50 amp male to 30 amp female adapter

Ole Sage · 08-25-2013, 02:01 AM

Is it safe to plug into a 50 amp plug with an adapter (dog bone) for my 30 amp TT?
Or do I need to put a 30 amp breaker box between the adapter and the TT?
(adapt the adapter

)

Mmwtdh · 08-25-2013, 05:39 AM

It's safe.

**wmtire** · 08-25-2013, 06:43 AM

Using a properly wired adapter is OK. You can pick them up at Wally World in their RV section.

Here is a link that helps explain how it works:

Using a 50 to 30 Amp RV Power Adapter - RV Basics .com

camper1999 · 08-25-2013, 07:38 AM

You could fry your 30 amp trailer cord if something happened before your breakers trip in your trailer. If you have a 30 amp surge protector between the 50 amp to 30 amp dog bone and your 30 amp trailer cord that would protect the your cord and the cord to your breaker box. That is the way I would do it to be safe.

BarryD0706 · 08-25-2013, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camper1999

You could fry your 30 amp trailer cord if something happened before your breakers trip in your trailer. If you have a 30 amp surge protector between the 50 amp to 30 amp dog bone and your 30 amp trailer cord that would protect the your cord and the cord to your breaker box. That is the way I would do it to be safe.

How does a surge protector protect a cord from overload?

camper1999 · 08-25-2013, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryD0706

How does a surge protector protect a cord from overload?

The good ones monitor not only volts but amp draw also.

BarryD0706 · 08-25-2013, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camper1999

The good ones monitor not only volts but amp draw also.

Could you give me a specific model or brand that you think does that? My Progressive Industries EMS unit does not. In fact, it doesn't even properly display currents above 35 amps on the readout. (But that's a 50-amp EMS.)

**Platokidd** · 08-25-2013, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryD0706

Could you give me a specific model or brand that you think does that? My Progressive Industries EMS unit does not. In fact, it doesn't even properly display currents above 35 amps on the readout. (But that's a 50-amp EMS.)

Portable Surge Guards With LCD Display - 30 Amp - TRC 34730-001-LCD - Surge Protectors - Camping World

I plug into the 50 amp with my surge protector.
No problems

camper1999 · 08-25-2013, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryD0706

Could you give me a specific model or brand that you think does that? My Progressive Industries EMS unit does not. In fact, it doesn't even properly display currents above 35 amps on the readout. (But that's a 50-amp EMS.)

Pricey but good.....
TRC 30 Amp Portable RV Surge Guard with LCD Display

BarryD0706 · 08-25-2013, 08:42 AM

Thanks guys. I do see that it says they do that, but I think all it means is that they display the amps value. I am going to call TRC on Monday and ask them.

**Platokidd** · 08-25-2013, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryD0706

Thanks guys. I do see that it says they do that, but I think all it means is that they display the amps value. I am going to call TRC on Monday and ask them.

volts and amps on mine

BarryD0706 · 08-26-2013, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryD0706

Thanks guys. I do see that it says they do that, but I think all it means is that they display the amps value. I am going to call TRC on Monday and ask them.

I just got off the phone with TRC technical support. While they do "continuously monitor" the "amps" being drawn, all they do with that information is to display it. They will not shut the power down to the output due to high current, which means that a SurgeGuard will not protect your cord from high current.

**Platokidd** · 08-26-2013, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryD0706

I just got off the phone with TRC technical support. While they do "continuously monitor" the "amps" being drawn, all they do with that information is to display it. They will not shut the power down to the output due to high current, which means that a SurgeGuard will not protect your cord from high current.

then wouldnt the campers electric equipment be at risk too??
a spike is high currant

BarryD0706 · 08-26-2013, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platokidd

then wouldnt the campers electric equipment be at risk too??
a spike is high currant

Sorry, but no, a spike is high voltage (of very short duration). The unit doesn't disconnect the RV's power for a spike. The spike is just dissipated (shorted out) thru the MOV spike suppressors.

A "surge" is a longer-duration change in voltage (much less voltage than a spike), and this is what the unit disconnects the RVs power for.

**Herk7769** · 08-26-2013, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryD0706

Could you give me a specific model or brand that you think does that? My Progressive Industries EMS unit does not. In fact, it doesn't even properly display currents above 35 amps on the readout. (But that's a 50-amp EMS.)

Franks Electronics Autotransformer that I use (see my review) has an integral 30 amp breaker on the input side. This prevents passing more than 30 amps INTO the Franks.

The 50 amp Franks has dual "ganged" 50 amp integral breakers.

Witch Doctor · 08-26-2013, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platokidd

then wouldnt the campers electric equipment be at risk too??
a spike is high currant

I have the 30 amp SG by TRC, It will shut off it your voltage dropped to 108 volts or exceeded 138 volts, Current is the amps drawn has nothing to do with volts. If you exceed 30 amps your trailer breaker will trip at about 32 0r 33 amps. Granted your 50 amp will not trip but the trc will protect from high and low voltage NOT AMPS....

BarryD0706 · 08-26-2013, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herk7769

Franks Electronics Autotransformer that I use (see my review) has an integral 30 amp breaker on the input side. This prevents passing more than 30 amps INTO the Franks.

The 50 amp Franks has dual "ganged" 50 amp integral breakers.

Good, there is one! But then your Franks is mounted inside your RV so that 30-amp breaker is pretty close to the 30-amp breaker already in your coach electric panel. In other words, there is still the potential to "melt the cord" if you're plugged into a 50-amp outlet.

Witch Doctor · 08-26-2013, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryD0706

Good, there is one! But then your Franks is mounted inside your RV so that 30-amp breaker is pretty close to the 30-amp breaker already in your coach electric panel. In other words, there is still the potential to "melt the cord" if you're plugged into a 50-amp outlet.

I do not understand how you can melt the cord if your 30 amp breaker trips you are not pulling any current at that time, your cord can not melt. I never heard of such a thing. If you over load your house circuit say 15 amps your wire in the wall would not melt it's the same thing. If your breaker in the trailer trips you are not pulling any current but you will still have the potential of voltage to the breaker only not Amps which creates the heat electrical 101. That is what trips the breaker not voltage.

BarryD0706 · 08-26-2013, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

I do not understand how you can melt the cord if your 30 amp breaker trips you are not pulling any current at that time, your cord can not melt. I never heard of such a thing. If you over load your house circuit say 15 amps your wire in the wall would not melt it's the same thing. If your breaker in the trailer trips you are not pulling any current but you will still have the potential of voltage to the breaker only not Amps which creates the heat electrical 101. That is what trips the breaker not voltage.

We are talking about the case where there is some kind of short (eg, conduction path) somewhere between the 50-amp pedestal plug and the 30-amp breaker in your RV. So for example, you have a cord that plugs in at your RV (not permanently mounted) and something shorts across that cable plug at the RV end. It doesn't matter what's going on with the breaker in your RV. The only other breaker is 50 amps and the 30-amp cord will melt before that 50-amp breaker trips. Does that help?

VinceU · 08-26-2013, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryD0706

We are talking about the case where there is some kind of short (eg, conduction path) somewhere between the 50-amp pedestal plug and the 30-amp breaker in your RV. So for example, you have a cord that plugs in at your RV (not permanently mounted) and something shorts across that cable plug at the RV end. It doesn't matter what's going on with the breaker in your RV. The only other breaker is 50 amps and the 30-amp cord will melt before that 50-amp breaker trips. Does that help?

I guess another way to say it, If you connect to a 50 amp supply and transmit power with a 30 amp cord your taking your rv life in your hands. You are relying on an inexpensive, probably Chinese, saftey device to clear in time from fault current or overload. If the Rv breaker fails to open, you have eliminated the correct protection at the pole... Is your insrance paid up?
National Elec Codes mandates the sizes for each customer requirement, not interchangeble.

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