50 amp extension cord set up

[Racer310]

New RV 50 amp. Pole barn has regular 15 amp electrical house outlet, breaker is 30 amp. I bought 50 amp female/30 amp male combo cord from Wal Mart. Going to add 15 amp plug to 30 amp to use at pole barn for lights, slide out sometimes to pack, turn on refrigerator, NO AC. basically not to use battery for everything plus don't the battery charge when plug in to shore power? Am I okay.

I did it with my old RV 30/15 amp combo, even occasionally ran AC to camp under pole barn with grandson.

Thanks

[ScottBrownstein]

I do this all the time, that is 50 to 30 to 15.

However, did I read this right that you have a regular duplex outlet on a 30 amp circuit? Hopefully that circuit also has a 15 or 20 amp breaker feeding that outlet. I would suggest that you make sure that the outlet is a 20 amp duplex...at least. I have seen more than one standard 15 amp duplex outlet melted on a 20 amp circuit if all the load is going to a single receptacle. Though we all nominally say you will be using 50 to 30 to 15, nothing in that string limits the load to 15!

[Racer310]

Breaker at shop is 30 amp, will have to check pole barn this weekend when I get back home to see if 15 or 20 amp outlet. I would bet it is 15 as the others that are used only for extension cords for wife's horse fans and flood lights in her stall. If so should I change it out to 20? Thanks

[ScottBrownstein]

Originally Posted by Racer310

Breaker at shop is 30 amp, will have to check pole barn this weekend when I get back home to see if 15 or 20 amp outlet. I would bet it is 15 as the others that are used only for extension cords for wife's horse fans and flood lights in her stall. If so should I change it out to 20? Thanks

I would. You will be drawing maximum current through only one receptacle. The rest of the things that you plug into those outlets are designed to draw less than the normal 15 amps.

[Bama Rambler]

What you plan on doing is ok, provided that the wiring from the breaker to the receptacle 1) As Scott mentioned has a breaker before it at the pole barn and 2) the wiring from the breaker to the pole barn is at least #10 awg (or larger if the distance dictates).

If the wire from the service panel to the pole barn is #10 awg or larger, why not consider changing the 15 amp receptacle to a 30 amp RV receptacle?

However, if the wiring from the service panel to the pole barn is #12 or smaller, then you need to immediately change that 30 amp beaker to one suitable for the wire used. For #12 that would be a 20 amp breaker.

[johnbryanpeters]

A 15 Ampere outlet should be fed by a 15 Ampere circuit breaker.
A 20 Ampere outlet should be fed by a 20 Ampere circuit breaker.
A 30 Ampere outlet should be fed by a 30 Ampere circuit breaker.

Structure fires are inconvenient.

[nayther]

change out the plug to a 30 amp, that's what I have, then 50/30 adapter. Allows me to run A/C, etc. in the driveway. Check wire size too to be sure they pulled the proper ones. You can get the plug at most RV supply houses, it is NOT the same as a clothes drier plug (that is 220 volt).

[formerFR]

why not just change out the plug to a 30amp receptacle, then? Much easier, and you can then 'use' all 30amps!

[JP Camper]

I agree, change the outlet to a 30a, I have two set up for when we have our friends camp in our back yard. Lowes have the RV outlet, complete with box for only about $25-$30

[bedubya]

Wire size is critical, too. That 30 amp 120 volt circuit should be 10 awg up to 55 ft from the breaker. Anything less should have a lower amperage breaker.

[xd40c]

Originally Posted by Racer310

Breaker at shop is 30 amp, will have to check pole barn this weekend when I get back home to see if 15 or 20 amp outlet. I would bet it is 15 as the others that are used only for extension cords for wife's horse fans and flood lights in her stall. If so should I change it out to 20? Thanks

If you change the outlet, you "MAY" need to run new Romex. 14 ga for 15 amp, 12 ga for 20 amp.

[ScottBrownstein]

Originally Posted by xd40c

If you change the outlet, you "MAY" need to run new Romex. 14 ga for 15 amp, 12 ga for 20 amp.

I seriously doubt if the outlets are fed directly with a 30 amp breaker. The OP didn't do this himself, so it should be to code. Yes, wire size is critical for a 20 amp breaker...and so is the receptacle. Most electricians would feed duplex outlets on #12 with a 20 amp breaker. In this case the plug should be a 20 amp if that is true.

[Racer310]

I will check it out this weekend when I get home from work.

Scott, I know they are not 20 amp outlets from looking at your picture (slots) so must be 15 amp. My box has 2 receptacles side by side (1 box) to run lights to pole barn and other extension cord stuff (battery tender, etc.) Under ground wire from shop is the gray 3 wire I believe, have extra in shop so I will check that also. All this stuff was set up before getting bigger trailers. Will post pictures if I can figure out how.

Thanks

[ScottBrownstein]

Originally Posted by Racer310

I will check it out this weekend when I get home from work.

Thanks

Gray wire is UF direct burial cable. If it is 14, you need to be at 15 amps, if 12, you can go to 20. Either way, I would replace the receptacle since your RV is going to draw the full load (or more) from one receptacle only.

[Racer310]

Hopefully pictures posted. This is what I have, all feedback is welcomed. Underground wire is #10


Right now set up is for barn lights or battery charging, other RV 30 amp was just for lights and anything to save battery. Pretty much same reason for the new 50 amp RV. Thanks

[Racer310]

Breaker box at shop 30 amp on right lower side. Other breakers 100 amp each, 1 for shop other from house underground wire that feeds the shop .

[ScottBrownstein]

Originally Posted by Racer310

Breaker box at shop 30 amp on right lower side. Other breakers 100 amp each, 1 for shop other from house underground wire that feeds the shop .

OK, I presume that what I can't see is the feed, main breaker and meter above the picture. The box is wired as the main feed as the grounds and neutrals are on the same bus bar. OK so far. 30 amp breaker feeding a #10 buried cable is OK too.

Now, if the second picture is correct, you are feeding a couple of duplex outlets and some other loads through switches with a 30 amp feed. In addition, although the boxes and conduit are good, those plugs and switches are not rated for outdoor use. In addition none of them are rated for 30 amps either!

MINIMUM...put waterproof switch plates on outlets and switches and change outlets and switches to 20 amp versions. If you change the breaker to a 20 amp breaker you will at least be close to code.

BETTER, leave the 30 amp breaker, take out the lower box and put in one of these or something like this. You really don't need the additional breaker but you might be able to wire it so that the outlet is fed directly with 30 amps, replace the breaker with a 20 amp one and feed the additional upward loads on the pole with 20 amps. It might not be exactly code to use this panel this way, but it is correct from an electrical standpoint and safe. I can't tell since I can't see the inside of the box, but you can't just use and RV outlet and box since there probably isn't room for the two additional circuits going up to the switches.

BEST. Replace all this stuff on the pole with an outdoor rated 2 or 4 slot, sub panel, use two breakers to replace the switches to control the two upward loads and put in an outdoor 30 AMP rv outlet fed by a 30 amp breaker.

Finally, love a guy with his priorities straight. 100 amps to the house...100 amps to the shop! Only fair.

[Racer310]

Thanks Scott, have to bale my horse/cow hay this weekend so I will work on this next weekend.

Appreciate the info

[ScottBrownstein]

This is what can happen when you draw 20 amps through a regular 15 amp receptacle.

[johnbryanpeters]

Fire in the hole!