amperage question

[RollingDownTheHighway]

We're going camping this weekend and are TT is a 30amp, the campground is putting us on a 50amp lot, though the girl behind the desk said I'll be fine, I want to double check with experienced campers on this.

If I hook up my 30amp TT to a 50amp, will it blow? Can I actually hook it up and if so, do I need a 50amp plug, etc?


thanks

[jackhartjr]

Most campgrounds have a box with plug ins for 15, 30 and 50 amps on the same box. You should be fine.
Jack

[RollingDownTheHighway]

I used to camp at this same campground when I was a kid, and if my memory serves me correctly they only have one box and it didn't have "selections" it only has the 1 plug, if that is the case, what do I need so I don't damage my TT

[kenandterry]

I'm no electrician, but I have been camping enough to know that electrical connectors at the campgrounds we've been to are physically different styled between 30amp and 50amp. The actual pin configuration of a 50amp plug will NOT fit in a 30amp connector and vice versa. A 50amp connector has 4 pins and 30amp has 3 pins. Usually the pedestal is equipped for 15 or 20amp, 30amp and 50amp. You just hook up to the one you need, and activate the applicable breaker for your rig.

Power Grip Replacement Plugs - Product - Camping World

[jackhartjr]

Bagged123, there are adaptors you can get at Camping World and similar that allow you to plug your 30 into their 50.
But, I will bet you a dollar against a donut hole that the box is as kenandterry said.
Jack

[KyDan]

You can use an adapter plug to plug a 30 Amp trailer into a 50 Amp
socket. You can buy this adapter in the RV isle at WalMart or borrow
one from the campground or buy one from the camp $tore but expect
to pay double at the camp store.

Without going into the electricity end of this too deeply I'll just say
that 50 amp 240v hookup is really TWO 50 amp 120v lines.
A 50 amp trailer may connect one "hot line" to the other "hot line" internally
and get 240v. An adapter plug just uses ONE of the hot lines so you get
120 volts.

Some purists will argue that your cord is only good for 30 amps and
you are plugging into a 50 amp circuit breaker but your trailer has
it's own 30 amp circuit breaker inside your power center so you are covered.

Enjoy your weekend!!

[Herk7769]

You should always carry pigtail adapters for your camper.

For my 30 amp camper I carry:

A 50 amp -> 30 amp adapter
Save at RV Partscenter - RV Parts and Supply

and a

A 30 amp -> 15 amp adapter
Save at RV Partscenter - RV Parts and Supply

You never know if:

- The 30 amp socket in your pedestal will be bad (from overuse)
- The pedestal is a shared unit with another site who is already using the 30 amp socket
- You are in overflow but there is a 20 amp outlet close by

Always turn the BREAKER (your plug in type) OFF before you plug in and then again when you unplug. Never make that connection "hot" (breaker on). You will burn the tips on your cord and eventually ruin the socket in the pedestal.
It will also save your AC (and other sensitive components like your TV) from a surge spike if you left it on when you plug in.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by jackhartjr

Most campgrounds have a box with plug ins for 15, 30 and 50 amps on the same box. You should be fine.
Jack

The key word here is "most".
I stayed at a little private CG in West Virgina in June that had only one single 50 amp outlet in a
box and not even a circuit breaker that I could see.
Last summer out west we encountered one CG with a post that just had
a 50 amp outlet.

If you camp around enough you will eventually run into a CG where
you'll need the adapter. In those cases you can usually borrow one
from the camp host/owner but they don't cost that much at WallyWorld
so why not buy one and be covered?

[SaskCampers]

Originally Posted by KyDan

The key word here is "most".
I stayed at a little private CG in West Virgina in June that had only one single 50 amp outlet in a
box and not even a circuit breaker that I could see.
Last summer out west we encountered one CG with a post that just had
a 50 amp outlet.

If you camp around enough you will eventually run into a CG where
you'll need the adapter. In those cases you can usually borrow one
from the camp host/owner but they don't cost that much at WallyWorld
so why not buy one and be covered?

X2

[jimh]

The only campground i've stayed in that had 50 but not 30 was in ky. Campground loaned me an adapter.

I havent really looked, but I dont recall seeing a 50 to 30 adapter at wallyworld.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by jimh

I havent really looked, but I dont recall seeing a 50 to 30 adapter at wallyworld.

That's were I got mine.
It probably varies from store to store and depends on the time of year but
it's a good bet you can get one there most of the time.

[jimh]

i suspect it is the store. ours is small. ours carries the 30 to the 50 but not the other way around.