldn't go beyond that though.
u still want to keep ur runs as short as possible. i wouldn't use an extension rated under 20 amps at all.

jjarrard · 06-16-2011, 08:09 AM

I need all available amperage for compressor startup. I realize I may have to run a 30 amp service to the trailer eventually or buy a generator. Since I can run the AC on the 20 amp breaker, excessive voltage drop damaging the compressor is my concern. I believe the extension cord is 10 gauge. It is 50 ft long and I would have to use a generator adapter that is about 1 ft long. Assuming a 20 amp load I have the voltage drop calculated at 2.5 volts or 117.5 volts available. With the OEM cord added it goes to 3.9 and 116.1 volts. The question is wether 117.5 volts will safely operate the 15K BTU AC and 12 volt converter?

08flagvlite · 06-16-2011, 09:46 AM

GENERALLY, if your camper is 30 feet(ish) or less, one or two axles, with only one AC on top, it is a 30 amp service. 3 axles or more, 2 AC's, motorhome(most), then chances are good your'e a 50 amp. BESIDES that, the plug- ins are 4 prongs for 50 and 3 prongs for 30, so they won't fit anyway. Even with a plug adapter and you're 30 amp into a 50 amp plug in, you would only get 30 amps to the trailer, because there are only 3 wires going into your camper anyway. Randy

grhodes50 · 06-16-2011, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herk7769

Well. not really. The 50 amp plug has two 110 "legs" (one runs the primary AC side of your power center and the other runs the secondary side of your power center); a neutral and a gound. The 30 amp plug has a single 110 leg that runs all AC in your camper, a neutral and a ground.

The "adapter" just uses a 50 amp plug (so you can plug into that outlet) and connects the "primary leg" to the socket pin of a 30 amp socket on the other end. Neutral and ground are also connected.

With an adapter you CAN NOT pull more than 30 amps through the cord because the camper's main will trip if you try.

Thanks Lou. That's what I was trying to point out. The way the OP had worded his post it sounded as if he thought the adapter would "change" his 30 amp tt to a 50 amp tt.

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