50 amp ems plugged into a 30 amp outlet

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by 4garylee

Here is the answer - https://www.homedepot.com/p/Camco-50...FQnEwAodzF4FNg

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Camco-RV-...apter/29764592

We have discussed this type of adapter many times on the forums. The description for these state they do NOT work on a gfci outlet. You are going to be hard pressed to find many campgrounds that the 15/20 amp outlet is not of the gfci type since more recent electrical codes require them to be.

We've explained in other threads why a gfci outlet will not work with the shared neutral return on a 50 amp RV, and the imbalance vs the hot leg and the neutral.

As per the description from a link above. Emboldened in red by me:

Camco RV PowerGrip Power Maximizer Adapter:

• Gets up to 45 amps combined power
• Features 1 male plug for 15-amp, 1 male plug for 30-amp outlets and 1 female outlet
• Does not work when plugged into GFI-type outlets
• Polarized adapter
• Designed solely for recreational vehicles
• 1-year warranty
• RV plug adapter model# 55025

[5picker]

Originally Posted by 4garylee

Here is the answer - https://www.homedepot.com/p/Camco-50...FQnEwAodzF4FNg

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Camco-RV-...apter/29764592

Many of these adapters don't work in the real world IF the 15 amp outlet in the pedestal is a GFCI. It trips the GFCI outlet as soon as it sees the 30 amp side of the adapter plug inserted.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Many of these adapters don't work in the real world IF the 15 amp outlet in the pedestal is a GFCI. It trips the GFCI outlet as soon as it sees the 30 amp side of the adapter plug inserted.

Correct. All of these cheater boxes/adapters state such on their product pages/descriptions and here is why the gfci won't work:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ml#post1767155

I've wondered why they even keep offering these cheaters since most new codes require the 15/20 amp outlet to be a gfci type.

[4garylee]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAMBUnWyv6I

[wmtire]

Actually the video doesn't explain it. It shows how it works if the 15/20 amp outlet is not of the GFCI variety.

As we have fully explained, and even shown as documentation with these adapters/cheater boxes (it states so on the links you provided)...they DO NOT work with a gfci outlet.

As in the pic below, most campgrounds are going to have the 15/20 amp outlet (see C) with a gfci as in the picture. This is required by code now. So these cheater boxes/adapters will not work with the vast majority of campground outlets as they update. The cheater will not work on this 15/20 amp outlet pictured below.

That's what we are trying to explain.



It will not work with this one



It will not work with this one:



It could possibly work with this one as the 15/20 amp outlet is not of the gfci type:

[4garylee]

Thus far we have been hitting campgrounds that haven't updated with the exception of a couple state parks i noticed their boxes are new.

Thank you for the clarifications!

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by 4garylee

Thus far we have been hitting campgrounds that haven't updated with the exception of a couple state parks i noticed their boxes are new.

Thank you for the clarifications!

You are welcome, and as you correctly stated, there are parks that haven't updated to more recent codes. It's going to depend on where you are.

State parks in Louisiana (and so far 6 in Arkansas and 4 in Mississippi) that I have stayed at all have gfci outlets.

[spock123]

Let’s see if what I’m seeing is correct. I had a 30amp receptacle wired outside so I could plug my30amp camper in. I brought a 50amp camper but I couldn’t run cable to the camper that could carry 50amp. What a friend that’s a electrician did was wire up a 50amp receptacle to the 30amp line. I just hooked my EMS up and it was showing 125 volts on line 1 and line 2. Is that correct or should it be showing just 125 volts on one line only.

[cavie]

Originally Posted by spock123

Let’s see if what I’m seeing is correct. I had a 30amp receptacle wired outside so I could plug my30amp camper in. I brought a 50amp camper but I couldn’t run cable to the camper that could carry 50amp. What a friend that’s a electrician did was wire up a 50amp receptacle to the 30amp line. I just hooked my EMS up and it was showing 125 volts on line 1 and line 2. Is that correct or should it be showing just 125 volts on one line only.

Your old 30 amp line does not have enough wires in it. That cord was 120 volts. 3 wire. It also is too small of a wire. Did your electrician not us a ground wire?

50 amps is 50 amps L1 and 50 amps L2 240 volts. 120 each leg 4 wires= 2 hot 1 neutral 1 ground

30 amps is 30 amps L1 only. 120 volts. The other leg is neutral 1 hot leg 1 neutral and 1 ground.

you 50 amp trailer is built in such a way that you cannot access 240 volts.

[CedarCreekWoody]

What it is showing is correct, the same voltage on both lines. Just remember that you have only a total of 30 amps on both lines COMBINED, not 50 amps for each line as you normally would. Go over 30 amps and the breaker feeding the outlet will trip.
I hope you still have another 50 amp cable to use at campgrounds that offer 50 amps.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Cavie, he is connecting to a 30 amp outlet with a 30 amp cord, he doesn't need heavier cable. The electrician jumpered the power to both l1 and l2 so he doesn't need a fourth wire. The only downside is the reduced total amperage available.

[cavie]

Originally Posted by CedarCreekWoody

Cavie, he is connecting to a 30 amp outlet with a 30 amp cord, he doesn't need heavier cable. The electrician jumpered the power to both l1 and l2 so he doesn't need a fourth wire. The only downside is the reduced total amperage available.

Post #28 says somebody bought a new camper with a 50 amp service??? Where did I go wrong/?

Ok, so he is putting 30 amps to his 50 amp camper with the bastard cord? ok. I thought he wanted the 50 amps there. my bad.

[CedarCreekWoody]

It gets confusing. Lol He bought a 50 amp camper but is connecting it to a 30 amp outlet while it is at his home. Rather than bother with a 50 to 30 amp adapter he had his electrician make him an adapter using a 30 amp cable that he had on hand.

[wmtire]

If we are talking about Spock's post #28, then I guess I'm confused somewhat. I'm not reading where he is using a 30 amp shore power cord. I was reading it that he just simply had the electrician change out the 30 amp outlet for a 50 amp one....which without any rewiring would require him to have made a jumper inside the outlet from the L1 to the L2.

If this is the case, he could have just used an adapter and left the 30 amp outlet as is, and accomplished the same.

Maybe Spock can clarify.

[cavie]

I AM NOT ALONE!!!!!!

[CHICKDOE]

what you are reading (120 volts on each leg) is wired correct. you can plug your 50 amp shore power cord into it without damage. now, is it to code? probably not. i would be concerned about what size circuit breaker is being used to protect the circuit. i'm taking it that you had a 30 amp circuit breaker in your home panel, then a 30 amp circuit to the receptacle, and then a 30 amp receptacle. if all that was done was to pull that 30 amp receptacle out and replace with a 50 amp receptacle with the two legs jumpered, you will be fine. this is exactly what a 30 to 50 amp adapter would do. and you will still be limited to 30 amps on the circuit from the existing 30 amp circuit breaker. if your electrician even touched that 30 amp circuit break, all bets are off! you may want to put a notice on the receptacle that it is only 30 amps.

[CHICKDOE]

i've been thinking about this and want to say one more thing in case somebody considers this in the future. what's done is done, it's water over the dam. but most everybody that has a 50 amp rv also carries a 30 amp to 50 amp adapter for those times when only 30 amps are available. my guess is you will end up getting one of these at some time. why not just buy the adapter and plug it into the existing 30 amp receptacle? i'll bet it would be less expensive than buying the 50 amp receptacle and paying for an hour of the electrician's time?

[spock123]

Originally Posted by wmtire

If we are talking about Spock's post #28, then I guess I'm confused somewhat. I'm not reading where he is using a 30 amp shore power cord. I was reading it that he just simply had the electrician change out the 30 amp outlet for a 50 amp one....which without any rewiring would require him to have made a jumper inside the outlet from the L1 to the L2.

If this is the case, he could have just used an adapter and left the 30 amp outlet as is, and accomplished the same.

Maybe Spock can clarify.

I am using a 50amp cable. I know I could use a adapter but I didn’t want to use one. If I wanted to I could use a cheater box as I have another 110 volt line but I just use the 30amp to keep my batteries charged up plus run the furnace in the winter. We also keep the residential refrigerator running. The only time we stay in the camper is if a storm should take out the power. I know I have only 30 amps on that line that I use to plug in the camper. Anything electric I call a electrician, I’m a danger to myself. The reason for the other 110 volt line is I have a 3,000 gallon goldfish pond plus I use to have a homemade greenhouse. I grew citrus and bananas and pineapples but that cost more than a camper

[CHICKDOE]

wow! bananas and pineapples in north carolina! probably not a lot of people doing that. i'm more impressed with that!

[Tom Sundown]

Originally Posted by CedarCreekWoody

What it is showing is correct, the same voltage on both lines. Just remember that you have only a total of 30 amps on both lines COMBINED, not 50 amps for each line as you normally would. Go over 30 amps and the breaker feeding the outlet will trip.
I hope you still have another 50 amp cable to use at campgrounds that offer 50 amps.

CedarCreekWoody is absolutely on target. Google Mike Sokol and read what he has to say about a "fake 50-amp receptacle".