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Old 03-27-2017, 06:53 AM   #1
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Using 50 amp service for a 30 amp TT

I have a basic understanding of electrical wiring including 220 and 120. I realize that the 50 amp receptacle at the rv park is wired 220 with two 125 volt legs. I also know that when you plug your 30 to 50 dog bone into the 50 amp receptacle that one of the blades is a dummy. So you're only using one of the 125 v legs. I called Camco and asked them to which of the two legs do they wire their 30 amp adapters. They told me that they always wire to the same leg and as your looking at the receptacle the one on the left.

My question: I am thinking about making an adapter for myself that would use the right leg. My reasoning is that if everyone in the park is using the same side, is that not a case for voltage drops and brown outs? Would it be possible to be excluded from the voltage drop problems if I was (perhaps the only one except the class A's) wired into the other leg?

I would use a volt meter to see which side is providing the most volts.
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Old 03-27-2017, 06:59 AM   #2
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Interesting idea. Should work if there are a lot of 30 to 50 adapters being used. You would be on the more lightly loaded split. That is if all of the 50s are wired the same on the pedestals and all of the breakers are installed EXACTLY the same (red always to the same side on the panel bus bars. To my knowledge there is no standard per code for this, but a good design would try to equalize loads in a park installation.
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Old 03-27-2017, 09:07 AM   #3
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why not? if you're going to measure the voltage on the two legs to decide which to use why not also measure the voltage on the 30 amp outlet also. then you have your choice of which to use (50-L1, 50 L2, or 30). and as mentioned we don't know if all pedestals are wired the same and all breaker panels are sired the same. any variation in how they are wired would tend to even out the usage. of course, anything you measure can change a minute or so after as a/c's start, new people plug in, or people leave. so I wonder just how much of an advantage it will provide. but go for it as it won't hurt a thing.
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Old 03-27-2017, 09:41 AM   #4
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It may be changing with the newer rigs using the 50 amp but I have not found any 50 amp plug ins, in the places i have camped where the 50 was worn where the different wired dog bone would apply, but I do think the idea is a good one with valid reasoning
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Old 03-27-2017, 12:24 PM   #5
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G R E A T idea.
I'd buy one when sold...by you? Or I build one myself.
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Old 03-27-2017, 12:44 PM   #6
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I seen the very thing you are thinking of.

The guy had a 50 amp plug in breaker box of sorts that he was able select which leg of the 50 amp service he fed the built in 30 amp receptacle by selecting which breaker he threw. It also had a volt meter built into it.

I would think there would need to be some sort of fail safe so that both breakers couldn't be thrown at the same time but I didn't see that in his.
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Old 03-27-2017, 12:49 PM   #7
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This is an interesting theory. I would have to say it would be complete luck that only you and the MHs are using the other leg of the electrical service. The electrical system would have to be wired with great detail to insure (let's call it) Phase B is always connected to the same side of the 50A Recept. Know what I mean?


In a 3 phase service, you pay close attention to the position of each phase when making connections. This is not the case in single phase applications. If you need 2ea 125v legs, you just make sure you are wiring it with two. The position on the Recept doesn't matter.


So in theory I think your idea is great. In practice I'm not sure it will work out that way. I'm not discouraging you. If you experience outages, I say go for it. Can't hurt and it gives you the option of using the other side of the panel in the event of a weak breaker or phase loss.
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Old 03-27-2017, 01:17 PM   #8
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Don't know a lot about electricity but sounds interesting
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Old 03-27-2017, 01:34 PM   #9
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The only issue I have with adapting 50A service down to 30A is that in the event of a major electrical failure in your camper, the breaker on the box will not trip until you exceed 50A of current draw.
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Old 03-27-2017, 01:57 PM   #10
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Right, but it is done all the time and is in keeping the the National Electrical Code. After all you plug a 10 amp toaster into a 20 amp receptacle most days. No problem. Is it safe...generally. Is it 100% safe, probably not. we should all try to understand what we are doing with these mobile houses.
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Old 03-27-2017, 02:08 PM   #11
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It's a bit like having a 150A main breaker at your house with a main breaker panel only rated at 100A. If there was a major failure, a fire would probably start before the main breaker tripped.
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Old 03-27-2017, 02:27 PM   #12
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Actually it is EXACTLY like that. The wire from the meter to the panel should be sized for 150 amps (but don't let an inspector see that panel!!!) but a short between the main breaker in the panel and the meter or pole is unprotected. That is why those feeds are normally outside the siding or no more than, if I remember, 4 or 5 feet long. If you run further than that you have to put a breaker at the meter to protect the wire from the meter to the panel.
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Old 03-27-2017, 02:52 PM   #13
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JoeyNig has it right. I would have to believe that wiring to each site was such that equal loads were distributed to each phase as supplied to the rv park and therefore no one phase would would be overloaded while the other(s) would be lightly loaded if everyone in the park connected to the 30amp service. i.e. I think you would be wasting you time doing this.
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Old 03-27-2017, 05:23 PM   #14
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Here's my 2 cents on this. I have a 50A to 30A dog bone adapter but only use it where I'm having a problem with the 30A receptacle. Often there is no 50A receptacle though. I'm not sure you'd ever find a pedestal with a 50A receptacle but no 30A but I suppose it's possible.

I've just ordered a 30A Hughes Autoformer to help with low voltage which I've found is the most common electrical problem where we camp.
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Old 03-27-2017, 06:58 PM   #15
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I really appreciate everyone's encouragement on this. I am will likely do some testing at the camp sites before I go ahead with the adapter.

It did cross my mind that the people who design and install electrical systems at camp sites should have already thought of this.. but like I said, my knowledge is basic.

The consensus is that it's worth a shot.

Thanks again.
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Old 03-27-2017, 07:30 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by itat View Post
Here's my 2 cents on this. I have a 50A to 30A dog bone adapter but only use it where I'm having a problem with the 30A receptacle. Often there is no 50A receptacle though. I'm not sure you'd ever find a pedestal with a 50A receptacle but no 30A but I suppose it's possible.

I've just ordered a 30A Hughes Autoformer to help with low voltage which I've found is the most common electrical problem where we camp.
Yup... GA state parks! We stayed in one that only had 50 and 20 amp.

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Old 03-27-2017, 07:54 PM   #17
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I did just this.... made my own. I have used "my" dogbone on occasion. I do measure voltage on all legs, the 30 and both 50's if available. Here in Florida, during the summer when the tourist go home and we can finally get a reservation getting enough voltage with everyone using their A/Cs can be an issue.

I always check my pedestal power - polarity, voltage and if the plug is good. I have seen some problems and it is better to work to get them fixed than blow out the trailers electrical system.

I say make one, check your power and use it if you can.
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Old 03-27-2017, 08:45 PM   #18
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I doubt that many 50 to 30 adapters are in use in a park at the same time that it would make a difference which leg you used.

But, I could be wrong.

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Old 03-27-2017, 10:20 PM   #19
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50amps to 30amps

The breakers exist to protect the wire you are using. When you trip a 50 amp breaker you are "overheating" your cable effectively turning your wiring into a toaster. If you only tripped the one side you were using that would be OK but the two phases are joined to trip together, not individually. Overheating could take other components with it.
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Old 03-27-2017, 11:02 PM   #20
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Might make a difference, might not but it won't hurt either way. Hey there are thousands of 50 to 30 amp adapters out there already anyway.
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