Surge Protectors.

[LSUTiger]

I am looking at buying a surge protector for my 30 amp camper. The question I have is can I buy a 50 amp surge protector instead of the 30 amp version and use a adapter. The reason is if I ever upgrade I won't have to buy a new one at time. I can buy it upfront and be done.

[TURBS]

No you cant.
You need a 30 amp.

If you ever upgrade list it on here for sale it won't last a day.
You'll never have a problem selling it.

TURBS


"Sabre owners united"

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

No you cant.
You need a 30 amp.

If you ever upgrade list it on here for sale it won't last a day.
You'll never have a problem selling it.

TURBS


"Sabre owners united"

Sorry TURBS Wrong Answer.

I was running a RV Rally this last weekend and called our friends at Progressive Industries. I was going to be managing both 30 & 50 AMP outlets and asked if I could use my 50Amp to check 30 amp. The kind lady at Progressive not only said I could check the 30s with my 50, she said with a pigtail I could use my 50 on a 30 (Cool I did not know that either!)

So, LSUTiger, Yes y0u can buy your 50Amp unit now

[LSUTiger]

So I could do the 50 amp surge protector and use a Y adapter to run my main 30 amp line and also for my separate AC up front that runs on a 20amp breaker and be ok then. I had them install an extra AC upfront that is on its own separate 30amp line.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by HSVBamaBob

Sorry TURBS Wrong Answer.

I was running a RV Rally this last weekend and called our friends at Progressive Industries. I was going to be managing both 30 & 50 AMP outlets and asked if I could use my 50Amp to check 30 amp. The kind lady at Progressive not only said I could check the 30s with my 50, she said with a pigtail I could use my 50 on a 30 (Cool I did not know that either!)

So, LSUTiger, Yes y0u can buy your 50Amp unit now

Whoa ......
True you can do what she said.

But you cannot install a 50 amp ems with only 30 amp service.
You don't have the appropriate wiring nor enough hot wires.

TURBS


"Sabre owners united"

[Kaadk]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Whoa ......
True you can do what she said.

But you cannot install a 50 amp ems with only 30 amp service.
You don't have the appropriate wiring nor enough hot wires.

TURBS


"Sabre owners united"

It doesn't sound like he's doing a hardwire. Sounds more like he's looking for a plug in kind. In that case, plugging a 50 amp into 50 amp service, then using a 50-30 adapter to power the rig should be perfectly fine.

On the other hand, if he's looking to go 30-50 then a 50, then a 50-30 it might still work, but could really depend on exactly how the EMS handles being on a 30-50 adapter. I haven't heard stories on here yet about issues with a 50A EMS on a 30-50 adapter and I'm sure there must be some guys running 50A rigs who park in 30A serviced sites from time to time so I doubt there'd be much of an issue.

My only concern is where he said he wanted to use a Y to power a second AC unit he has wired up to a separate 30 AMP line. In that case, putting it on a 50 amp service, then using one of those adapters that splits the two legs into a 30 receptacle and a 20 amp receptacle, usually only provide 25 amps to both. So he's basically reduced his 30 amp trailer to running on only 25 amps with this approach. (Actually the same could probably be said of the first approach as I though 50-30 adapters just tap one leg.)

All in all, I'd say the best option would have been to upgrade his rig to 50 amp service to handle the 2nd AC instead of putting it on it's own line and then buy a 50A EMS.

[LSUTiger]

I usually will run the main 30 line on the 50. The second ac I can run on the 30. I have even ran the main 30 on the 30 and put second AC on the 20 at times with no problems. Sounds as thought if I try and split the fifty then each respective 30 amp line would only be able to draw a maximum of 25 amps if I am following you correctly. I am trying to get away with one surge protector,but sounds like it won't be possible.

[TURBS]

Lsu.
Are you wanting to buy a portable unit or a hard wired?

TURBS


"Sabre owners united"

[LSUTiger]

Turbs I am looking at buying a portable unit. I am trying to get away from having to buy 2 of them. One to protect each line going into the camper.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by LSUTiger

Turbs I am looking at buying a portable unit. I am trying to get away from having to buy 2 of them. One to protect each line going into the camper.

Ok makes more sense now.
You can in fact use a 50 and adapt down to 30 for the main line.

I'm not so sure you'd want to put a tee in so that you can run the extra 20 amp cord tho.
Two ac units running off that tee could get very hot as you'd likely be pushing 30+ amps and I don't believe even the heaviest ones are rated for 30 amps but you may be able to find one.
You'd be better off making a power distribution box with at least 8 awg wiring and having a 30 amp rv receptacle and a 20 amp receptacle.

Be much safer to run another surge but that defeats the purpose.





TURBS


"Sabre owners united"

[Kaadk]

Well, there is a way to have only one. You'll need to convert your rig to run on 50A service. I could be wrong, but I believe all you'd need to do is change the distro panel to a 2-leg one, run the second AC into the second leg, putting the rest of the trailer on the first leg, and then change the plug from a 30 to a 50, while also running the second leg from plug to distro panel.

With that, you'd be able to run the 50A protector since you're now wired for 50A just like any other 50A rig out there.

Mind you, this is all based on knowledge gained from reading posts on this forum, as I only have a 30A trailer, so I could be entirely off base, but from what I've gathered so far it doesn't sound implausible.

[LSUTiger]

Thanks for the advice guys! I think I'll just buy two 30 AMP surge protectors and call it a day.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by LSUTiger

Thanks for the advice guys! I think I'll just buy two 30 AMP surge protectors and call it a day.

One thing to mention.
Most camping site power poles only normally have
One 50 amp receptacle
One 30 amp receptacle
And two 20 amp receptacles

Your results may very.

TURBS


"Sabre owners united"

[LSUTiger]

Turbs could I use dogleg off 50 going to 30 amp and put a 30 amp surge after dogleg?

[TURBS]

I'm Not sure how the two surge guards will react in tandem.


TURBS


"Sabre owners united"

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Whoa ......
True you can do what she said.

But you cannot install a 50 amp ems with only 30 amp service.
You don't have the appropriate wiring nor enough hot wires.

TURBS


"Sabre owners united"

Hmmm. Just don't hook up the one side, I would think. The EMS is looking for 120 volts not 240. Powering only one circuit should certainly be possible.

In fact, the Franks 50 amp autotransformer is two identical 50 amp panels in one metal box.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

I'm Not sure how the two surge guards will react in tandem.

TURBS

"Sabre owners united"

Turbs, they are independent and not interconnected in any way.

[LSUTiger]

Just got of phone with Conntek that makes a 50 amp splitter down to two 30 amp females. They said as long as you don't draw over 50 amps you are ok. It would be impossible to draw more than 50 amps as the AC upfront is on a 20 amp breaker.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by LSUTiger

Just got of phone with Conntek that makes a 50 amp splitter down to two 30 amp females. They said as long as you don't draw over 50 amps you are ok. It would be impossible to draw more than 50 amps as the AC upfront is on a 20 amp breaker.

Sounds good.

TURBS


"Sabre owners united"