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Old 03-28-2016, 09:52 PM   #1
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What to expect running 30 amps rather than 50

I have a 5th wheel running 50 amps. I have a residential refrigerator and 1000 watt inverter for it. Tomorrow I will be staying in a National Park that only has 30 amps. I have a dog-bone conversion plug and a progressive portable surge protector. Do I still use the surge protector? Would I expect my refrigerator to run off the 30 amps? What else should I watch out for or expect in this situation? Thanks in advance.
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Old 03-28-2016, 10:29 PM   #2
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From what I've learned on here, manufacturers are aware that people sometimes need to use 30A on 50A rigs so they tend to wire the 'primary' systems to the one leg that will get juice with a dogbone, and the auxiliary systems, like a second AC or an electric fireplace on the other leg. That and some dogbones will split the 30A to both legs so really, you should expect for everything to work. Just not all at the same time.

Before, you had 50A on two legs, so 100A total for the trailer. Now you just have 30 total. So if you're trying to run the bedroom ac, the fireplace, the water heater and the microwave all at the same time you can expect to trip a breaker. But if you're conservative there's no reason you shouldn't be able to get by.

Note: I'd recommend still using your EMS. That way, if you do trip the breaker the EMS should treat it like a power outage and still provide the same protections.


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Old 03-28-2016, 10:52 PM   #3
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X2 what Kaadk said. Your fridge will work just like it would on 50 amp shore power. Yes you can use your progressive with the adapter.

Everybody has tripped a breaker at some point going from 50 amp to a 30 amp park. Just need to keep in mind what your using especially at the same time.
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Old 03-29-2016, 01:09 AM   #4
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Thank you for your quick response.
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Old 03-29-2016, 11:42 AM   #5
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Refer will work just fine, it is not a big 120v draw. You will not be able to simultaneously heat water on 120v, run a hair dryer, make toast, and run a coffee pot. You have to pick and choose what you want to run at the same time. Be aware of the power needs of appliances. Maybe keep a list, and choose what totals less than 3000 watts.
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Old 03-29-2016, 12:31 PM   #6
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Run your hot water heater on propane, that will save amps


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Old 03-29-2016, 04:06 PM   #7
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Good info here on RV electrical systems:

https://youtu.be/FboDyLjn5sg

30 AMP use is at 5 min. mark.
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Old 03-29-2016, 04:11 PM   #8
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Old 03-29-2016, 07:01 PM   #9
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Go to Walmart and get an old style percolating coffee pot that you can use on stove top or campfire. That saves the amp draw of an electric one. Same for the toaster, hot rolls in the oven instead. If the girls must have a hair dryer or curling iron, run an orange 50ft extension out to the 120 socket on the pole. Last as said before, gas hot water turn elec switch off. Gas heater not the elec fireplace.
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Old 03-29-2016, 07:40 PM   #10
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Sure, you can do all that. Or you can just camp like you normally do, sans a second AC and electric fireplace.

We only have a 30A trailer, and I routinely run the Hot Water on electric, the fridge on electric, the TV, DVD player, a toaster, keurig and microwave up some instant oatmeal for the kids. All on 30A.

Just have to not do it all at once. Currently running the microwave? Wait on starting the coffee. Coffee's past the heating cycle? Then it's ok to start the toaster.

And if you do accidentally draw too much, it's just going to pop the circuit breaker. Reset it, wait it for the EMS delay and then go about your business again.


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Old 03-30-2016, 05:24 AM   #11
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I was at a campground recently that didn't have a breaker box, it was a not fun to get the power turned back on, I have a 50amp camper and I was hooked up to a 30amp site. I forgot about the things I could run but not for long


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Old 03-30-2016, 05:43 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spock123 View Post
I was at a campground recently that didn't have a breaker box, it was a not fun to get the power turned back on, I have a 50amp camper and I was hooked up to a 30amp site. I forgot about the things I could run but not for long


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We were in Upper Maine on the coast and stopped at a Little C/G for the night! It was a Beautiful View,but Only 15A Box screwed to a Tree! We were fine,we just had to Camp for 1 night! Youroo!!
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Old 03-31-2016, 08:39 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaadk View Post
From what I've learned on here, manufacturers are aware that people sometimes need to use 30A on 50A rigs so they tend to wire the 'primary' systems to the one leg that will get juice with a dogbone, and the auxiliary systems, like a second AC or an electric fireplace on the other leg. That and some dogbones will split the 30A to both legs so really, you should expect for everything to work. Just not all at the same time.
They actually make dogbones that do NOT split the 30A to both 50A legs? I guess I just got lucky in the one I bought that DOES split...
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Old 03-31-2016, 12:59 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by hbillsmith View Post
Last as said before, gas hot water turn elec switch off. Gas heater not the elec fireplace.
The 2016 Cedar Creek 36CKTS comes with instant hot water heater, running on propane. I see no switch to make it run on electric. When I am at a 50 amp site I sure would like to save propane. Is there a switch from propane to electric? Thanks in advance.
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Old 03-31-2016, 01:34 PM   #15
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I don't believe on demand has electric.


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