Electrical Help

[Stg1]

Hi Everyone.

I'm planning a trip to Dumas, TX and need some help. I'm planning to park at some relatives property, They have electric , but I need to know if the circuit is above 30 amps, do I need to do something else, or will connecting a 30 amp box with a breaker work? Thanks in advance. Please help.

[jtstromsburg]

Biggest thing is to make sure if you are plugging into a 30a plug, it needs to be 120v, NOT 220.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by jtstromsburg

Biggest thing is to make sure if you are plugging into a 30a plug, it needs to be 120v, NOT 220.

Amen brother.

Most home "30 amp outlets" are wired for 220 appliances like welders, compressors, and air conditioners.

Plugging into THAT would be VERY expensive.

[DaveSchwartz]

Of course those other 30 amp receptacles have a different blade configuration. The problems arise when someone thinks they should be wired the same too.

[Stg1]

Thanks for the help. I just need to know if the circuit is say 60 amps do I need to do something other than wire it to a 30 amp rv box that has a 30 amp breaker? Sorry to be so dumb, but I have limited electrical knowledge,

[wmtire]

This sticky we keep in the FAQ section may help you or an electrician wire it correctly.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...let-27223.html

[Stg1]

Thanks for the info.

[MuddauberE]

I agree to first test the 30Amp plug with a voltmeter. Make sure it is not putting off voltage in the 220's but only in the 110-125 range. Anything else will blow up all circuitry in the trailer. Being a family members house and they having a 30 amp in the garage, I'm willing to bet that this was probably for a welder or some other item requiring a 220v 30amp plug unless they installed it themselves specifically for a TT. If it is a 50 amp plug, then your plug wont fit. but Why they make a 30amp 120 and a 30amp 220 with the same receptical configuration is beyond me. I have not personally experienced it but I have heard plenty of stories of people who have done this somehow and started a nice fireworks show.

[RedRollingRoadblock]

Another good site is: RV Electric

And for the 12v stuff: The 12volt Side of Life (Part 1)

[TheUO]

Originally Posted by MuddauberE

I agree to first test the 30Amp plug with a voltmeter. Make sure it is not putting off voltage in the 220's but only in the 110-125 range. Anything else will blow up all circuitry in the trailer. Being a family members house and they having a 30 amp in the garage, I'm willing to bet that this was probably for a welder or some other item requiring a 220v 30amp plug unless they installed it themselves specifically for a TT. If it is a 50 amp plug, then your plug wont fit. but Why they make a 30amp 120 and a 30amp 220 with the same receptical configuration is beyond me. I have not personally experienced it but I have heard plenty of stories of people who have done this somehow and started a nice fireworks show.

They are not supposed to be the same receptacle...

Travel trailer 30 amp has a specific receptacle labeled TT-30 which has a different configuration that say any of the NEMA 30s (6-30, 10-30 or 14-30). The problem is you can put whatever receptacle you want on when installing and installers are incorrectly using TT-30 receptacles when they should be using a NEMA receptacle for say a dryer/welder/other household item.

This is a TT-30:



Any of these should be used at home for typical household 30amp stuff that isn't your trailer:
NEMA 14-30:


NEMA 10-30:


NEMA 6-30:


NEMA 15-30:


NEMA 18-30:

[TheUO]

We'd really need to see what it is you are trying to plug into to be able to tell you for sure.

Can one of your relatives post a picture of the receptacle?

If it's a receptacle that has 1 ground, 1 hot and 1 neutral that's 30amp or above you should be able to get it to work. May want to switch out receptacles though.

I have a 220 50amp in my garage for my ridiculous compressor but it has no neutral (cheap electricians!) so I just ran a new 30amp single pole outlet to my trailer that's dedicated just to it and put the proper TT-30R receptacle on it.