Dog Bone Adapters

[daavalanche]

Just wanted to get a poll on 50 amp 220V to 30 amp 120V converter for power. Hurtful to the RV or not?

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by daavalanche

Just wanted to get a poll on 50 amp 220V to 30 amp 120V converter for power. Hurtful to the RV or not?

Are u asking that you want to switch from a 50 amp converter to a 30 amp?

Not sure I've seen a 240 rv converter.




Turbs

[daavalanche]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Are u asking that you want to switch from a 50 amp converter to a 30 amp?




Turbs

No a pig tail which plugs into the 50amp receptacle then crosses over to 30amp.. My camper is a 30amp.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by daavalanche

No a pig tail which plugs into the 50amp receptacle then crosses over to 30amp.. My camper is a 30amp.

I have one and use it regularly.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by daavalanche

Just wanted to get a poll on 50 amp 220V to 30 amp 120V converter for power. Hurtful to the RV or not?

I have to admit this is confusing. Perhaps some guesswork as to what you are really asking is in order.

I think what you are asking is: will using a 50 amp RV service plug to 30 amp RV service dog bone adapter hurt the RV and the answer is, no.

A 50 amp RV service is actually two 110 volt independent circuits each capable of providing up to 50 amps of current if needed. Since you will only be using one of those legs with an adapter and your camper has a 30 amp main service breaker, the camper is incapable of taking more than 30 amps (even though the service is capable of more).

Putting a 40 watt bulb lamp into a 20 amp wall outlet just draws less power than a 100 watt bulb in the same lamp. No damage is done to the bulb in either case as they just draw what they need to light. Putting too many lamps on that outlet will eventually max out the 20 amps available at the breaker and trip it off.

I hope that helps you.

[TURBS]

Should be titled "adapters"

[daavalanche]

Originally Posted by herk7769

I have to admit this is confusing. Perhaps some guesswork as to what you are really asking is in order.

I think what you are asking is: will using a 50 amp RV service plug to 30 amp RV service dog bone adapter hurt the RV and the answer is, no.

A 50 amp RV service is actually two 110 volt independent circuits each capable of providing up to 50 amps of current if needed. Since you will only be using one of those legs with an adapter and your camper has a 30 amp main service breaker, the camper is incapable of taking more than 30 amps (even though the service is capable of more).

Putting a 40 watt bulb lamp into a 20 amp wall outlet just draws less power than a 100 watt bulb in the same lamp. No damage is done to the bulb in either case as they just draw what they need to light. Putting too many lamps on that outlet will eventually max out the 20 amps available at the breaker and trip it off.

I hope that helps you.

Thanks this what I always figured. I had someone (a lesstrician) tell me it was harmful to my camper. I did not think so since I was only pulling off one leg of the 50.

[daavalanche]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Should be titled "adapters"

True

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by daavalanche

True

Your wish...

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by daavalanche

Thanks this what I always figured. I had someone (a lesstrician) tell me it was harmful to my camper. I did not think so since I was only pulling off one leg of the 50.

A "less trician"? Yea, that is about right...

Hope you never ask him to work on your house or camper...

[daavalanche]

Originally Posted by herk7769

A "less trician"? Yea, that is about right...

Hope you never ask him to work on your house or camper...

Not a chance!!

[MillerTime]

I'm with turbs, but I have always plugged my 30amp 5er into the 50- with a adapter of course.

[jimh]

even though the rv 50 amp is considered to be two 110v circuits; the neutral wire is the same size as each of the "hot" 110v wires. the main throws both circuits if one is thrown. the wire size alone would tell u that they are actually wanting the voltage to be 220 volts leg to leg (110v each leg to neutral).
if it were 110 volt same phase, it could over load the neutral w/o throwing a breaker (the neutral could be asked to carry up to 100a which is too much).
if u plug into a 50 amp rv connection w/ an adapter to 30a, u will be fine; they only use one "hot" leg of the 50 amp.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by jimh

even though the rv 50 amp is considered to be two 110v circuits; the neutral wire is the same size as each of the "hot" 110v wires. the main throws both circuits if one is thrown. the wire size alone would tell u that they are actually wanting the voltage to be 220 volts leg to leg (110v each leg to neutral).
if it were 110 volt same phase, it could over load the neutral w/o throwing a breaker (the neutral could be asked to carry up to 100a which is too much).
if u plug into a 50 amp rv connection w/ an adapter to 30a, u will be fine; they only use one "hot" leg of the 50 amp.

This is very true and Jim is certainly the expert on this stuff.

The "Hot" alternates every 1/60th of a second (60 cycle) between the two circuits so that the Neutral sees return current that never exceeds the 50 amp rating of the RV service. Measuring between the two hots will show 220 VAC, but unless something in the camper actually requires 220 (rare); the dual circuits are utilized as two 110 lines.

It is difficult to explain the concept in terms that most people who are non-electricians (like me) can understand and make the explanation "technically correct" for those that do this for a living (like Jim).

We are very lucky to have subject matter experts here to keep us on the straight and narrow!