Plug and amps for camper

[nlparrott1212]

This is a picture of the outlet I am suppose to plug my Wolfpup into at a fireworks stand. Does anyone know what kind of plug this is if it isn't a 50 amp. I have a 50 to 30 amp adapter but not sure if it will work on this plug

[B and B]

This a 30 amp 125/250 volt plug. I would verify what voltage is connected and how it is wired prior to hooking up. I have seen 3 phase 208 on these for lift motors in rigging. Also could be no Neutral, that is not good for your RV.

Wrong Voltage could mean Wolfpup is the Fireworks.

[nlparrott1212]

Ok thanks. I was a little unsure of it.

[Jeff_and_Abby]

Connector is a NEMA L14-30, 125/250V 30A Single Phase.

Think of it as 30-Amp version of the 50-Amp RV connector.

If wired to spec, 240V across L1-L2, 120V L1-Neutral and 120V L2-Neutral. Not uncommon to find on Generators.

(Edit) An L15-30 connector looks similar, and is intended for 3-Phase service. The width of the blades differs from the L14-30 connector to prevent interchangeability.

[nlparrott1212]

So there is no way to hook up my camper to it is there. No adapter made for it is there.

[Jeff_and_Abby]

We've never seen a read-made adaptor for this purpose; although there are pig-tails that can break a 14-30 out to NEMA 5-15 / 5-20 pairs, they are usually special/custom order.

[nlparrott1212]

Oh ok. Thanks

[325BH]

Originally Posted by Jeff_and_Abby

Connector is a NEMA L14-30, 125/250V 30A Single Phase.

Think of it as 30-Amp version of the 50-Amp RV connector.

If wired to spec, 240V across L1-L2, 120V L1-Neutral and 120V L2-Neutral. Not uncommon to find on Generators.

(Edit) An L15-30 connector looks similar, and is intended for 3-Phase service. The width of the blades differs from the L14-30 connector to prevent interchangeability.

Absolutely correct.

This was the best layman's description: "Think of it as 30-Amp version of the 50-Amp RV connector."

If you have a 50 amp rig you will be set with one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Camco-55422-P.../dp/B005BNZFQ0

If you have a 30 amp rig, use this: https://www.amazon.com/Camco-55382-S.../dp/B0024E71BQ or use the 50 amp one I pasted above with a dogbone adapter.

[Jeff_and_Abby]

Originally Posted by 325BH

Absolutely correct.

This was the best layman's description: "Think of it as 30-Amp version of the 50-Amp RV connector."

If you have a 50 amp rig you will be set with one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Camco-55422-P.../dp/B005BNZFQ0

If you have a 30 amp rig, use this: https://www.amazon.com/Camco-55382-S.../dp/B0024E71BQ or use the 50 amp one I pasted above with a dogbone adapter.

*** Excellent Post & Find *** Didn't know these existed !!!

Some years back (mid 90's) when building up our Power Distro, we settled in on the L14-30's for 120/240 Volt Break-Outs - very typical in US Sound / Lighting biz - When we started TC'ing after Y2K was behind us, the TT-30 (30-Amp RV) was a whole different universe, never really needed to interchange the two beyond a 15-Amp House Plug for low-current use.

[nlparrott1212]

Originally Posted by 325BH

Absolutely correct.

This was the best layman's description: "Think of it as 30-Amp version of the 50-Amp RV connector."

If you have a 50 amp rig you will be set with one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Camco-55422-P.../dp/B005BNZFQ0

If you have a 30 amp rig, use this: https://www.amazon.com/Camco-55382-S.../dp/B0024E71BQ or use the 50 amp one I pasted above with a dogbone adapter.

Oh thanks. I just ordered it. So if the adapter fits in the plug then I'm good to go, correct???? It probably was for a generator at one point because this area has been used for fireworks stands in the past so pretty sure they have used a generator. I do have a really good surge protector I always hook up between the source of current and my camper. That should shut it down if there is a problem, right?

[325BH]

Originally Posted by nlparrott1212

Oh thanks. I just ordered it. So if the adapter fits in the plug then I'm good to go, correct???? It probably was for a generator at one point because this area has been used for fireworks stands in the past so pretty sure they have used a generator. I do have a really good surge protector I always hook up between the source of current and my camper. That should shut it down if there is a problem, right?

As long as that receptacle was wired according to its spec, then yes if it fits it is OK. That is how plug-and-receptacles work. They are all designed to prevent the wrong ones from plugging in.

Of course if it is mis-wired you can get into trouble, however that is a risk with any receptacle you plug into.

What type of surge protector do you have? Some check for incorrect wiring and some do not.

[houstonstroker]

I would verify the outlet with a multimeter. It appears to me that if this plug was used with a generator then it could be dead and when a generator is plugged in, it powers the stand. That would mean the power cord from the generator was live on the male end, which is a no no. I would not plug anything I valued into this outlet until you get someone with a meter and check it out.

[Jeff_and_Abby]

Originally Posted by houstonstroker

I would verify the outlet with a multimeter. It appears to me that if this plug was used with a generator then it could be dead and when a generator is plugged in, it powers the stand. That would mean the power cord from the generator was live on the male end, which is a no no. I would not plug anything I valued into this outlet until you get someone with a meter and check it out.

X2 !!!!! !!!!!

[Tiggerdad]

Originally Posted by houstonstroker

I would verify the outlet with a multimeter. It appears to me that if this plug was used with a generator then it could be dead and when a generator is plugged in, it powers the stand. That would mean the power cord from the generator was live on the male end, which is a no no. I would not plug anything I valued into this outlet until you get someone with a meter and check it out.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Yes. DO this before proceeding. People create a lot of scary things for their RV's

It would be a great help if you post your findings.

[wardster]

I have same outlet on my genny, plus 2 regular 110 outlets. Is it better to have the adapter to plug into the 30 amp outlet or is it the same as using the 110 adapter that plugs into the 110 outlet? Am I making sense???

[325BH]

Originally Posted by wardster

I have same outlet on my genny, plus 2 regular 110 outlets. Is it better to have the adapter to plug into the 30 amp outlet or is it the same as using the 110 adapter that plugs into the 110 outlet? Am I making sense???

Several things here.

The "120" volt receptacles on your generator are either 15 or 20 amps.

The 30 amp receptacle is either 120 volt only or 240/120 (both) depending on the receptacle. The 120 only will be 3 prong and the 240/120 will be 4 prong. They are different but look similar.

What is nice about the receptacle that is pictured in the beginning of this thread is that it is a 4 prong 240/120 30 amp. This means it has two legs of 120 volt which is how the 50 amp service for a 50 amp camper works. Like it was said earlier, it can be thought as a 30 amp version of a 50 amp service. This is different (and better) than a standard 30 amp RV service.

The problem is whether that receptacle is wired correctly or not. A multimeter would tell you.

From one leg to ground, you should have 120 volts.
From the other leg to ground, you should have 120 volts.
From one leg to the other leg you should have 240 volts.
From one leg to neutral, 120 volts.
From other leg to neutral, 120 volts.
From ground to neutral, 0 (or real close to it) volts.

[Jeff_and_Abby]

Originally Posted by 325BH

Several things here.

...

The 30 amp receptacle is either 120 volt only or 240/120 (both) depending on the receptacle. The 120 only will be 3 prong and the 240/120 will be 4 prong. They are different but look similar.

...

What he said, and to amplify slightly ...

We looked at a number of generators that included this connector, and found that some have a 120 Volt / 240 Volt switch, and what that does varies from generator to generator ...

The specific concern is that while you wind up with 120 Volts between either the L1-Neutral and L2-Neutral connections perfect and useable, but there is net of ZERO Volts instead of 240 Volts, across the L1-L2 connection WHEN THE GENERATOR SWITCH IS SET TO 120 Volts. For RV applications, this is probably meaningless, seems like most don't have any 240-Volt appliances or outlets, but it is out-of-spec for the NEMA 1430 / L14-30 and any 240-Volt devices would just not operate. Also, you only get half the amperage in 240-Volt mode, but of course double the voltage ... same number of watts since of course, watts equals volts times amperes.

In really plain words, what this means is you might get 30 Amps on the 120-Volt setting, from your 3600-Watt generator, but you only see 15 Amps on each of the two 120-Volt legs of the same generator when it is set to 240 Volts and using it on a 240-Volt (four-pin) wired RV. You would keep popping a circuilt breaker because appliances are stacked on only one side or "leg" of the generator output, even though they add up to less than 30 Amps / 3600 watts (in this example.)

[wardster]

Sorry for hijacking thread. My genny does not have a switch. Here is a pic of my outlet. I was not aware there was an adapter for it and was planning on using the adapter used for a regular house outlet (110-120 I get confused)

[325BH]

Originally Posted by wardster

Sorry for hijacking thread. My genny does not have a switch. Here is a pic of my outlet. I was not aware there was an adapter for it and was planning on using the adapter used for a regular house outlet (110-120 I get confused)Attachment 142482

That is a 120/240 volt receptacle. (When 120/240 is stated, it means you can get both 120 volts and 240 volts out of it depending on which conductors (slots) you use.)

There are many adapters made for just about anything. Earlier in the thread I posted links to two adapters for this twistlock receptacle to RV .

[llr]

Depending on the wattage of the generator there may not be an advantage over the standard outlets unless you have a 50 amp unit. As each power leg will have about 1/2 of the total generator output