50 Amp unit running on 30 Amp adapter

[stanjoh]

I am planning a trip to the North Rim and the camp ground only offers 30 AMP power. Is it safe to use an adapter to convert my 50 AMP plug to a 30 AMP receptacle? I have been told it is fine as long as I don't run both A/C units. I have a 2018 Silverback 29 IK and don't want to ruin anything.

[wmtire]

Yes, you can use the adapter. You are just going to be limited to what you can power at the same time.


EDIT: This link will help explain 50 and 30 amp connections, as well as using the adapter you are inquiring about:


https://www.rvtechmag.com/electrical/chapter3.php

[Oakman]

Yes, using a 30 amp adapter won’t cause any damage to your Silverback. I’ve been doing it for years. You just have to remember that you are limited to 30 amps and if you suddenly lose power you probably tripped the circuit breaker on the outside power pedestal. If you have a traditional water heater be sure to run it on propane to conserve electric usage.

Your Silverback has two 50 amp legs (100 amps) so using the adapter you only have 30 amps total available.

[tomkatb]

Last summer we used 30 amp plugs often in six weeks of travel. We plugged the adapter into the pedestal and then installed the 50 amp ems. Then the fiver cable to the ems.

Our Cedar Creek 34RE is 50 amps.

You have 30% the amperage of 50 amps on 30 amps.

Study up on a chart listing usage by items.

When you first plug in the converter will draw a bunch of power for a while to charge batteries. Our ems shows ams drawn. Pay attention.

If we turn off the water heater electric, after an hour, we can run both ac units. Nothing much else. The wife has the front thermostat set 3-4 degrees higher than the rear. After the initial cool, or at night only one unit runs much.

All is peachy. We hardly notice the less power. Run the coffee maker and convection oven when only one ac unit is running. One other big items, one at a time.

On our first trip we never blew the 30 amp breakers at the pedestal.

We run or rv fridge on gas.

[spock123]

On my Cedar Creek what I do on 30amps is run the hot water on propane, that way I have a few more amps to use for other things

[Herk7769]

This easy mod allows you to monitor the total AC amps being used so you don't trip any breakers.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tester-AC13...53.m2749.l2649

Get two; one for each incoming leg.

The donut goes on one 50 amp wire that attaches to the main 50 amp breaker. My panel was straight down and made wiring it with 4 conductor solid telephone cable easy.

[ben31]

Another limitation is you usually can only run a single air conditioner, if you are running anything else. When running on 30Amps, we normally just use the 15k unit (living room) and run the hot water on propane only.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by ben31

Another limitation is you usually can only run a single air conditioner, if you are running anything else. When running on 30Amps, we normally just use the 15k unit (living room) and run the hot water on propane only.

If you put Micro-Air Easy Starts on both A/Cs you can run both on 30 amps easily. You will need to shut one down to run the microwave or a coffee maker though.

https://www.microair.net/collections...nt=30176048267

Don't forget to add the "FORESTRIVER" discount code! (All Caps/no space)

[1984fireball]

Check and see. You will likely find that the only thing connected to the other leg of the 50 amp is the bedroom AC. And you will not be able to run it because there is no power to that breaker. And maybe a washer/dryer. This is the main, if not only reason for the additional amps in most 5ers. At least in mine.

[Livin the Life]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

If you put Micro-Air Easy Starts on both A/Cs you can run both on 30 amps easily. You will need to shut one down to run the microwave or a coffee maker though.

https://www.microair.net/collections...nt=30176048267

Don't forget to add the "FORESTRIVER" discount code! (All Caps/no space)

Tried to use discount code above for purchase and it did not work, said it was not found. ???????????????

[Kaadk]

Originally Posted by Oakman

..If you have a traditional water heater be sure to run it on propane to conserve electric usage...

Originally Posted by spock123

... is run the hot water on propane, ...

Originally Posted by ben31

.. and run the hot water on propane only.

I see this recommendation all the time, but I haven't seen the need for it. The only difference between our 50A fiver and old 30A TT is the fiver has an extra outside fridge and the electric fireplace. With the 30A TT we never had to shut off the water heater and never blew the breakers. Ran AC, Microwave, WH on electric, etc, and no issue.

With the 50A, about 1/2 the spots we camped this year we adapted down to 30A, and still ran everything. The new hardwired EMS has let me keep a better eye on actual usage, and we're averaging high teens, sometimes low 20s total across both legs with normal, everyday usage.

That'll be different if I ever wire in a second AC, but for now, I never understood the recommendations to limit yourselves otherwise.

[spock123]

When on 30amps DW runs her hair dryer and if that don’t trip the breaker the curling iron does. When we are on 50amps nothing trips.

[FrankMor]

Originally Posted by 1984fireball

Check and see. You will likely find that the only thing connected to the other leg of the 50 amp is the bedroom AC. And you will not be able to run it because there is no power to that breaker. And maybe a washer/dryer. This is the main, if not only reason for the additional amps in most 5ers. At least in mine.

This is not true. The dogbone adapters send power to both L1 and L2.
The adapter you bought is defective, return it.

Frank

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Livin the Life

[/I][/B][/U][/U]

Tried to use discount code above for purchase and it did not work, said it was not found. ???????????????

Its case sensitive. Make sure its all caps.


http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ll-162735.html

Here is the original thread.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by FrankMor

This is not true. The dogbone adapters send power to both L1 and L2.
The adapter you bought is defective, return it.

Frank

Frank,

We have had reports here of several dogbone adapters that only sent the current to one leg. They were not defective, that was how they were made.

I can't tell you the reasoning behind that nor do I think I'd want mine that way but that was how that particular manufacturer chose to manufacture them.

I do not recall if it was mentioned who the manufacturer was.

[Oakman]

Originally Posted by FrankMor

This is not true. The dogbone adapters send power to both L1 and L2.
The adapter you bought is defective, return it.

Frank

This is absolutely correct.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by 1984fireball

Check and see. You will likely find that the only thing connected to the other leg of the 50 amp is the bedroom AC. And you will not be able to run it because there is no power to that breaker. And maybe a washer/dryer. This is the main, if not only reason for the additional amps in most 5ers. At least in mine.

As stated before, this is not true.

When connected to a 50 amp to 30 amp dog bone adapter, 30 amps is shared across both breakers.

The two hot wires on the 50 amp side are tied to the single hot wire on the 30 amp side. That is why you do NOT have 30 amps on each leg; but 30 amps total available shared.

If you are using 20 amps on the L1 side, there are only 10 amps left for L2 without tripping the pedestal breaker.

[FrankMor]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Frank,

We have had reports here of several dogbone adapters that only sent the current to one leg. They were not defective, that was how they were made.

I can't tell you the reasoning behind that nor do I think I'd want mine that way but that was how that particular manufacturer chose to manufacture them.

I do not recall if it was mentioned who the manufacturer was.

Glad that is not the one we had with our Coachman. The only thing on L1 was the bedroom air!
Even if it is not "Defective", I would return it as not suitable for the intended purpose.

Frank

[5picker]

Originally Posted by FrankMor

Glad that is not the one we had with our Coachman. The only thing on L1 was the bedroom air!
Even if it is not "Defective", I would return it as not suitable for the intended purpose.

Frank

Agreed.
My only stretch at trying to figure why they'd only hook it to one leg would be so the full 30a would go to whichever leg it was tied to. (I don't know if it was L1 or L2?) and if tied to the wrong leg for your particular unit (as in the case of your Coachman)... basically useless.

[cavie]

Originally Posted by 1984fireball

Check and see. You will likely find that the only thing connected to the other leg of the 50 amp is the bedroom AC. And you will not be able to run it because there is no power to that breaker. And maybe a washer/dryer. This is the main, if not only reason for the additional amps in most 5ers. At least in mine.

With a 30/50 dogbone, there is 120 volts on all breakers.