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Old 06-24-2017, 05:13 PM   #1
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50a plugs

I am planning to park at a friend's house that owns a Chevy Volt. She plugs into a 50a 240 plug NEMA 14-50R. From what I've read, the 50a plugs in campgrounds are also NEMA 14-50R receptacles. I have a 30a microlite. I have an adapter dog bone to convert so I can use the 50a plug. My question..are all NEMA 12-50R plugs wired the same? If I plug into the Volt's plug with my dog bone, am I good to go? The plug on the Volt cable looks like the 50a RV plug.
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Old 06-24-2017, 05:48 PM   #2
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You have indicated that your friend's house has a properly wired NEMA 14-50R Receptacle, your RV Dog-Bone adapter will work just fine.

There is a wide variety of the NEMA connector types, so that each is only intended to be wired one way. Never force a connector that "doesn't quite fit" because that most likely means it's not the right one. A good example is that is the difference between a 240-Volt "Clothes Dryer" connector (NEMA 10-30) aned the 120-Volt RV (NEMA TT-30) connector - which is NOT the same - the Dryer has a "L" shaped ground, the RV TT-30 has a "U" shaped ground. And a different NEMA number.
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Old 06-24-2017, 05:50 PM   #3
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the way you describe it (50a 240 leads me to believe that it is 240 volts, our TT's are 110 and someone correct me if I am wrong 240 volt will fry a 110 system
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Old 06-24-2017, 06:21 PM   #4
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the way you describe it (50a 240 leads me to believe that it is 240 volts, our TT's are 110 and someone correct me if I am wrong 240 volt will fry a 110 system
I think you're right. Someone has discussed this before. Had electrician install outlet, electrician installed it for 240 like for a dryer, and the person then fried his RV.

This thread may help:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ome-33442.html
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Old 06-24-2017, 06:38 PM   #5
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There are actually TWO "legs" as they are called, on a split phase (aka single phase) 240 volt circuit. Either hot pin to neutral is 120 Volt, the hot pins are called L1 and L2 (L for Line) however a connection across L1 and L2 gives 240 volts.

This is how the power in most United States homes works, that is where you find the 240 Volts for Electric Dryers, Electric Ranges, large Air Conditioners, Electric Water Heaters, etc. while most appliances in the house (TV Lights Stereo Mr. Coffee Blender Refrigerator) work on 120 Volts.

As previous post correctly notes, from time to time an electrician mistakenly connects a NEMA TT-30 (120 Volts) as a Dryer - Nema 10-30 - but done correctly, a different connector is supposed to be used.

If the NEMA 14-50R at the proposed parking location is correctly wired, then it is just like any 14-50R at any 50-Amp RV Site should be and all is well.

It never hurts, if in doubt, to check, or have checked by a qualified electrician, that the voltage is as should be expected.
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Old 06-24-2017, 06:38 PM   #6
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50a plugs

Unlike the special 30 amp RV receptacle, the 50 amp service that our campers use are the exact same 50 amp service that are in our homes. Your friends will work just fine.

The 50 amp service our campers use is in fact 120/240 volts. It just so happens that our campers only use the 120 volts. The breaker box in our campers are designed to NOT allow 240 volt unless you intentionally bypass it. But there is 240 volts coming in.

No worries, your friends and the campgrounds are one in the same.

4 prong plugs have both 120 and 240 volts... which is what you want. If it was only 3 prong it would be only 120 or only 240. That is where folks get into trouble if the don't know what they are doing.

If it is the same plug you are fine.

Your 30 amp dogbone will work fine.
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Old 06-24-2017, 10:35 PM   #7
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Thank you everyone!
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Old 06-24-2017, 11:30 PM   #8
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The key here is "properly wired".

The Volt charging will work just fine with no neutral (white) wire in the receptacle's wiring. It will still need a ground (green) to meet code. However....

Our RVs MUST have a neutral, as well as a ground, to meet code (or to operate correctly, for that matter).

The simplest way to be sure you are OK is to test the receptacle before plugging your RV into it. How? Plug in your dogbone and test with the following:

A Camco #55233 30-amp male to 15-amp female adapter (under $5 on Amazon)

and

A Sperry GFI-6302 GFI tester, also available on Amazon for under $6.

You want to see two amber, no red.

Cheap way to be sure you don't let any of the precious smoke out of any of your circuits.

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Old 06-25-2017, 07:09 AM   #9
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This is perfect and easy..one question..Does it have to be a GFI tester? I have one of these testers but it does not have GFI on it..correct=2 amber. thanks Pop..
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Old 06-25-2017, 08:23 AM   #10
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Does it have to be a GFI tester?
No. A non-GFI tester would work just as well.

It's just that the ones with the GFI test button are getting to be the more commonly found.

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Old 06-25-2017, 08:53 AM   #11
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just thoughts


I agree with what springerdad recommends as a test. or if you have a multimeter just use it to test the outlet.


do you have an ems system on the electrical supply? if so I would think it would also verify proper wiring and voltage. if it is a portable unit just plug it into the dogbone. if hardwired turn of the main breakers in the rv distribution panel and plug into the dogbone. if no ems, verify before you plug in.


also, the volt is a newer car so if the outlet was installed to support the car is was done recently and should be to the current codes which require the 2 hots, neutral, and ground. as mentioned, the volt may be operating using only the two hot leads (240 volts across them) and not using the neutral (I have a dryer and range that work this way). but if this was the case I would expect the plug and receptacle to only have 3 prongs instead of 4 (no neutral). the fact that there are 4 prongs is encouraging, but check it like springdad recommended. if there is no neutral the proper lights on the tester will not come on.
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Old 06-25-2017, 07:47 PM   #12
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I have a Progressive 30a surge protector. Once I adapt this 50a to 30a, can I use my surge protector?
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Old 06-25-2017, 08:16 PM   #13
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absolutely! is it just the surge protector or is the ems model that also monitors for over and under voltage? if the later you should be good to go. plugging a 30 amp trailer into a 50 receptacle is ok as long as you limit yourself to only 30 amps. and you have 30 amp main circuit breakers in the trailer that will do that.
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Old 06-25-2017, 08:58 PM   #14
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Yes..it is the model that monitors high and low..I also just saw your post from earlier where you told me this. Thank you to all! Very much appreciated. I love this forum!
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Old 06-26-2017, 04:31 AM   #15
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One of my favorite resources that helps explain 50 and 30 amp services, as well as the different wrong electrical configurations that campers may encounter is found at this link:

RV Electric

It also explains how to test outlets, and make your own plug-n-play testers in simple to understand terms for those who may not be the most electrical savvy.

It's just a good site to bookmark, and read all the pages there at your own leisure.
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